The BBC are coming to Wrexham for a week of broadcasting – do you want to get involved?

The BBC have announced a week-long series of news broadcasts from Wrexham.

Between March 30th and April 3rd “We Are Wrexham” will feature on the BBC’s networks, with the town at the centre of programmes and services.

The BBC is asking local residents to share the stories matter to them – with a selection then featuring on TV, radio and online on national and BBC Wales outlets, as part of the “newsgathering project”.

The BBC have regularly covered a single issue in Wrexham, helpfully creating their own buzzword for the town in widely circulated articles, however this time input from the citizens of Wrexham is being invited.

BBC again using the term Spice Town to describe Wrexham. They have it in quote marks, but we can only see BBC stuff as the source of the label. Free Nandos on us to someone who can find a different original source out there! hashtag spice we like (BBC reporters can enter too!) https://t.co/1q2LjZFDBu

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) July 10, 2019

Image and name of Wrexham just tweeted via BBC account with 9,000,000+ followers. Article says Wrexham gaining rep as ‘Spice Town’ – can’t see any other references to that nickname in use? pic.twitter.com/TggfScsxDM

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) July 16, 2018

The last time a high profile BBC broadcast took place in the area it was panned by the North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner who called it ‘trash tv’ ‘hatchet job’.

“The reality of crime in one Welsh town” “Drugs, robberies, rapes & with rise of terrorism we need more armed police…” 👀 Lovely! @BBCWales in town on Monday. They’re looking for views & audience members… Is it your Wrexham? https://t.co/K2ghcAQx3v pic.twitter.com/2smVd7vKEA

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 10, 2018

The BBC say their UK and Welsh outlets will broadcast from Wrexham town centre throughout the week covering stories from the town – likely to involve outlets such as: BBC Breakfast, BBC News Channel, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, BBC Radio 1, BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten as well as news services from BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales.

In addition, a pop-up BBC newsroom will be at Tŷ Pawb throughout “We Are Wrexham” week, although BBC Wales do have a permanent studio on Mold Road at the University.

In the newsroom, BBC Wales TV and radio reporters will be on hand to listen to individuals who want to share their stories about the town, which could then be featured on air and online. There will also be an opportunity for people to have a go at experiencing future technologies in the BBC Blue Room.

“We are Wrexham” is the latest in the BBC series, with previous locations including Bradford, Middlesbrough and Stoke-on-Trent.

The BBC say that Wrexham is a natural ‘next stop’ where the week will put a spotlight on the many layers of lived experiences in the Wrexham borough – including the rich and long-standing history of the Polish Community, to the stories of the players in Britain’s most diverse football team, and the town’s place in the change in political mood across the UK.

Fran Unsworth, Director BBC News, says: “BBC News is delighted to be bringing our ‘We Are’ series to Wrexham.

“We really want to connect with our audience in the town and amplify the stories which matter to them.

“As part of this, we plan to run a number of audience panel events, and will also use social media as well as the BBC News website to encourage the public to help us identify things we should be covering.”

Garmon Rhys, BBC Wales’ head of news and current affairs added: “I am delighted that BBC Wales and BBC News are working together to bring this groundbreaking project to Wrexham.

“Our audiences are at the heart of everything we do and we’ll be asking people to tell us their stories in their own words. Our teams will work with the people of Wrexham to showcase those stories across all our output.”

Suggestions for stories that should be covered as part of We Are Wrexham can be emailed to the BBC via [email protected]

(Wrexham.com are not involved in this project, and are highlighting it after being told about it by the BBC)