Antarctic midwinter broadcast

Once a year, staff at the four Antarctic bases - Rothera, Halley, King Edward Point and Bird Island - cluster round their short wave radios to hear the BBC's Gabrielle Walker present half an hour of music requests and special messages from their loved ones back home.

The programme is produced and presented for the 45 brave and hardy scientists and technical staff who keep the Antarctic bases of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) running through the long, cold darkness of the polar winter.

Gabrielle Walker and Martin Redfern broadcasting from Rothera

The 'Antarctic Specials' are possibly the World Service's most unusual broadcasts.

Take a listen as there are special messages from surprise celebrity guests and a somewhat eclectic selection of music.

At a time when the members of BAS are living in almost complete darkness, missing their families, friends and the comforts from home, the midwinter broadcast provides reassurance and hope for the months ahead.

The broadcast can be heard in the South Atlantic on Monday 21 June at 21:30 - 22:00 GMT on the following short-wave frequencies:

5950 kHz (49 metre band)
7295 kHz (41 metre band)
7360 kHz (41 metre band)

First broadcast 21st June 2010

Produced by Esme Richardson and Martin Redfern