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Starting today, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 journeys to the heart of the local neighbourhood to celebrate the spirit of the local community during tough economic times in Love Where You Live.

Radio 2 will be asking listeners how well they really know their neighbours and there'll be a chance to hear some of the heart-warming contributions people make every day to their local community.

As well as on-air programming throughout the week including Jeremy Vine, Steve Wright and Drivetime, listeners can also go to bbc.co.uk/radio2 for more information and to find out if they are a good neighbour with Radio 2's online quiz.

The initiative culminates on Bank Holiday Monday (25 May) with The Great British Street Party, a live three-hour show celebrating the very best in party music.

On Love Where You Live – Jeremy Vine today (18 May), Jeremy is joined by the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Home Editor, Mark Easton, who discusses how the notion of local community has changed in the UK.

Mark will also reveal the friendliest town in the UK and Jeremy will be speaking to listeners who have lived in the same house for most of their lives.

Jeremy Vine says: "This is a great one for us! It's all about the connections you make in your street and your neighbourhood – in the same way that Radio 2 is about the connections between us all.

"I'm excited because it'll take me back to the first house I lived in. I wish the treehouse my dad built was still at the end of the garden, but I fear it might not be after 40 years..."

Later, in Radio 2's award-winning Drivetime show, this week presented by Simon Mayo, Jonny Saunders travels to the far-flung corners of the UK to visit local sports clubs and find out what role they play in local communities.

Every night this week (18-22 May), Janice Long will feature a fantastic act who has enlisted the help of the community.

From selling The Big Issue to performing in front of thousands, The King Blues play live on Monday and, on Tuesday, Jarvis Cocker talks about forming a band at the age of 15 that took 16 years to make it big.

Other bands include Birmingham-based The Lights, who enlisted the help of local neighbours and the worldwide internet community to make music, and Kid Rad, who tells Janice about the musical journey from his makeshift bedroom studio via community radio stations to performing live on Janice's Radio 2 show.

Love Where You Live continues on Wednesday (20 May) when Sarah Kennedy is joined by Eleanor Rance, a chaplain with the RAF, for a special Pause For Thought. Eleanor talks about recently moving to a new house and getting to know her new neighbours.

Later on Wednesday, Jeremy Vine talks about whether life in blocks of flats fosters a different sense of community, and Steve Wright is joined by local news reporters who talk about the big stories from their community.

Terry Wogan is joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on Thursday (21 May) for a special Pause For Thought reflecting on the importance of the local community and the value of neighbourliness.

And, on Good Morning Sunday (24 May), Aled Jones is joined by Rev Steve Casey, pastor of Speke Baptist Church, Liverpool, to discuss how his church is reaching out to the local community.

Finally, Radio 2's Love Where You Live initiative culminates on Bank Holiday Monday (25 May) with The Radio 2 Great British Street Party presented by Aled Jones and Melanie Sykes.

With three hours of the very best party music, the duo will also go live to Kate Thornton who presents live music from London's Leicester Square. Acts will be announced at a later date.

The Radio 2 Great British Street Party encourages listeners to get together with their neighbours in their gardens or homes, perhaps for the first time, to help celebrate the local community.

Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: "´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 holds a mirror up to life and events in Great Britain and Love Where You Live is really important in allowing us to interact with our audience."

Full listings for Love Where You Live

Monday 18 May
Love Where You Live – Jeremy Vine, 12.00noon-2.00pm
Love Where You Live – Drivetime, 5.00-7.00pm
Love Where You Live – Janice Long, 12.00midnight-3.00am

Tuesday 19 May
Love Where You Live – Janice Long, 12.00midnight-3.00am

Wednesday 20 May
Love Where You Live - Sarah Kennedy, 6.00-7.30am
Love Where You Live - Jeremy Vine, 12.00noon-2.00pm
Love Where You Live - Steve Wright, 2.00-5.00pm
Love Where You Live – Janice Long, 12.00midnight-3.00am

Thursday 21 May
Love Where You Live – Janice Long, 12.00midnight-3.00am

Friday 22 May
Love Where You Live – Janice Long, 12.00midnight-3.00pm

Monday 25 May
The Radio 2 Great British Street Party, 1.00-4.00pm

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