Country is coming to Town!

After being axed from BBC Suffolk, the county’s most established country music broadcaster, Brian Mann, is set to join Town 102.

When news of his departure broke, The Evening Star launched a campaign, Stand By Your Mann, urging fans of the genre to keep tuned in.

It has now been announced that Mr Mann, 64, will broadcast for the commercial radio station for the first time on April 10th.

The DJ has been synonomous with country music in the county for the past 21 years.

But his weekly slot was axed as part of BBC cuts on February 24.

After talks with radio bosses on Tuesday, he said: “I received a call last Friday from Town asking if I would be interested in meeting with people from the station.

“It’s an exciting new start for me and I’m looking forward to running features, like competitions, that I couldn’t at the BBC.”

Mr Mann has been a face of BBC Suffolk since the station opened in 1990 and has a dedicated following who tune in every Sunday to hear his country music show.

At the last count he was revealed to have approximately 8,000. He is being replaced by a syndicated country music programme broadcasting across East Anglia from Essex but his show is still being promoted by the BBC.

The Ipswich resident’s new show “Town Country” will run every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm

Mr Mann said: “The country scene in Suffolk has never been more vibrant and I’m really pleased that Town 102 recognises this.”

BBC Radio Suffolk station manager Peter Cook said: “I am very pleased for Brian.”

Meanwhile Town 102 Programme Director Tom Kay said he is excited about the station’s latest recruit.

“As a local lad myself I know how important country music is to the people of Ipswich.

“Brian brings with him a huge following and I’m delighted to welcome him.”