, ▁J ig gs ▁Wh igh am , ▁Mark ▁Night ing ale ▁and ▁Steve ▁Sid well . ▁The ▁band ▁is ▁also ▁directed ▁on ▁occasions ▁by ▁its ▁long standing ▁bar it one ▁sa x oph on ist ▁Jay ▁Craig . ▁ ▁Current ▁operations ▁▁ ▁Initial ly , ▁the ▁BBC ▁Big ▁Band ▁was ▁formed ▁of ▁contract ed ▁BBC ▁staff , ▁as ▁with ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁BBC ’ s ▁orch est ras . ▁However , ▁following ▁an ▁agreement ▁reached ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁the ▁band ▁was ▁able ▁to ▁retain ▁their ▁name ▁whilst ▁operating ▁as ▁fre el ance ▁mus icians . ▁▁ ▁The ▁final ▁episode ▁of ▁Big ▁Band ▁Special ▁a ired ▁on ▁BBC ▁Radio ▁ 2 ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁Currently , ▁the ▁band ▁is ▁contract ed ▁to ▁perform ▁in ▁live ▁events ▁( such ▁as ▁Friday ▁Night ▁Is ▁Music ▁Night ▁and ▁BBC ▁Prom s ) ▁and ▁can ▁be ▁heard ▁on ▁BBC ▁Radio ▁ 2 , ▁BBC ▁Radio ▁ 3 , ▁BBC ▁Radio ▁Scotland ▁and ▁BBC ▁World ▁Service . ▁▁▁ ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁the ▁BBC ▁Big ▁Band ▁has ▁been ▁an ▁associate ▁ensemble ▁at ▁B irmingham ▁Town ▁Hall , ▁performing ▁regularly ▁in ▁concert ▁and ▁particip ating ▁in ▁community ▁and ▁education ▁projects . ▁The ▁BBC ▁Big ▁Band ▁is ▁also ▁invited ▁to ▁perform ▁in ▁locations ▁across ▁the ▁UK . ▁▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁an ▁episode ▁of ▁the ▁BBC ▁sit com ▁W 1 A ▁featured ▁the ▁fict ional ▁“ B BC ▁Big ▁Sw ing ▁Band ”, ▁and ▁the