Jun 17, 2026

1 min read

Seth on the BBC!

Art created by Seth & some very clever AI for buddi bench June 2026

"One of the loveliest ideas in the South East!" (Adam Dowling introducing Seth to the show)

Here's the transcript and higher quality recording of Seth Being Interviewed by Adam Dowling on BBC Radio Kent About - Friday 15th May '26.

You can read it or listen or both!

Bbb Seth on BBC Radio Kent Adam Dowling Full Interview

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Adam:

It’s nearly 4.15pm already. Now we're going to talk about buddi bench.

I've spoken about this on the programme before. It was a simple idea. A man with a puppy.

And that dog sparked a warm, unexpected conversation with a stranger that revealed how meaningful, just those little moments of connection can really be. That dog belonged to

Seth Hunter, and so the buddi bench was born, and they have their next big event, they’re buddi bench bash coming to Calverley grounds in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, 6th of June, and Seth joins us in the studio now. Lovely to have you on set. How are you?

Seth:

I'm really well; lovely to be here.

Adam:

It's a pleasure to have you on. I love the idea.

We spoke about it briefly before, but for those who've not encountered the buddi bench, where did the idea for it come from?

Seth:

Yeah, it was literally, I had a puppy. I did the classic thing in lockdown, you know, COVID times, and I got a puppy. And I suddenly realised I got membership to a club I didn't know existed, and lots of strangers would chat to me for 5 minutes about the weather and about what my dog ate, nothing profound, and I would come home and I'd feel a lot better than I did before I went out. And I thought, this is a lovely resource. How else could we offer such a thing to people that don't have puppies?

Adam:

Yeah. And it's such a good thing. You're right. I mean, I'm a dog owner myself, and it's funny how people will talk to you who otherwise, if you if you're out with your dog and you pass those same people, they look down and don't say anything.

Seth:

You don't make eye contact. It's really interesting.

And also it comes from schools. The younger audience will know that some primary schools have buddi benches. So, I thought it's lovely for young people to build acknowledge that they might need to chat. But what about us older folk?

Adam:

So where is the body bench and what's the reaction been to it?

Seth:

It's been really overwhelmingly positive.

So by the way, this is the 4th anniversary. Well, since the bench in Calverley Gardens, launched. It is right opposite the basketball courts. And, um, and yeah, it just gives adults permission to chat to one another. We’ve now got one in London. We've just launched one in Edinburgh - I was up there just before Christmas.

I like the idea of like twinning them, maybe like the London one twinning with one in New York. Would be fun.

Adam:

Lovely.

Seth:

So there's lots of ideas.

Adam:

That's fantastic. And you've obviously had, I'm guessing reaction from people who've used it, you've witnessed for yourself. People just having a conversation that wouldn't otherwise have done so.

Seth:

Yeah, my experience of English culture is that we're actually really friendly and rather lovely, but slightly reserved. So it's just that excuse to have that first hello, you know? A stranger is just someone you haven't said hello too

Adam:

It's true.

Seth:

Everyone's got a story, haven't they? That's the thing. People are interesting. Yeah. No need to watch TV.

Adam: 100%.

Seth:

But you should listen to the radio!

Adam:

Yeah, 100%. Yes. Why not go to the buddi bench and put your earphones in and listen to the show?

Seth:

It’s a great idea.

Adam:

And the advert for the buddi bench bash made me laugh, because it says at the bottom "Warning may lead to smiles, chats, and restored faith in humanity. It says it all.

Seth:

Yes. Exactly, exactly.

It's, you know, in a time of, you know, arguably sort of division and polarisation, it's nice just to remember that we've all got humanity in common. So that's nice.

Adam:

That’s absolutely brilliant.

So last time you and I spoke, you were gearing up for the buddi bench bash. How did it go?

Seth:

It was really good.

Yeah, we had quite a good showing of numbers. We had the, I might pronounce it wrong, but the locally famous samba band Bloco Fogo. I don't know if I'm saying that right. they were brilliant. They’re going to be here again. They’re headlining this year. And yeah, we're expecting, you know, quite a few people this year.

Adam:

That's brilliant. Yeah, yeah. We should say, yes, you're doing it again.

Saturday, 6th of June, Calverley grounds in Tunbridge Wells. So it's about getting together, come along, and don't worry if you come along on your own.

Seth:

Yeah, I mean, if you're coming along and if you find small talk difficult, you are the perfect person. Because believe it or not, though I come across quite sort of, you know, extravert at times, I actually find small talk really difficult and I shy away from it. So it's really just an opportunity just to practice, putting down our phones and just saying hello, and we can just talk about the weather. Us British people are brilliant talking about the weather. There doesn't need to be anything profound. And if you're on your own, don't need to be feeling lonely, but just fancy meeting some new people. Come along.

Adam:

You're so right what you say about that. I'm not great with small talk. If I level with you. Like, obviously, I do what I do for a living, but in a social situation when you sort of bump into a brand new person, that bit of getting a conversation going, I hate that bit.

Seth:

Yeah. Someone said to me, like, you shouldn't ask somebody what they do for a living, because that's like too much of an obvious question. And now every time I go to talk to someone, I don't know what to say then. Yeah, exactly, yeah. I just stare at my shoes!

Adam:

That's very good. Fair enough. Yeah, fair enough. Have the dog with you.

Seth:

Exactly. Talk about puppies.

Adam:

Yes, we've learnt that from the buddi bench that, yeah, you never know what walking around with a dog can begin. You never know what conversations it can start. And friendships and great ideas for events like this, you know?

Seth:

Yeah, yeah.

And, you know, I think Tunbridge Wells is a gorgeous place to live. But there is a sort of reputation that we can be a bit frosty. And I love the idea of having the UK's friendliest picnic right in the heart of Tunbridge Wales to prove everybody wrong.

Adam:

Somewhere that's known for disgusted of Tunbridge Wells actually can be, it can be full of nice people.

Seth:

From disapproval to delight!

Adam:

That is exactly it! Yes, there you go.

It's all Seth Hunter's idea. The buddi bench is spreading, it's spreading around the country, and who knows if that twinning idea comes off around the world?

Seth:

Yeah, New York, here we come!

Adam:

I love that.

So the buddi bench bash, the UK's friendliest picnic, is coming to Calverley grounds in Tunbridge Wells, Saturday, the 6th of June. And it's there from when?

Seth:

12 till 3 PM.

Adam:

Brilliant. Well, there you go.

I wish all the best with it, sir.

Seth:

Thank you, Adam.

All right, see you next year!

Seth x

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