- Stephen Mangan presents new Sunday afternoon programme from 4pm
- Jonathan Ross adds a second weekend programme dedicated to film music, Classic FM at the Movies, Friday and Saturday from 7pm
- Tim Lihoreau presents Classic FM’s new weekend breakfast show
- Stephen Mangan joins Classic FM’s all-star presenter line-up which includes Dan Walker, Alexander Armstrong, Myleene Klass, Margherita Taylor and Joanna Gosling
Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station, announces today (Thursday 4th January) its new-look schedule for 2024, with a host of new presenters and programmes.
It follows the news yesterday (Wednesday 3rd January) that hugely popular broadcaster Dan Walker is returning to presenting at breakfast time and is joining Classic FM to host the all-new Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker, providing listeners with a relaxing start to the day featuring the very best classical music and conversation, weekdays from 6.30am to 10am.
Acclaimed comedian, author, actor and presenter Stephen Mangan also joins the star-studded line-up at Classic FM to share his passion for classical music, with his new Sunday afternoon programme, from 4pm to 7pm.
“I am honoured and excited to join the nation’s number one classical music station with my very own show, at one of my favourite times of the week – Sunday afternoon. As an avid listener and a big fan of classical music, it’s been an ambition to present on Classic FM. I can’t wait to get to know the listeners and to share my love of classical music, and I look forward to their company every Sunday.”
STEPHEN MANGAN, NEW CLASSIC FM PRESENTER
Building on the popularity of his Saturday evening movie music programme on Classic FM, which launched in March last year, Jonathan Ross will present a second weekend show dedicated to film scores. Starting this weekend, Classic FM at the Movies will be broadcast every Friday and Saturday from 7pm to 9pm, packed with iconic scores by legendary composers including Ennio Morricone, John Williams and John Barry, along with the latest soundtracks and cult classics from the likes of Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, Wendy Carlos, Kris Bowers, Alexandre Desplat and Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Fans will be able to listen on demand at any time to Classic FM at the Movies – and all of Classic FM’s programmes – on Global Player, the official Classic FM app.
Tim Lihoreau will host Classic FM’s new weekend breakfast programme, every Saturday and Sunday from 7am. As part of Classic FM’s schedule for 2024, there will be new series from the station’s roll call of the UK’s favourite broadcasters. Charlotte Hawkins will host Young Classical Stars a special programme celebrating the greatest up-and-coming classical musicians on Friday from 9pm, while on Saturday from 9pm, John Humphryswill launch a new landmark series – Classic Connections – exploring some of classical music’s most fascinating stories and the common ground between them.
The new presenters and programmes will complement Classic FM’s established and stellar line-up of broadcasting talent including Alexander Armstrong (weekdays from 10am and Saturday from 1pm), Anne-Marie Minhall (weekdays from 1pm), Margherita Taylor (weekdays from 4pm), Aled Jones (Saturday and Sunday from 10am), Alan Titchmarsh (Saturday from 4pm) and Joanna Gosling (Sunday from 1pm).
At the end of each day, Classic FM will provide the perfect relaxing classical soundtrack for listeners with Relaxing Evenings with Zeb Soanes (Sunday to Thursday from 7pm) and Calm Classics from 10pm with Ritula Shah (Sunday to Thursday) and Myleene Klass(Friday and Saturday).
David Mellor will return to Classic FM at Easter with a new series featuring the very best live recordings, alongside a new classical music playlist on Global Player.
“It’s fantastic to welcome Dan Walker as the new host of Classic FM Breakfast, weekdays from 6:30am – and, at the weekend, Stephen Mangan.
They’re both terrifically talented presenters and I know they’ll become firm favourites with our audience, as they share their passion for classical music. This exciting evolution of our schedule offers something for every listener – whether new to classical music or already part of our loyal audience.”
PHILIP NOYCE, CLASSIC FM’S MANAGING EDITOR
Classic FM is available across the UK on Global Player, DAB+ digital radio and TV, 100-102 FM and at ClassicFM.com.
