Kelly returns to Classic FM as part of new autumn line-up

by Mark Banham, Brand Republic 02-Aug-06, 09:00

LONDON - Henry Kelly is to return to Classic FM as part of a revamp of the GCap-owned station's line-up for autumn, which also includes the arrival of 'Blackadder''s Tony Robinson.

As well as the return of the Classic FM stalwart Kelly, lunchtime presenter Jane Jones is moving to the early morning breakfast show. Breakfast show presenter Simon Bates will move to a new later start time of 8am from his usual 7am start, with Jones taking on the extra hour.

Kelly will return to the station to present a new three-hour Sunday morning show, starting at 9am, after a four-year hiatus from the GCap Media-owned station.

Former early morning presenter Jamie Crick will follow Bates at 12pm with 'Most Wanted'. Between 1pm-4pm there is the Classic FM daily chart voted for by visitors to classicfm.com. The slot will also include a new 'Children's Requests' feature at 3.45pm.

Lisa Duncombe, who joined Classic FM four years ago after writing to station bosses to complain the station was not doing enough to attract young listeners, shifts to the 9pm-11pm slot from her 11pm-2am shift to become the voice of weeknights on Classic FM.

Each weekday evening at midnight, she will showcase young classical artists in her new two-hour show.

On weekend evenings at 11pm, Duncombe will also present a brand new one-hour show designed to showcase contemporary classical composers.

With a new start time of 2am Monday to Friday, moving from his 12pm-5am slot, Mark Griffiths will take the early morning shift, with a four-hour show for Classic FM's early risers.

Weekend mornings will now usher in the arrival of a new presenter, 25-year-old Nicola Bonn.

Bonn, who has presented on sister stations Severn Sound in Gloucester, Capital Life and Core, will present three hours of Classic FM favourites every Saturday and Sunday morning from 4am.

Also joining the weekend line-up is Tony Robinson, best known for his role as Baldrick in the BBC comedy series 'Blackadder' and also as the presenter of Channel 4's 'Time Team', who will present a weekly one-hour show on the station, 'Tony Robinson's Friendly Guide to Music'.

Darren Henley, Classic FM station manager, said: "This is the biggest change to our schedule in our 14-year history. We're reaffirming everything that Classic FM is about: compelling entertainment and exciting new discoveries, all wrapped up in the greatest classical music."

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