John Suchet to host Classic FM show

[dutchman]

Former ITN presenter John Suchet has joined Classic FM as part of a major overhaul of the station's summer schedule.

Suchet, who has written five books about Beethoven and the music he created, will present a new three-hour show on Sunday lunchtimes from 12pm to 3pm, starting on July 4.

The new show is part of a major revamp of the programming and presentation lineup at Classic FM, which attracts 5.5m listeners every week.

The Sony Radio Academy and Arqiva Commercial Radio Award-winning A to Z Of Classic FM, presented by Blur bass player Alex James, will move to a new Sunday afternoon slot between 3pm and 5pm.

Myleene Klass will also present a new "laid-back late-night music show" on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 10pm.

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's Sunday morning programme will be extended by an hour from 9am to 12pm.

David Mellor's New CD Show will move to 6pm on Saturday evenings, and he will also get another show on Sunday nights dedicated to the greatest classical music performances.

In the weekday schedule, Mark Forrest will move from afternoons to an extended breakfast show and John Brunning will shift his late-night show to an early evening slot.

Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor will move to a 10pm timeslot and be extended to four hours. Classic FM regulars Simon Bates and Jamie Crick have also had their daytime shows extended.