Bill Turnbull joins Classic FM new weekend line-up

21 March 2016, 09:00 | Updated: 6 April 2016, 16:03

‘It will be a real joy to turn from news to music, especially at a more civilised hour’, says former Breakfast TV host

Bill Turnbull, one of the nation’s favourite broadcasters, is joining Classic FM this weekend to host two brand new programmes.

Bill will present Saturday and Sunday mid-mornings from 10am to 1pm on the UK’s most popular classical music station, which now attracts 5.5 million listeners each week.

From a highly successful career in television news, Bill spent 15 years waking up the nation each morning on BBC Breakfast, helping the show secure the number one spot in the ratings. Earlier this month, he was voted Best News Presenter at the Television and Radio Industries Club Awards.

Bill’s programmes form part of Classic FM’s new weekend schedule. Alan Titchmarsh becomes the presenter of the station’s Saturday breakfast show (7 to 10am) and Aled Jones is the new voice of Sunday breakfast (7 to 10am).

Alexander Armstrong presents two hours of lunchtime favourites every Saturday and Sunday from 1pm, while Classic FM's weekend line-up is completed by a range of other long-standing programmes, hosted by presenters such as Charlotte Green, Nicholas Owen, Myleene Klass and Alex James.

Bill Turnbull said: “I am delighted to be joining Classic FM, with its distinguished line-up of presenters. It will be a real joy to turn from news to music, especially at a more civilised hour, and I’m looking forward to it very much.”

Sam Jackson, managing editor of Classic FM, said: "Bill Turnbull is one of this country’s finest broadcasters and I’m so pleased to welcome him to the Classic FM family. Bill is one of those rare presenters who everyone feels like they know. His warmth and wit have endeared him to millions of television viewers and now we’re thrilled that he’s joining Classic FM’s weekend team. Bill is going to find himself in excellent company and we can’t wait for him to make his debut behind the Classic FM microphone."

Full Classic FM weekend schedule from April 9th 2016