Page 121 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

27 February 2024

BBC Radio 3 announces changes in programming

Hattie Butterworth

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
The broadcaster introduces new presenters, a 'lighter' Friday music

show and moves speech programmes to BBC Radio 4

The BBC has announced changes to its classical programming. BBC Radio 3's new

Controller Sam Jackson has revealed a new schedule with new presenters including
Soweto Kinch, Nicola Benedetti, Jools Holland and Clive Myrie while the television

arm is set present new programmes and films focusing on classical music, as well as
broadcasting the final of BBC Young Musician on BBC 2 for the first time since 2012.

BBC Radio 3’s new schedule, announced today, will see regular shows

including Breakfast, Essential Classics and Private Passions extended, with
broadcasters Tom Service and Sara Mohr-Pietsch from Music Matters hosting new

programmes. The changes sees a shift away from speech programming which are
set, largely, to move to BBC Radio 4, with the exception of The Essay, Drama on
3 and the Sunday Feature.

Elsewhere in the new schedule, Composer of the Week moves to an afternoon slot,

while Breakfast and Essential Classics are extended in duration (as is Private
Passions on Sunday mornings), and move onto Live on 3, which replaces the

lunchtime and afternoon concert slots.

The Music Matters programme, currently broadcast weekly and focusing on issues

within the classical music world, will reformat, presenting content in longer-running
series, rather than single programmes. Violinist and Director of Edinburgh

International Festival Nicola Benedetti will make her Radio 3 presenting debut with a
series for Music Matters focusing on the history and impact of the Edinburgh

International Festival. Journalist Richard Morrison will explore the UK’s classical
music sector and music education as it undergoes funding cuts. Clemency Burton-
Hill will host a series on the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, meeting Daniel