Ex-BBC presenter Bill Turnbull to become Classic FM weekend host
Bill Turnbull, former BBC Breakfast presenter, is set to host two weekend programmes on Classic FM from April, having left the BBC last month.
Turnbull will present the radio station’s 10am to 1pm slot on Saturdays and Sundays. Of his 30-year journalism career, 15 of those were spent with the BBC breakfast show, before he stepped down in February.
Delighted to confirm that I'm joining @ClassicFM at weekends 10 till 1 from April 9th. Can anyone lend me a baton?
— Bill Turnbull (@billtu) March 21, 2016
In his mid-morning radio slot, Turnbull he will go up against Graham Norton on BBC Radio 2 Saturday and Michael Ball on Sunday.
He said it would be "a real joy to turn from news to music, especially at a more civilised hour", the BBC reported.
He is also set to host the new BBC quiz show Think Tank, which will begin broadcasting on 9 April.
Sam Jackson, managing editor of Classic FM, said Turnbull was “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.”
Alexander Armstrong, host of BBC game show Pointless, will join Turnbull in the station's new weekend schedule, taking over from him at 1pm on both days.
Existing presenters Alan Titchmarsh and Aled Jones will also join the refreshed weekend line-up.