BBC Radio 3 has announced changes to its presenter lineup, which will take effect from April 2025. The station will bid a fond farewell to Sean Rafferty, presenter of In Tune for over 25 years: he will be replaced by Katie Derham and Petroc Trelawny, whose own Breakfast slot will go to Tom McKinney.
Trelawny will step aside from presenting the Breakfast show, a role he has held since 2011. He brings experience to his new presenting slot, having presented many episodes of In Tune over the years. Taking over from Petroc, Tom McKinney (current presenter of Sunday Breakfast) will host Breakfast Monday to Friday, and the programme will be produced and presented in Salford. Katie Derham, meanwhile, is well known to BBC Radio 3 listeners and BBC2 viewers as one of the most prolific presenters of the BBC Proms.
The station will say a fond goodbye to Sean Rafferty, In Tune's long-standing host, who has welcomed scores of brilliant artists, musicians and conductors to London Broadcasting House’s Studio 80A over his 25-year tenure. In 2004 Rafferty was awarded Radio Presenter of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, and he was appointed MBE in 2017 for services to Broadcasting. He is an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
'Sean’s impact has been immeasurable'
Sam Jackson, Controller BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms, says: 'After over 50 years of broadcasting, nearly three decades of which have been on BBC Radio 3, Sean Rafferty’s impact has been immeasurable – and we all wish him the very best for the future. I’m delighted that, after over a decade of early starts, Petroc will be joining Katie to bring his wit, warmth and sparkling rapport to In Tune.
'Tom McKinney, meanwhile, is already one of our most popular broadcasters, and I’m thrilled that he’ll continue to offer the unique and eclectic selection of classical music that Radio 3 Breakfast is known for. With the programme set to be broadcast from our new studios in Salford, Radio 3 further reflects the wealth of talent – both on-air and off-air – across the UK.'
'A very special space for musicians'
Petroc Trelawny adds: 'Sean has stylishly and wittily helmed In Tune for three decades, creating a very special space for musicians to perform and share rich insights into their work and their lives. That artists, singers, conductors and composers so relish appearing on the show is in a big part thanks to Sean's personality. His long stewardship of the programme has made it a vital place to celebrate many forms of music making. Alongside Katie, I will be working hard to ensure we maintain the rich jewel of a programme he invented.'
Weekday Breakfast joins a raft of programmes already being produced from Radio 3’s Salford base: Early Music Show, Music Map, Sound of Gaming, Sound of Cinema, Classical Live, Choral Evensong, Saturday Breakfast, Sunday Breakfast and (from Oct 2024) Through the Night.
As part of the BBC’s Across the UK plan, announced by the BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie in March 2021, BBC Radio 3 is in the process of moving programmes and stations away from London to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country. BBC Radio & Music is contributing to the BBC-wide programme across its portfolio by committing to increase network spend to 50% outside London; this includes creating a single base for BBC Asian Network in Birmingham, relocating shows for BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, and Radio 2 and rooting both BBC Radio 3 and Radio 6 Music in Salford.
