Listeners to BBC Radio 3 will notice a few differences from April as the station unveils a new presenter line-up, some fresh weekend programming and a late-night After Dark zone
World on 3 and Jazz Line-Up will now be known as Music Planet and J to Z, while Saturday Classics will be replaced by a show called Inside Music. This Saturday-afternoon programme will see musicians leading listeners through a selection of music, beginning with percussionist Colin Currie on Saturday 7 April.
New regular voices include the celebrated baritone Roderick Williams as guest presenter on Choir and Organ, while Jumoké Fashola joins J to Z. The award-winning broadcaster and singer says it is a ‘total dream’ to be joining the presenting team.
The After Dark zone will lead listeners through existing programming every weeknight from 10pm, with April highlights including a week-long season on Japanese music and art called Night Blossoms.
Finally, drama lovers will now be able to enjoy Drama on 3 in an earlier Sunday evening slot at 7.30pm, launching with Ibsen’s The Wild Duck (starring David Threlfall) on Sunday 8 April.
Controller Alan Davey sees the changes as offering a fresh take on the familiar:
‘BBC Radio 3 listeners are, we know, up for adventure, discovering new things and getting new angles and depths of knowledge on the familiar. So as part of our mission to continue to grow, develop and reinvent ourselves we are introducing some changes to our scheduled programmes – offering new takes on familiar subjects and giving listeners new ways to discover our rich cultural content.’
