BBC Music has announced its plans for TV coverage of the BBC Proms, including the addition of Jess Gillam to presenting duties.
Extensive coverage of the world’s largest classical music festival – which runs July 19 to September 14 – will be available across BBC TV and Radio. Twenty-five Proms concerts will be screened on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and CBeebies, alongside the full coverage on BBC Radio 3.
Following her performance at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018, Decca-signed Jess Gillam will join the core presenting line-up of the BBC Proms television coverage, alongside Katie Derham, Suzy Klein and Tom Service.
The 21-year-old saxophonist and broadcaster became the youngest-ever permanent presenter on BBC Radio 3 in April, fronting her own weekly programme This Classical Life. She has performed at the BAFTAs and the National Portrait Gallery Annual Gala.
Gillam said: “The BBC Proms is a truly incredible celebration of music and at any Prom, I am completely taken by the electric atmosphere and connection created between performer and audience. Making my festival debut in 2017 and performing at the iconic Last Night of the Proms in 2018 are both highlights of my career so far, so to be returning as a presenter is really exciting!”
First-time Proms presenters Clara Amfo, Cerys Matthews, Isata Kanneh-Mason and Kwame Ryan will also take on hosting duties this summer.
There’s definitely something for everyone this summer as we dive into this iconic festival
Jan Younghusband
Katie Derham will present concerts including the First and Last Nights of the BBC Proms, as well as the relaunched BBC Two magazine show, Proms Encore, which airs on Saturday evenings from July 27.
Proms Encore will be taken out of the studio and instead will be broadcast from a specially constructed outdoor bandstand, located next to the Albert Memorial, near the Royal Albert Hall.
Each edition of Proms Encore will conclude with a performance, including mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, as well as siblings Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Isata Kanneh-Mason.
Jan Younghusband, head of commissioning, BBC Music Television, said: “We’re looking forward to sharing fantastic highlights from this year’s Proms season on TV through our concert broadcasts as well as our refreshed magazine show, Proms Encore. There’s definitely something for everyone this summer as we dive into this iconic festival and the rich musical world to which it belongs, placing musicians centre stage and bringing audiences around the country the incredible atmosphere of the Proms from the Royal Albert Hall.”
Guy Freeman, MD, Livewire Pictures, said: “With such a rich variety of world-class performers and music within this year’s Proms, our production teams, presenters and guests are poised to share their passion and expertise with viewers, not only within the televised concerts but also within the lively conversation and features of Proms Encore, in its new bandstand home.”
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