Charlotte Hawkins to keep pets calm on Bonfire Night with Classic FM’s Pet Classics

Classic FM is bringing back one of its biggest programmes to help keep pets and their owners relaxed and stress-free during fireworks season.

For the first time in the programme’s four-year history, Classic FM’s Pet Classics will be hosted by the station’s Sunday evening presenter and animal-lover Charlotte Hawkins.

Supported by the RSPCA, the two programmes will be broadcast on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November from 6pm to 10pm – the busiest evenings of the year for fireworks, with 2021 seeing the return of large-scale displays across the country.

Across the two evenings, Charlotte will play a selection of classical music featuring pet-related pieces from animal-loving composers. They include Edward Elgar’s last work, named Mina, after his Cairn terrier; the Piano Concerto No.17 by Mozart, who taught his pet starling to sing melodies from the piece; Reverie by Debussy, who had several cats which would wander across the piano when he was working, and Träume from the Wesendonck Lieder by Richard Wagner, whose pets included a Newfoundland called Russ and a King Charles Spaniel called Peps.

There will be lots of dedications to listeners’ pets and, once again, the station is teaming up with the RSPCA to offer practical advice and tips for owners looking to make their animals as comfortable as possible.

Bill Turnbull has hosted the programme since it was launched in 2018, but he is currently taking some time off, so Charlotte Hawkins is hosting this year.

Charlotte says: “It’s a huge privilege for me to host such a fabulous and much-loved programme on Classic FM for pets and their owners at this time.

“The classical music that we’ve chosen is super-relaxing and soothing, so I look forward to welcoming everyone to what will be our radio sanctuary. It will be wonderful to introduce classical music to a whole new audience, especially the four-legged variety!

“I know there will be one very loyal listener tuning in – my rescue dog, Bailey, who will be 17 years young on Bonfire Night!”

.@CharlotteHawkns presents Classic FM’s Pet Classics, and two special shows of classical music to help keep your pets happy and calm during this year’s Bonfire Night and fireworks season. ?????? pic.twitter.com/pGBo7rDssT

— Classic FM (@ClassicFM) November 2, 2021