John Brunning to step down from presenting daily Classic FM show

Classic FM Drivetime host, John Brunning has announced he’s stepping down from presenting a daily show.

Posting on Twitter, John said: So, today’s the day! – I’ll soon be stepping back from presenting @ClassicFM’s More Music Drive across the week.

“But I’ll still be spending plenty of time with the Classic FM listeners, my ‘other family’, in the months ahead, presenting other shows across the schedule.

John, who is also a musician and composer, is the last of the original presenters from when the station launched in 1992.

Originally Classic FM’s afternoon news presenter, he has hosted numerous programmes on the station, won many awards and interviewed the world’s biggest classical music stars, including Luciano Pavarotti, Ludovico Einaudi, Howard Shore, James Horner, Lang Lang and Renée Fleming. This is alongside his successful career as a composer in his own right.

He has spent more than a decade hosting Classic FM’s More Music Drive (now broadcast Monday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm) and his final show in that slot will be on Friday 14 April at 4pm.

John said: “The 30-plus years that I’ve been with Classic FM have been a remarkable journey with several turns along the road. So I’m delighted that having decided on this latest change of direction, I’ll still be spending plenty of time with the Classic FM listeners, my ‘other family’, in the months ahead, as well as having more time to compose.”

Philip Noyce, Classic FM’s managing editor, said: “From the moment Classic FM launched on air in 1992, John has been – and will continue to be – a very popular and respected member of the presenting team. For more than three decades, he has been a friend and companion to millions of listeners, with his effortless ability to share his love of classical music with everyone. While we will miss his regular company on weekday afternoons, we look forward to the future as John continues to be part of the Classic FM family on-air.”