The BBC has denied claims that it is "dumbing down" the Proms by booking West End singer Michael Ball to perform an evening of show tunes.

An Evening with Michael Ball will take place on August 27 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Nicholas Kenyon, the Proms controller, said: "I think he is one of the great, intelligent singing artists alive today. He deserves a place at the Proms just as much as performers in the great classical tradition...Our job is to cover the whole waterfront. The real test here is the audience. We are responding to what audiences want to hear."

Announcing the full BBC Proms season, Kenyon said that his 12th and final season united the best names in classical music with the most dynamic, young, emerging figures. From next year Roger Wright will take over and will combine the position with his current role as controller of Radio 3.

Over 250,000 people attended the concerts at Albert Hall last year. Twelve million watched a Prom broadcast on either BBC One, Two or Four. This year's season runs from July 13 to September 8.