Chris Tarrant joins Radio 2 for a week

Chris Tarrant has agreed to appear on BBC Radio 2 later in the month for a week-long cover stint on Steve Wright's afternoon show.

From May 17 to 21, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host will take over the Steve Wright In The Afternoon daily programme from 2pm to 5pm.

Tarrant was a regular fixture on the London radio scene from 1987 to 2004 as presenter of the Capital Radio Breakfast Show.

Last December, he also joined singer and songwriter Nik Kershaw to present the Great British Songbook Of The Eighties on Radio 2.

"Steve Wright has been a great mate of mine for more than 25 years," said Tarrant.

"He's been doing great radio for as long as I can remember and it is a real thrill to take over his show for a week while the distinguished old gentleman takes a well-earned holiday."

Radio 2 head of programming Lewis Carnie added: "Chris is one of the UK's most innovative and much-loved broadcasters and I'm delighted that he has a week-long stint in the afternoon hot seat to entertain over six million listeners."

Yesterday, Graham Norton started a fortnight-long cover stint for Chris Evans on Radio 2's breakfast show.