BBC 6 unveils new breakfast show host

Shaun Keaveny is to present BBC 6 Music’s weekday breakfast show from April 2, taking over from comedian Phill Jupitus.

Before joining 6 Music last year in an evening slot, Keaveny presented the Friday breakfast show on London's Xfm where he helped to secure a 2006 Sony Gold Award for Xfm's Rock School, co-presenting with Lauren Laverne.

Keaveny said: "It's difficult to express how excited I am about taking the 6 Music breakfast chair without resorting to colourful Anglo-Saxon language. To get the opportunity to wake up the digital-listening nation with the best old and new music in the world and my shoddy gags is the cherry atop a huge, inedible cake."

As well as spots on comedy shows for Paramount and Channel 4, Keaveny is a regular pundit and narrator on ITV, Channel 4, Five and Sky One shows, as well as being the new 'voice' of Sky One.

Lesley Douglas, controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: "I have long admired Shaun Keaveny – his irreverence, humour and love of music will make him the perfect new breakfast show presenter as we move 6 Music into its sixth year. Phill Jupitus is, of course, a hard act to follow. Phill's commitment and passion has been key in building 6 Music's audience and reputation."

Jupitus said: "After five years of getting up at the opposite end of my usual working day, the past half decade of wrongly credited tracks, poorly prepared interviews and borderline profanity has been an unbridled joy. One of the most satisfying things about being at 6 Music from the beginning has been watching the steady growth of our enthusiastic and singularly quirky listeners."

Jupitus will be making a return to stand-up comedy this year, and will also appear in a play at the Assembly Rooms at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.


BBC 6 Music, which marks its fifth anniversary next month, has also announced new shows for The Queens of Noize duo on Saturday afternoons, and a new Friday night show for DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts.

Lead singer of acclaimed Manchester based band Elbow, is also to present a new show on Sunday evenings, and former music manager George Lamb is to present a live music round up, The Dream Ticket on weekday evenings.