Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen: 'Opera is sexy'

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has claimed that there is "nothing sexier than opera".

The Classic FM DJ, who will be a critic on new ITV1 reality series Popstar To Operastar, also said that he was pleased the genre was being taken "out of the musty old drawer" and brought into the mainstream.

"We're surrounded by opera the whole time," the former Changing Rooms presenter told ITV. "Opera's as much part of our lives as rock 'n' roll, but we don't always recognise it.

"Opera always comes out on the biggest occasions, like Royal weddings and funerals. At the World Cup, we get the Three Tenors. 'Rule Britannia', which is sung at The Last Night of the Proms, is from an opera. And the music for The X Factor is 'Carmina Burana' by Carl Orff."

Speaking about the ITV1 show, he added: "I love the fact that this is bringing opera out of the musty old drawer marked 'the past and reserved for solely for old people in smoking jackets'. There is far more sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll in opera than in Quentin Tarantino.

"Popstar to Operastar will be a spectacular watch on Friday night. There is nothing bigger or sexier than opera."

Popstar to Operastar launches on Friday night at 9pm on ITV1.