BBC presenters in piano challenge for charity

PRESENTERS such as Nicky Campbell, Jane Garvey and Shaun Keaveny are to be transformed from complete novices to concert musicians for a BBC celebration of the piano.

Weather host Carol Kirkwood and silver medal-winning Olympic pentathlete Samantha Murray are also among the figures who will be given six weeks of training before potentially braving a gala show next month.

Their progress will be part of a six week Piano Season across BBC television and radio.

The programmes will include increased coverage of the Leeds International Piano Competition, with a series about the finalists on BBC4 and a live broadcast of the final on Radio 3.

The budding musicians –who also include Radio 1’s Dev, Tim Smith from Radio 2’s Steve Wright Show and Radio 3 jazz host Jez Nelson – will be put through their paces by a teacher, with the aim of making it to a gala concert in Cardiff on 29 October in aid of Children In Need.

Radio 3 controller Roger Wright said: “The piano has the ability to convey a range of emotions and the power of a whole orchestra.

“Over six weeks we will be exploring this remarkable instrument; its history, mechanics and influence, as well as delving into the lives of the people behind the instrument and the music created for it.”