Amstell Fills Xfm Saturday Slot
Simon Amstell will be hosting a Saturday afternoon show on Xfm, presenting the 1-3pm slot from tomorrow for six weeks until mid September.
Amstell is the latest celebrity filling in for comedy duo, Adam and Joe, and is taking over from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant who made a welcome return to Xfm’s Saturday schedule in May (see Gervais Rejoins Xfm To Boost Saturday Schedules).
The new show will be a mix of music and celebrity chat with pop-rockers Do me Bad Things and actress Catherine Tate joining Amstell for his first show.
Welcoming Amstell to the show Andy Ashton, Xfm’s programme director said: “Simon Amstell is one of the most exciting and intelligent presenters out there. He did a few shows for us last year that people still talk about now. Be it TV or radio his unique approach sets him apart from the rest and it has long been an ambition of mine to get him back on Xfm.
Ashton added: “it is an absolute pleasure to confirm that he will cover Adam and Joe’s Saturday show until their return in mid September. Hot of the heels of Ricky Gervais’ run this keeps Saturday afternoons on Xfm the home of exciting and innovative radio.”
Amstell will join the newly re-vamped weekend schedule, which includes Sony Award winning Lucio on breakfast and a higher profile time slot of Xfm’s hip-hop programme, The All City Show with Dan Greenpeace.
Last month, Xfm was awarded the coveted Manchester FM radio licence, marking the station’s first permanent regional FM expansion outside of the capital (see Xfm Scoops Close Fought Manchester FM Licence).
Industry regulator, Ofcom, confirmed the win for the GCap Media-station, following a closely fought battle with applications from several of the nation’s largest radio operators.
Xfm carried out a trial broadcast within the Manchester area last summer, featuring a mix of content from the station’s London broadcasts, as well as some local programming between 10am and 4pm. The station’s drivetime show, fronted by Lauren Laverne, was also broadcast from Manchester in the second week of the month-long trial, as was station regular Richard Bacon (see Xfm To Broadcast In Manchester Ahead Of FM Licence Bid).
Xfm: 0871 222 1049 www.xfm.co.uk