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South Bank Show to return on Sky Arts

Thursday 01 December, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Melvyn Bragg revives long-running series axed by ITV.

Fans of The South Bank Show have been given an early Christmas present.

The long-running programme is returning next year, though only Sky customers with the Sky Arts channel will have the privilege of watching it.

Veteran broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, who has hosted the former ITV show since its launch in 1978, said he was “chuffed to bits that The South Bank Show is back in town”. It was axed by ITV in 2009 when Lord Bragg stepped down as the network’s arts editor.

“I very much wanted to continue to make The South Bank Show and I'm delighted that Sky Arts has given me the chance to do that,” he said.

Sky Arts, available with the satellite provider’s Entertainment Pack from £20 a month, will also broadcast the annual South Bank Awards, taking place in May 2012.

It has also screened archive editions of the programme, which over the years has featured a diverse array of performers, including Ken Dodd, The Smiths, Sir Alec Guinness and Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

Lord Bragg said he hoped the show’s new outing would use its original signature theme tune, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He said a replacement song “would have to be bloody good to beat it”.

As well as holding a seat in the House of Lords, the 72-year-old presenter has helped develop BBC programmes since parting ways with ITV. He has also hosted the popular Radio 4 show In Our Time since 1998.