Just in: BBC Radio 3 retires key presenter
NewsIn the latest reshuffle on the classical channel, Sean Rafferty is to leave after presenting the drivetime show In Tune since 1997.
He says: ‘“I shall miss the truly remarkable and life-enhancing musicians, many coming to the studio ever since they began their careers: a joy. And to be able to share it all with the listeners at home: a privilege. They’ve been like family.’
In other changes, Petroc Trelawny will share In Tune presenting with Katie Derham.
Tom McKinney will presents the weekday breakfast programme from Salford.
The BBC says: In 2025 BBC Radio 3 bids a fond farewell to Sean Rafferty, the longstanding host of In Tune after over 25 years delighting listeners. Sean has been the recognisable voice of In Tune since he became the main presenter in 1997 and has welcomed the brightest and best artists, musicians and conductors to London Broadcasting House’s Studio 80A. In 2004 Rafferty was awarded Radio Presenter of the Year at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, and was appointed MBE in 2017 for services to Broadcasting. He is an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Music and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.
Sam Jackson, Controller BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms, says: “After over 50 years of broadcasting, nearly three decades of which have been on BBC Radio 3, Sean Rafferty’s impact has been immeasurable – and we all wish him the very best for the future. I’m delighted that, after over a decade of early starts, Petroc will be joining Katie to bring his wit, warmth and sparkling rapport to In Tune. Tom McKinney, meanwhile, is already one of our most popular broadcasters, and I’m thrilled that he’ll continue to offer the unique and eclectic selection of classical music that Radio 3 Breakfast is known for. With the programme set to be broadcast from our new studios in Salford, Radio 3 further reflects the wealth of talent – both on-air and off-air – across the UK.”
Rafferty, 76, was recruited by Radio 3 from BBC Northern Ireland.
Sean Flattery, as he is affectionately known, will be much missed. His passion for music is genuine.
On several occasions I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at the opera, not just at ROH it should be said, doing his research seeing the show so he could talk from experience about it the next day on In Tune.
Petroc is an old ham with a puffed up ego of his own self-impotance, whilst Katie D reads an autocue ably enough, I suppose.
A further nail in Aunty Beeb’s already over-nailed coffin.
At least the BBC’s had the decency to include an article about his retirement on its “Culture” webpage. I was expecting them to ignore Mr Rafferty’s retirement (it ignores so much Classical music news, including recently the sad death of James Loughran), and amazingly as so much space is devoted to Taylor Swift and Glastonbury these days. As for Mr Jackson’s comments about Petroc Trelawny and “his wit, warmth and sparkling rapport” I think a “puffed up ego” is more appropriate. I shuddered when he translated from Classic FM, a station I only have to suffer if I’m in a relative’s car. I wondered also if your comment “self-impotance” is not a double typo: “importance” or “impotence” and intentionally so?…
Spot on. I’m amazed how much the Today programme and news bulletins will allot to obits on deceased Pop ‘musicians’ and play excerpts from their music. By contrast people from the classical world are never mentioned.
so he should retire at 76.
abroad you retire at 65.
the new generation need to
have work. not people that
who have worked over 50 years.
There’s no mandatory retirement age in the UK. Are you saying conductors should retire at 65 so the youngsters can get a chance? Bernstein, Tennstedt, Giulini, Mravinsky, Karajan, Klemperer, Solti, Blomstedt, Böhm all came to their peak after 65 among others…
They are not employees. They are independent. They can work at any age.
Talent, knowledge and excellence should never be forcibly retired. They show the younger ones the way forward. Dead wood in the BBC should be disposed of humanely.
Your headline suggests that he was eased out, rather than it being his own decision. Do you have any evidence for this? At 76, it may well be his own choice. We know nothing about his health and/or family circumstances (nor should we), but these might well be behind the decision.
More absolutely terrible news. R3 is going to the dogs even more quickly than I thought. Constant brass band music, even more creep from film and TV music and the departure to InTune of Petroc Trelawney is going to alienate the breakfast audience.
Constant brass band music? Haven’t you been told a million times not to exaggerate?
Radio 3 is now a slightly upmarket version of Classic Fm but descending fast into the mire of mediocrity.
Why don’t they get someone new outside of Radio 3? I’m free…
That’s me off to R4 of a morning, then.
Give it a few days, then you’ll be back.
Pity they retired the wrong half of the In Tune team.
This may be considered an off-topic comment but I am a little perplexed at all the negative feelings about Radio 3. I am a regular listener to Radio 3 in Concert broadcasts at 7:30PM. A recent one, recorded on the 24th of May at the Barbican with the BBC Symphony, Chorus and two outstanding soloists conducted by Sakari Oramo, featured VW’s A Sea Symphony. This work has always been a favorite of mine. I have of course the two Boult recordings and others, but Oramo’s performance and the recorded sound is so outstanding that each time I listen to it I get tears in my eyes. I hope that someday this performance will be issued on CD. In the meantime you have 17 more days to listen to it on their website. Please do so. You will be glad you did.
Another plus about these broadcasts is the excellent commentary.
I’m a fan of Radio 3’s concert broadcasts as well.
It’s the rest of the day’s output that is appalling.
I have some mixed feelings about Radio 3; it’s the best radio station I know of but at the same time I don’t think quite as good as it used to be. Both Robert Simpson & Robert Layton, highly respected former producers, expressed concerns about a decline in standards when they resigned/retired. Though there are still some good presenters/announcers such as Donald Macleod, Andrew McGregor (but not quite as good as Richard Osborne), Penny Gore, Fiona Talkington & Michael Berkeley.
I think that many will be dry-eyed at the news.
But isn’t that what the Poms are known for? Stiff upper lip and all that.
Not a day too soon, as far as I’m concerned.
A seriously tragic loss. Sean on In Tune has always been a regular Rad 3 highlight for me. I will really miss him and his unique style and approach
I am sad to hear this. I always loved his voice and relaxed style. Great pity.
Did an ‘In Tune’ with him once…wonderful (and knowledgeable) company.
As a regular visitor to the In Tune studio I have to say that Sean is a legend and we will miss having a lovely chat and playing for such a friend, live on air.
Many years ago Sean Rafferty welcomed Nikolai Demidenko as a guest on his show. Demidenko played a sonata by Scarlatti, at which point he asked the Russian pianist if he had ever considered changing his name and suggested “Nikolai Domenico Demidenko” as an option. Demidenko wasn’t amused and informed Mr Rafferty that he was quite happy with his name and didn’t want to change it.
Have to be honest and say that more often than not I switch off In Tune these days. I am fully aware that Mr R has many fans; I am not one. When we have had other, stand-in presenters they have all been better interviewer. So I look forward hugely to Petroc taking this on.
I’m very sorry to hear that he is leaving.As well as his great musical knowledge he hasa very endearing speaking voice unlike the awful Tom McKinney.
Off topic somewhat. My main overall feeling of R3 ? I would miss it intensely if it wasn’t here …but here’s a gripe…many times I switch on R3 and after a while I check the radio….is it working ?
Yes, it is but again R3 is playing extremely long and ultra quiet music . Please don’t get annoyed , sure it’s part of the library of music and we love that too but on the radio it does not seem to work.(to me) At home with CD yes…but radio ..? Only the dedicated listener in a quiet room undisturbed can appreciate long very pp music via radio. This is just MY opinion. One other thing …the weekend, particulaly Saturday day time …yak yak yak yak … wheres the music ?