How to listen to Magic Radio Classical
The Magic of Classical music is here! We've launched Magic Classical and changed Magic Chilled.
Last updated 16th Sep 2024
Here at Magic Radio, we're so excited to share with our listeners that we’ve welcomed a new member to the Magic Radio family in the form of Scala Radio! Scala Radio has joined us and is now known as Magic Classical, as it becomes part of the Magic Radio network.
Magic Classical is the place where you can find the greatest classical music and stunning pieces from the contemporary classical musical artists of today – we call it The Magic of Classical Music.
What music will you play on Magic Classical?
At Magic Classical, we have a playlist of familiar masters such as Mozart, Beethoven and Bach alongside contemporary classical music including film, TV and game scores and instrumental re-workings of pop and rock songs, presented by our fantastic talent.
How do I listen to Magic Classical?
There are various ways – you can listen to Magic Classical online on this website, on DAB, on our Rayo App or by asking your smart speaker to "play Magic Classical”.
Which presenters will be on Magic Radio Classical?
We'll be keeping our same Scala Radio Presenters and schedule. We have the best in the business to play you the Magic of Classical Music.
Charles Nove at Breakfast: 7 - 10am, Monday - Friday
Start the day right with Charles, as he plays a blend of vibrant and soothing music for the morning and gives us a light and humorous look at the day's news stories.
Penny Smith at mid-mornings: 10am - 1pm, Monday - Friday
Penny Smith is the perfect accompaniment to your weekday morning as she brings you a mix of classical music, the Magic Classical Book Club and our Listener in Residence – your chance to chose the music across the week!
Simon Mayo: 10am - 12pm, Sunday
Simon Mayo plays a perfect Sunday morning mix of classical favourites as you devour the Sunday papers, and maybe a croissant or two!
Darren Redick:7-9pm Saturday and Sunday
As well as playing the magic of classical music on a Saturday night, Darren presents the Magic Classical Request Show on a Sunday night with the music selected by you – submit your requests here
3-7pm Saturday and Sunday
There's two doses of Jack alongside a superb weekend mix of classical music including Jack's Jukebox – those pop songs so expertly turned into classical favourites, plus an homage to Movie music on Saturday and Musical Theatre on Sunday
8-12pm Saturday and 8-1am Sunday
Enjoy calming and uplifting music with Hannah Cox every weekend morning.
YolanDa Brown: 12-3pm, Sundays
Saxophonist and composer YolanDa Brown OBE brings her unique style to Sunday lunchtimes from 12-3.
Ayanna Witter-Johnson: Saturday 12-3pm
Join composer, singer, songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson on Saturdays from 6pm.
Other Magic Radio changes - Magic Chilled has become Hits Radio Chilled
We've also made a change to Magic Chilled, as it's joined our sister station's network and has become Hits Radio Chilled.
Why has Magic Chilled changed to Hits Radio Chilled?
Our Chilled station has always played a more modern pop variety than the main station and one that fits our sister station Hits Radio well.
Meet our Magic Radio presenters
Harriet Scott
Listen to Harriet Scott on Magic Radio Breakfast every weekday from 6am - 10am
Harriet joined Magic Radio in August 2015, entertaining us on-air with her warm and fun presenting style.
She got her start on the airwaves with her own show on student radio, going on to host a string of radio programmes, picking up awards along the way, and making a name for herself as one of the top radio presenters in the country. In September 2017, Harriet joined the Magic Breakfast Show.
Her list of celebrity interviews is pretty impressive – including George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Stevie Wonder and, a personal highlight, Kermit the Frog.
When Harriet isn't on air, she loves spending time with her two boys, going on muddy walks with her Labrador, and cooking for friends.
Gok Wan
Listen to Gok Wan with Harriet Scott on Magic Radio Breakfast every weekday from 6am - 10am
Gok Wan is a celebrated body-positive fashion guru, who became a household name thanks to his impressive career in fashion, television, acting and even DJ-ing. The British fashion consultant is arguably most known for his groundbreaking show How to Look Good Naked on Channel 4, which saw the expert help individuals embrace and love their bodies, and develop personal style they can wear with confidence.
Gok is also an author and chef, having released various books on style, cooking and even an autobiography, he regularly appears on ITV's This Morning and is also a very talented DJ
Nicki Chapman
Mellow Magic with Nicki Chapman Monday – Thursday 8pm
An accomplished TV presenter and broadcaster, Nicki Chapman has been the face of BBC's Escape To The Country and two spin-offs, I Escape To The Country and Celebrity Escape To The Country. Nicki is also part of the BBC's mainstay presenting team having hosted the RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 2006.
Nicki's broadcasting career has also seen her sit in at Radio 2 for Zoe Ball's Breakfast Show, Michael Ball's Sunday Love Songs and Romesh Ranganathan's Saturday Show, as well as presenting a number of specialist documentaries for the station. As of 2024, she became the host of the Official Midsomer Murders Mayhem podcast. Nicki has also had an Amazon Number 1 Bestseller with her memoir So Tell Me What You Want lifting a lid on her influential career as music publicist to music giants such The Spice Girls, Prince, Take That, Amy Winehouse and David Bowie, to name a few.
Nick Snaith
Magic's Workday every weekday 10am – 1pm
Nick Snaith joined Magic Radio in September 2014 bringing his inimitable style to Magic listeners all over the nation. Working in media since 1998, Nick has some impressive credentials which include working on the BBC1's Holiday programme. The series saw him trekking around the world for three series travelling from Valencia to America and Morocco to Northern Cyprus, which was his favourite location.
Outside Nick's media life he has owned nightclubs and pubs for the past ten years. His recent endeavours saw him strip out a 200 year old pub in Shropshire and transform it into a thriving gastropub.
Nick is sports fanatic and has taken on the 45 mile Palace to Palace Bike Ride for the Prince's Trust, as well as the London Winter Run for Magic Radio.
Piloting planes is Nick's other passion, he has flown across most of Europe and tries to fly most weekends. Flying at 500ft high along the Dalmatian Coast rates as one of Nick's most memorable experiences!
Neev Spencer
Magic's Workday every weekday 1pm - 4pm
A regular contributor on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Neev is an award-winning presenter and before joining Magic, was a listener favourite at KISS.
Tom and Kat
Hometime with Tom and Kat
Starting off at Magic on the Saturday Breakfast Tom Price has been entertaining Magic Radio listeners since 2016. Tom is famous for his standup comedy and TV career appearing in shows such Doctor Who spin-off series, Torchwood and his podcast 'My Mate Bought a Toaster'.
Kat, an accomplished broadcaster, has worked on multiple stations and joined Magic Radio to host weekend evenings in 2020, later moving to weekend afternoons.
Dan Morrissey
Monday - Friday 7pm - 8pm
Saturday Mornings 10am - 1pm
Dan grew up on the sunny South Coast, then Bristol, without a TV in the house. This has come up in therapy a few times, but also explains his love for radio...
Having worked on stations in and around the South, and then on Magic's sister stations across the Midlands he joined us at the start of 2019.
Join him every Saturday from 10am for more of the songs you love, some giggles and plenty of chances to get your own moment of fame...
He also pops up around the place when other presenters are on hard-earned holidays, so listen out for him.
Lynn Parsons
Friday – Sunday Mellow Magic 8pm – 11pm
Lynn Parsons began life as a Vision Mixer in Television. Later moving on to Present Radio and Television. Firstly, for all 4 BBC National Radio Stations, the World Service and many of the National Commercial Radio stations too.
There have been hundreds of celebrity interviews along the way with everyone from Rock n Roll Royalty, Literary Gods and the occasional Prime Minister too!
Fascinated by How things Work, wherever possible Lynn has combined Broadcasting with Adventures involving technology including Looping the loop in a Tiger Moth, Formula 1, flying
in Sea King Helicopters, looking for Submarines in an R.A.F. Nimrod and experimenting in an R.A.F. Typhoon simulator.
Lynn Loves Sport ~ Marathons, Trampolining, Swimming and more recently you'll find her doing a Handstand on her Yoga Mat.
She drives a Vintage bright yellow VW Convertible Beetle called Tallullah!
Mel Giedroyc
The Magic Request show every Sunday from 10am
Mel Giedroyc is a TV presenter, writer and actress. She is known for her work alongside Sue Perkins. Shows such as the multi Bafta-winning Great British Bake Off (BBC) and Light Lunch (Channel 4) which made them household names. Mel has appeared in sitcoms and panel shows, as well as on stage, most recently in Stephen Sondheim's Olivier Award winning Company at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End. Mel and Sue were reunited in the comedy series Hitmen for Sky.
Mel has been a regular presenter for BBC's Children in need and Eurovision. Mel can currently be seen hosting a comedy panel show Unforgivable for Dave now in its fourth series. Mel's first novel 'The Best Things' was released in 2021 and she is currently writing her second novel. She has also just recently finished "Starter for Ten" at Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
Emma B
Weekend Afternoons 1pm-4pm
Emma B has forged a highly successful broadcast career spanning over 15 years at some of the world's best-known radio stations. She became known as Emma B when she worked for Creation Records alongside Oasis and Primal Scream.
Although her first taste of radio was when she was 8, as part of Timmy Mallet's Radio Oxford weekend show, the real break came when she worked at the legendary Radio Caroline (at Bristol dock) on the infamous 'Boat That Rocked' before moving to London and selling advertising and then writing articles for magazines including Elle, New Woman, Q and NME. Whilst trying to forge a path back to radio, Emma worked in the music business at Creation Records and then at Island Records with artists like U2, Tricky and PJ Harvey.
Emma joined BBC Radio 1 in 1998 and in April 2000 she co-presented the Sunday Surgery show, alongside Dr Mark Hamilton. The Sunday Surgery dealt with ground-breaking social and health issues for teenagers, including sex, drugs, poverty and crime. She won 4 Sony Awards for it and has been singled out as having saved lives through the show.
Emma has previously lived in Ibiza with her husband and 2 children where she had a small PR company dealing with clients such as Sony /Columbia Records. She had a weekly radio show on Ibiza-based station Sonica and hosted a series of live radio broadcasts from the Pacha Terrace and the DJ Awards 2010. Emma took a short break from radio to work in the charity sector at Macmillan Cancer Support & Teenage Cancer Trust, using her skills to fundraise and spread the word.
Emma returned to radio when she joined Magic Radio in 2017, where she now hosts weekdays from 1pm – 4pm. Emma's infectious sense of humour and mischievousness keeps the UK going all afternoon.
Emma loves arts and culture and a good book. Her TV favourites are any murder mysteries from Vera to Midsummer Murders and Death in Paradise to Trigger Point. Anything written by Jed Mercurio with Vicky McClure is a must watch, as well as an Agatha Christie thrown in for good measure. Emma, like the nation, has been gripped by Succession as well as recent dramas including It's a Sin, Sex Education & Euphoria.
She's also a committed theatre fan and is as happy singing along to Dear Evan Hanson as she is hosting the red carpet at the Olivier Awards. And at the opposite end of the glamour stakes, loves nothing better than getting her hands dirty in her garden
Sonali Shah
Sunday Breakfast - 6am - 10am
Sonali began her professional broadcasting career in BBC Radio soon after graduating from university in 2001. She produced and presented news and business programmes on the World Service and Radio 5 Live. As well as being the Sunday Breakfast presenter on Magic Radio, Sonali is currently a host of BBC One's Escape to the Country and major Events for the BBC. She often hosts episodes of ITV's Tonight and regularly appears on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch. Sonali is well known for being one of the faces BBC Sport and before that, a long-serving presenter of Newsround. Sonali was part of the presentation teams for Delhi 2010, London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 and joined the BBC Crimewatch team in 2015. She was a regular host on the National Lottery Live Draw on BBC One. Away from the camera and the microphone, Sonali is an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust and the British Asian Trust and regularly supports Barnardo's. Sonali has released her first children's book, The Best Diwali Ever, this year based on the religious festival.
Paul Hayes
Early Breakfast Monday – Thursday 4am-6am
Paul Hayes joined Magic in 2013 after returning from 3 years living and working in Dubai, UAE and Montreal, Canada, where he went from nearly 50 degree heat and sandstorms to minus 40 and snowstorms.
Paul is obsessed with cooking and food after taking two 'Haute Cuisine' courses. When he's not in the kitchen rustling up comfort food and trying out new recipes, Paul loves being out in the countryside, at the coast, or in a theatre.
He's massively into cars and has been since he was 4 years old and one of his favourite experiences was a track day at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.
Join Paul Monday to Friday on Magic to start the day on Early Breakfast (4-6am) and weekends 4-8pm.
You can also hear him on Mellow Magic weekdays 9am-12pm and Magic Soul 2-5pm.
Jim Davis
Weekends 7pm - 10pm
Jim joined the Magic team in 2019 & is currently the host of the Weekend Evening show.
He has been presenting on the radio for over 25 years and loves his job! You may have heard Jim on several other stations over the years, but now he is proud to call Magic his home!
Jim is a huge dog lover and keen foodie. He is also an avid traveller (although he doesn't have a lot of spare time!) as you'll also find Jim presenting weekday mid-mornings on our sister station Mellow Magic (9am-12pm) as well as weekend lunchtimes on Magic At The Musicals (12pm-3pm).
You can find Jim on Twitter and Instagram @JimDavisOnAir
Nicole Appleton
Saturdays - 7pm - 8pm Nicole's 90s Show
Best known as a member of the pop group All Saints who enjoyed huge success with two multi-platinum albums as well as record sales exceeding 12 million worldwide, Nicole made her radio presenting debut on the station last year when she hosted a series of specials shows on female artists.
Eloise Carr
Fridays - 4am - 6am
As well as being on Magic Chilled, you can hear Eloise if you're up at the crack of dawn every Friday at 4am until 6am on Magic or if you're after a little lie in, she's also on the Magic Breakfast show every weekday from 6-10, doing the travel.