2018 will see new shows, live concerts at lunch, a move away from long interviews, while Keys to Music gets the chop.

ABC Classic FM has announced its 2018 lineup, which will feature a new weekday Lunchtime Concert slot, hosted by Mairi Nicolson, as well as a series of one-hour ‘gateway’ programmes in the afternoon.

In other changes to the lineup, Phillip Sametz will no longer be presenting Classic Breakfast in 2018 and will not be part of the ABC Classic FM lineup, with the flagship programme to be presented by Russell Torrance in an extended slot that will run from 6am to 10am. “We would like to thank Phillip for making such a contribution to Classic Breakfast,” said ABC Classic FM Content Manager Richard Buckham in the station’s press release. “But the time is right to take the Breakfast programme in a new direction.”

“We’re looking at a slightly different sound for Breakfast next year, we think it’s time to move on to another presenter,” Buckham told Limelight. “It’s no criticism of Phillip because in terms of how the programme is now he’s done a very good job, we’ve been very happy. But you know, these things...