Danielle Perry and Tim Smith to join Jazz FM

Danielle Perry and Tim Smith are to join Jazz FM's on-air lineup, whilst we say a fond farewell to Deb Grant

Broadcasters Danielle Perry (L) and Tim Smith (R) are set to join the Jazz FM family
Author: Alastair SteelPublished 3rd Apr 2023
Last updated 3rd Apr 2023

We're delighted to announce that broadcasters Danielle Perry and Tim Smith are joining Jazz FM family.

Danielle Perry already presents for Bauer’s Absolute Radio and Scala Radio, and will take on the weekday Midmornings programme. Her opinion is sought on music across the board, most recently by the hailed Mercury Music Prize, where she has sat on the judging panel for the past five years.

Danielle’s new daytime show will begin at 10am on Monday the 24th of April 2023.

Danielle Perry will be taking over Jazz FM's Midmornings show from the 24th of April 2023

This marks Tim Smith’s return to Jazz FM. He had previously been part of the station hosting the breakfast show before leaving to join Steve Wright in the Afternoon, of which he was part for over 20 years before it came to an end in September 2022.

Tim will present programmes on Good Friday (7 April) and Easter Monday (10 April 2023).

Tim Smith will be hosting several shows on Good Friday (7 April) and Easter Monday (10 April 2023)

With the schedule changes, Jazz FM and Bauer Media will be saying a fond farewell to Deb Grant, who will be stepping down from both her shows on Jazz FM and Scala Radio.

Deb Grant joined Jazz FM in 2017, taking over from Peter Young. She later started broadcasting her eclectic late-night show The Late Lab the following year, before taking over the Midmornings show in the Autumn of 2019.

Deb Grant, who has been a part of the Jazz FM family since 2017, will be stepping away from Bauer Media

On joining Jazz FM, Danielle Perry said: “If you came to my house chances are there would be a jazz record playing at some point… a genre so difficult to define but so wonderful to fall in love with. I feel very lucky and I'm looking forward to having some quality time immersed in the wonderful sonic world of Jazz FM.”

On returning to Jazz FM, Tim Smith said: “When I presented the Jazz FM breakfast show in 1997 and 1998, I had a ball. Not only did I get to travel the world with outside broadcasts, but most importantly I got to attend some amazing gigs to see some phenomenal music. I have longed to play jazz, soul and blues on the radio again and I’m really looking forward to returning after all these years.”

Finally, on stepping away from Bauer Media, Deb Grant said: "...I’m excited to start a new chapter but I’ll miss the brilliant Jazz FM team terribly, and even more so the amazing listeners who have kept tuning in and loving the music as much as I do. Thank you for everything".

Nick Pitts – Content Director of Jazz FM and Scala Radio says: “I can’t wait to welcome Danielle and Tim. Both are seasoned broadcasters who have our music running through their veins. Tim of course comes from these shores from years ago and it’s great to give him an opportunity to pick up that relationship with the audience as he fills in for Jamie Crick over the Easter weekend, while Danielle is a musician turned nationally successful broadcaster who studied orchestration and majored in music and image back in the day.”

“I’d also like to thank Deb Grant for an amazing 6 years on Jazz FM where the whole team will miss her enthusiasm and love for the music immensely. She’s become an outstanding presenting talent and I look forward to watching her star rise upwards into the stratosphere with her next project.”

Listen to Jazz FM

Listen to Jazz FM on DAB nationwide, on our free app, online or via your smart speaker (“Play Jazz FM”).