Actor Stephen Fry, newsreader Katie Derham and a 22-year-old novice are among the new presenters at commercial station Classic FM.

Fry and Derham will be joining the weekend line-up as the UK's biggest commercial station revamps its schedules.

Former BBC Radio 1 host Simon Bates has also had his role expanded to a daily drivetime show.

There are still people we can introduce to classical music

Roger Lewis

But the most surprising move is the decision by station boss Roger Lewis to gamble on an unknown music student who wrote to him speculatively.

Violinist Lisa Duncombe, 22, who has just graduated from Trinity College Of Music, has been given a pair of weekend programmes, Lisa Late and Live which start at midnight.

"She wrote to me completely cold and struck lucky," said Lewis.

Fry will present a humorous 20-part series tracing 1,000 years of classical music, The Incomplete And Utter History of Classical Music, at 2pm each Sunday.

And Derham, a skilled violinist as well as a news presenter, will front a new afternoon show each Saturday at 2pm.

Humorous history

Derham, who hosts the annual Classical Brits show, said: "I love radio and I love classical music, so what better combination?"

Also getting weekend slots are ex-Virgin Radio and Heart FM presenter Mark Forrest, who along with Tim Lihoreau and news anchor Anne-Marie Minhall will form Saturday morning presenting trio Mark, Tim and Annie.

Derham is a skilled violinist

The station is moving towards full works, rather than excerpts, being given greater prominence, with the Classic FM Evening Concert being aired seven days a week, presented by Nick Bailey.

Managing director Mr Lewis said: "We have put in record audiences for the past four consecutive quarters and now have our highest ever audience of 6.83 million listeners a week.

"We need to go forward with a fresh new sound. Our 10th birthday this year is a time to look forward, not back.

"There are still people we can introduce to classical music. This is a really really strong field of broadcasters."