BBC Radio 1's chart show presenter Mark Goodier is moving to Classic FM, where he will present a weekly classical countdown.

Goodier, who presents his last Top 40 programme on Sunday, announced earlier this year he was leaving the station after 15 years.

The 41-year-old said: "It's important to be as broad and eclectic and I always have been at the BBC - this will push the boundaries of what people can expect from me a little further."

For the vast majority of people it is still new music

Mark Goodier on classical music

He said he remained on good terms with the BBC, where he is currently standing in for morning host Ken Bruce on BBC Radio 2.

"We still have a very good relationship, but what I won't be doing for them is a full-time regular show," he said.

"This new show fits in very nicely with what I want to do with my life. It's a show of some significance and substance.

Challenge

"It's very important to have a challenge and I don't want to be always known as the guy who did the Radio 1 chart, and only the Radio 1 chart."

Goodier joined BBC Radio 1 on Boxing Day 1987, and he was the first presenter of the Evening Session programme from 1991, in which he helped bands like Suede get their first radio plays.

Goodier hosting Top Of The Pops in 1989

"With the Evening Session we showed you could create a new audience for new music," he said.

"At Classic we are creating a new audience for music that's been around for centuries, but for the vast majority of people it is still new music."

He will replace Paul Gambaccini - himself a BBC Radio 1 veteran of 18 years - on the classical chart show, who will be staying with the stion to work on other chart shows.

Goodier was lured to Classic FM by station controller Roger Lewis, a Radio 1 executive in his early days with the station.

Mr Lewis said: "I've known of the breadth of Mark's musical taste and the seriousness he brings to the art of broadcasting, but he also has the right eclecticism.

"Mark is a very consummate broadcaster and to present on Classic FM you have to have the awareness of what is required to introduce a new audience to new music."

'Not an expert'

Goodier said he grew up listening to classical music at home - and played the cello and the double bass as a member of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra - but admitted his knowledge had faded a little over the years.

"Roger is hiring me as a music fan and as a broadcaster, not an expert, but I hope to develop a level of expertise over the next few weeks," he said

Goodier's move to Classic FM is startling compared to the progress of his contemporaries at BBC Radio 1.

Classic FM facts

Celebrates 10 years on air this year Has hit record audience figures of 6.8m Presenters include Simon Bates, Henry Kelly, Katie Derham and Stephen Fry

Simon Mayo and Nicky Campbell switched to talk station Radio Five Live, while his Evening Session successor Steve Lamacq has joined the BBC's digital station 6 Music, in advance of the programme being dropped at Christmas.

Steve Wright took his Radio 1 afternoon show to BBC Radio 2, where he joins former colleagues Johnnie Walker, Janice Long and Lynn Parsons.

But world music DJ Andy Kershaw was quickly snapped up by BBC Radio 3 after his show was dropped in 2000.