DJ John Peel has agreed to present the chart rundown on BBC Radio 1 for the first time in his 35-year career at the station.

Peel, 63, one of the founding voices of the station, will host the weekly Top 40 show as a special one-off.

He has become famous for championing underground artists and is not known for an affinity with mainstream pop music and the charts.

But he said: "I'm really looking forward to it.

Peel was one of Radio 1's founding fathers

"Some of my listeners found out I was doing this and I've had lots and lots of e-mails of encouragement."

Peel, awarded an OBE for his services to broadcasting, will host the Sunday evening rundown on 12 January.

He is among a number of DJs stepping in until a permanent host is appointed following the departure of Mark Goodier.

Goodier, who presented the show for nearly a decade, has left to take over the countdown on Classic FM in the new year.

Last week Jo Whiley became the first woman to ever present the chart rundown.

The next show on Sunday will be hosted by Chris Moyles.

Jo Whiley has also hosted the chart rundown

A Radio 1 spokesman said: "It's been really good having a variety of our presenters fronting The Official UK Top 40 and we're really pleased that John is going to be doing it.

"Everyone's bringing their own individual style to the show and we're sure John will do so too."

Peel is expected to present the show from the studios in London rather than his Suffolk home, Peel Acres, from which a number of his programmes are broadcast.

As one of the DJs involved in the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, Peel has been recognised as the alternative voice of the station for more than 30 years.

He still presents three shows a week on Radio 1 and is also the voice of Radio 4's Home Truths, a weekly magazine chronicling the lives of ordinary people around the UK.