Audience figures soared after Brand joined BBC 6 Music

The move means the 31-year-old star will no longer present his Sunday morning show on 6 Music, which helped boost the station's audience by 40%.

"It is the Hogwarts of radio," Brand said of his new station. "I just hope I can keep my wand up."

His new show will go out in the weekly 2100-2300 slot, from 18 November.

Brand said: "I had a brilliant time on 6 Music and I now can't wait for the challenge of Radio 2."

Lesley Douglas, controller of both BBC stations, said Brand had proved to be "genuine radio talent".

Brand, who found mainstream fame as the host of Big Brother's Big Mouth on E4, was first introduced to Radio 2 listeners in March when he stood in for Mark Radcliffe.

The presenter's most recent television show, Russell Brand's Got Issues, started with disappointing viewing figures in September, attracting only 148,000 viewers on its opening night.