Mark Forrest

Who? Presenter on the best of BBC's Local Radio evening programme

Playing the piano is not like riding a bike. You do lose those hard-learned skills and I would love to get them back.

Instrument? Piano

Why Get Playing? "Playing the piano is not like riding a bike. You do lose those hard-learned skills and I would love to get them back. I really want this to give me the motivation."

"I used to be someone who could sit down at the keyboard at a party and lead a singalong. Slowly my repertoire has dwindled to nothing. I’d love to get those tunes back."

About Mark

Mark Forrest hosts the evening show across BBC Local Radio in England, expertly blending music, news, interviews and phone-ins. He brings an encyclopaedic knowledge of England – he seems to have been everywhere – and a real curiosity about the stories of the people he talks to.

Before Mark took on this show, he had a hugely successful and eclectic radio career. He is perhaps best known for his 10 year stint working as drive and then breakfast host on Classic FM, but he has also worked on Virgin, Heart, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio York, Talk Radio, Radio Tees, Metro, Smooth and Magic 105.4.

As well as his great love and knowledge of music, Mark is a film buff, a keen gardener and a runner. He looks after goats, sheep and chickens on his farm in the Yorkshire Dales.