Presenters & HostsZeb Soanes is a broadcaster, author and events host.
Zeb is the presenter of Smooth Classics at Seven on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station.
For over 20 years, he was an authoritative newsreader and reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast to millions of listeners on BBC Radio 4.
Sunday Times readers voted him their ‘favourite male voice on UK radio’. He announced some of the most significant events in recent years, from the final result of the Brexit referendum and Donald Trump’s election to the Coronavirus pandemic unfolding.
He was a regular on The News Quiz, reported for From Our Own Correspondent and presented BBC Radio 3’s Saturday Classics. On television, he was the first voice to launch BBC Four, where he also presented the BBC Proms.
He has also presented films for the Culture Show, Newsnight and Songs of Praise, made cameos in Sherlock and The League of Gentlemen and competed in the Christmas special of University Challenge.
He studied Creative Writing and Drama at UEA and has written for The Observer, Country Life and The Literary Review.
His best-selling first book for children, Gaspard the Fox, illustrated by James Mayhew, began a series of stories inspired by his remarkable encounters with a real urban fox.
A trained actor, Zeb has earned a reputation as ‘the go-to person for music narration’ (Daily Telegraph), performing favourite orchestral works for children, including Peter and the Wolf, Babar the Elephant and Paddington; his third book in the Gaspard series, Gaspard’s Foxtrot, has been adapted as a major new concert work by Jonathan Dove, touring the UK in 2021.
In recognition of his efforts to culturally rehabilitate the urban fox, he was made the first patron of the Mammal Society.
Aside from broadcasting Zeb Soanes is a prevalent event and awards host.
He can also be found behind the mic at conferences and awards ceremonies across the country, acting as a ‘voice of god‘.
