John Peel's son follows in his father's tracks

(DAVE M BENETT)

John Peel's son is to follow in his father's footsteps after securing his own BBC radio show.

Like his father, Tom Ravenscroft will champion new bands on a weekly three-hour show for the threatened digital station 6 Music. His father – a Radio 1 DJ for 37 years – was lauded as one of the finest broadcasters of his generation and credited with launching the careers of hundreds of bands including The Pixies and Nirvana. He died of a heart attack while in Peru in 2004. Like Peel, Ravenscroft is known for his eclectic music taste and self-deprecating style.

The 30-year-old former TV assistant has previously DJ-ed for a short-lived Channel 4 radio venture and currently hosts an experimental music podcast. He has also stood in for several 6 Music presenters in the past.

Ravenscroft will begin his Friday night show on June 4, taking over from Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson who has been with the station since its launch eight years ago.

He said: "I'm thrilled that 6 Music has asked me to present a weekly show. It's great to be offered a home on a station with such amazing DJs, who open your ears to lots of exciting music, both new and old. I can't wait to get started."

6 Music editor Paul Rodgers said: "Tom Ravenscroft is a great young broadcaster with all the knowledge, passion and articulacy that you might expect from someone of his lineage.

"We are thrilled that he thinks that 6 Music is the best way for him to reach his audience." 6 Music has an audience of 695,000 and has increased its audience by 50 per cent in a year.