Jimmy Young, 81, seeks new challenges outside BBC

Sir Jimmy Young announced yesterday that he is to seek new challenges outside the BBC after more than 50 years as one of its most popular broadcasters.

Sir Jimmy, 81, has changed his mind about presenting a new weekend show in 2003 after he steps down as host of Radio 2's lunchtime show after nearly 30 years.

Channel bosses had wanted a younger presenter in the lunchtime slot and the decision to move him to the weekend in the new year allowed him to keep his large audience.

Sir Jimmy said yesterday he had decided against the move and would leave the BBC where he made his first broadcast in 1949.

Sir Jimmy, who is currently off the air recovering from a hip operation, said: "Having presented the daily JY Prog for nearly 30 years, I do not feel that I could do justice to a weekly shortened version."