Jeremy Vine is to follow up his star turn on Strictly Come Dancing with a very different role on our TV screens as the next presenter of a revamped Crimewatch featuring broadcasts from the scene of crimes and regular online updates on cases.
Vine, who has hosted his own Radio 2 lunchtime show since 2003, will be joined by Radio 1 journalist Tina Daheley.
From September the show will run weekly for the first time since its launch in 1984, and will introduce a new mobile studio broadcasting from near the scene of a crime featured on the show.
Viewers will still have the opportunity to phone in to help police solve cases, but will now also be kept up to date throughout the week online.
Crimewatch is known for having an unusually stable presenting lineup, with Vine’s predecessors Kirsty Young and Fiona Bruce serving for seven years.
Vine said: “I grew up watching Crimewatch. It is one of the most powerful programmes the BBC has ever broadcast with the power to change and save lives, and of course, to solve crimes. To present it is a great honour and with this new format Crimewatch will be even more at the heart of the BBC1 schedule.”
Daheley, who said she also grew up watching the show, added: “I feel very privileged to join a programme that’s allowed ordinary viewers to help bring criminals to justice and make our communities safer. Young people often suffer most from crime, so I’m especially keen to use my journalistic skills and experience engaging young audiences at Radio 1 to make sure they feel part of the new-look show.”
Following its initial run, the new-look Crimewatch will return for a second block of episodes in early 2017.
