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Former Electric Light Orchestra drummer, Bev Bevan, is joining ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM from Sunday 5 April, presenting the afternoon show (2.00-4.00pm) alongside Jimmy Franks.

Bev and Jimmy will present a music-based show for the station, giving their views on the current music scene, with Bev looking back at his career with ELO, The Move and Black Sabbath and talking to the friends that he has made from within the music industry during his career.

Bev's signing to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM is part of a brand new schedule for the station. Bev and Jimmy take over Carl Chinn's previous Sunday slot, with Carl moving to present the 10.00am-1.00pm Sunday morning show.

Mollie Green is taking over the Saturday breakfast show (6.00-9.00am) from 4 April, with Daz Hale replacing her on the weekday early breakfast slot, between 5.00am and 6.30am, from Monday 6 April.

Daz is also to be the voice of sport in Phil Upton @ Breakfast.

Other changes include Rob Gurney and Dan Wheeler taking over the weeknight sports, magazine and music show, between 8.00 and 10.00pm, from Monday 6 April and Andrew Peach's Sunday breakfast show is to extend by an hour.

The new schedule follows hot on the heels of the recent signing of Joanne Malin to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM's line-up.

Keith Beech, Managing Editor, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM, says: "I'm really excited by the new programmes that we're introducing to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM next month. Listeners, for example, will be able to spend Sunday mornings with Carl Chinn, who's a real favourite across Birmingham and the Black Country."

Keith continues: "I'm delighted that Bev Bevan is joining the station to share his music and his stories from a lifetime in the rock music industry. The changes will help us to continue to build our audience and make ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM even more popular."

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM is available on 95.6 FM, DAB digital radio, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer and online at bbc.co.uk/birmingham.

BG