Ross to DJ for rock legend

Jonathan Ross is a regular face on BBC One

Singer David Bowie has turned his back on the country's top dance DJs and invited Radio 2's Jonathan Ross to play at the Meltdown festival.

The Film 2002 presenter will perform a DJ set for Bowie's headline show at the London mini-festival, which the rock legend has organised.

Ross has been a huge fan of Bowie for years and he regularly plays tracks by the singer on his show.

Bowie "excited" by festival

The broadcaster has been pleading for Bowie to come on his show for years and it is now expected he will make an appearance to tie in with the concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 29 June.

Each year a guest director is invited to programme two weeks of performances that reflect their diverse and cultural tastes.

Big names

Bowie, who said he was "excited" at hosting the event, which is based at the South Bank Centre, has persuaded some of the biggest UK acts to appear at the festival.

Performances will include a collaboration between Damon Albarn's Gorillaz and former Specials frontman Terry Hall.

Bowie has also persuaded the 1970s new wave pioneers Television - whose musical spirit is kept alive by acts such as The Strokes - to perform a show.

Badly Drawn Boy has done the About A Boy soundtrack

Also on the bill for the series of concerts are the Waterboys, Badly Drawn Boy and Divine Comedy, who feature a new line-up behind frontman Neil Hannon after splitting last year.

Also supporting Bowie for the show will be US act The Dandy Warhols, who hit the charts with Bohemian Like You last year.

The various acts for Meltdown will appear at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and National Film Theatre during the two week festival which starts on 12 June.

Meltdown will also feature art events and a film festival.