Theakston swaps screen for stage

Theakston has enjoyed radio work

Jamie Theakston is scaling back his work on television and radio as a career in theatre beckons.

The presenter has secured a leading role in the West End production of Somerset Maugham's Home and Beauty.

Having already drawn praise for his performances in Art, Theakston now feels he should put his BBC presenting jobs on hold.

He will cease fronting Top Of The Pops as well as his Radio 1 weekend show to allow him to spend more time on the comedy.

Theakston raised eyebrows in January this year when a tabloid newspaper reported he had visited a brothel.

Younger audiences

The presenter will soon appear as a salesman in the second series of BBC One comedy Linda Green, starring Liza Tarbuck.

Theakston stands to benefit from the current trend to bring new faces into theatre in an effort to attract new, younger audiences.

His new role is opposite Alex Armstrong - from Armstrong and Miller - at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, with Victoria Hamilton also starring.

Theakston will step down from his Radio 1 show on 28 September with the production of Home And Beauty opening three weeks later.

But Theakston is likely to retake the reins on both radio and television some time during 2003.

A BBC spokesman said: "This is a great opportunity for Jamie. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him back in the New Year."