Beethoven sales up after TV show

Maestro saw celebrities battling it out for the chance to appear at the Proms

Sales of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony have been boosted by its use in the final of BBC Two conducting series Maestro, figures show.

In the live final of the show earlier this month, viewers watched comedian Sue Perkins and DJ Goldie conduct the symphony's first movement.

Perkins triumphed in a public vote and won the chance to conduct at the Proms. Music retailer HMV said sales of the work in the days following the final increased four-fold.

It said there was a 295% increase in sales of the work.

"These days people often tend to discover classical music through film soundtracks or TV ads, so it's refreshing that an intelligent programme such as Maestro should have had such a similarly positive effect," spokesman Tony Shaw said.

Maestro pitched Perkins and Goldie against other celebrities including actors David Soul and Jane Asher, and newsreader Katie Derham.

Blur bassist Alex James, comedian Bradley Walsh and veteran broadcaster Peter Snow completed the student line-up.

Perkins conducted at BBC Proms in the Park, in London's Hyde Park, on 13 September as part of Last Night of the Proms celebrations.