Permanent radio slot for Iggy Pop

The US punk pioneer, whose raucous records and no-holds barred live shows with The Stooges influenced a generation of acts, will host a weekly Friday night show from 7pm to 9pm.

The new show, presented from his studio in the states, means Tom Ravenscroft’s show will move to the 9pm to midnight slot and the 6 Mix show will be axed.

Iggy, real name James Osterberg Junior, said: “Having sat in for Jarvis Cocker last year on BBC Radio 6 Music, I found myself realising how good it was for me. I hope it was good for somebody else too. So I’m gonna do it again this year, on early Friday evenings; what we call in the USA the ‘happy hour’.

“It’s kind of an edgy point right at the end of the designated work week, and I’ll try to play quite a bit of music that’s new and stimulating mixed with very old classics from the blues and jazz masters of the 1920s through 50s that are a little more moody. I’m gonna think myself as a kind of atmospheric bartender. I’ll try to do my very best.”

The singer first presented a show on the station at Christmas 2013, before standing in for Jarvis while he went on sabbatical.

The station’s head of programmes Paul Rodgers said: “In the recent Rajar figures, Iggy had driven his Sunday afternoon show to a slot record of over 300,000 listeners.

“To welcome him back in a permanent slot on the network is a dream come true for me and our listeners, and we all look forward to hearing his eclectic musical selections each Friday evening. I’d also like to thank the 6 Mix team.

“We feel the time is right to make these changes to the Friday night schedule, but we still hope to work with the range of DJs that featured on that show elsewhere on 6 Music.”