Absolute Radio has recruited Frank Skinner to present a new Saturday morning show, though he'll be in the breakfast slot meaning he won't go up against Jonathan Ross on Radio 2.
Skinner's new radio show will be produced by his management, Avalon, who also produced his long running BBC/ITV chat show. It will be the first independent production to air on the national rock station.
Confirming his new recruit, Absolute COO Clive Dickens called the comedian a "seasoned professional and a fantastic communicator who will be hugely popular with our audience", adding: "He is bloody funny and tells great stories and that is what you should expect from his Saturday show. I can see the enthusiasm with which he has approached it - radio is a medium that Frank very much wants to conquer".
On the choice of time slot, 8-10am, ie before Ross goes on air on their rivals, Dickens added: "I am very conscious that Jonathan does a great job on Radio 2 and I can understand why people might compare them but I see Frank and Jonathan doing two very different things".