Zeb Soanes Narrator
Podium Music is delighted to represent Zeb Soanes for musical narration and concert work. Zeb has earned a reputation as ‘the go-to person for music narration’ (Daily Telegraph) with the UK’s leading orchestras, ensembles and choirs.
Zeb Soanes presents Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station. Over a 25-year career at the BBC, he was an authoritative newsreader on BBC Radio 4, the reassuring voice of The Shipping Forecast and presented the Proms on BBC Television. As a concert presenter and narrator he performs with the UK’s leading orchestras, ensembles and choirs. He is the author of the bestselling Gaspard the Fox series of children’s books that have been adapted as two narrated orchestral works by the composer Jonathan Dove. His story, Gaspard’s Christmas, gently introduces children to the concept of homelessness and Zeb has gifted royalties from this book in perpetuity to support the work of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Since joining Classic FM, Zeb has presented many special programmes, including an Easter interview at home with Dame Judi Dench, where she shared her favourite pieces of classical music; followed by Sir Simon Russell Beale’s Life in Music, with the celebrated actor’s selections performed live by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields and an 80th birthday celebration for Sir John Rutter.
Zeb has earned a reputation as ‘the go-to person for music narration’ (Daily Telegraph) with the UK’s leading orchestras, ensembles and choirs, performing favourite works for children and highly skilled pieces such as Walton’s Façade, which he recorded to critical acclaim, conducted by John Wilson (Orchid Classics). Other recordings include Gaspard’s Foxtrot with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Gaspard’s Christmas with the Royal Scottish National Symphony Orchestra, and Delius’s Hassan with the Britten Sinfonia.
Born in Lowestoft — the birthplace also of Benjamin Britten — Zeb recently completed a five-year project to install a bronze statue of the composer, depicted at the age at which his talent was first recognised, to inspire local children to pursue their own ambitions. Britten as a Boy, by the Royal Sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, was unveiled by Sir John Rutter on 10th November 2025.
Zeb is currently touring a one man play about his actor hero Sir Alec Guinness, in which he plays 33 characters. Two Halves of Guinness is a witty, heartfelt tour through Guinness’ extraordinary life and career, marking the 25th anniversary of the actor’s death.
Zeb is a recipient of the Betjeman Society Award and Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, from which he received an honorary doctorate in 2023 for his ‘outstanding contribution to education, music, media and literature.’
“The go-to person for musical narration, specialising in children's concerts.” —Daily Telegraph