Sam Jackson, BBC Radio 3 Controller is sat on a chair with his arms resting on his knees as he leans forward, hands clasped. He is smiling at the camera with short, dark hair, wearing a blue dotted shirt with blue jeans. There are the tops of buildings outside seen outside of the adjacent windows behind him.

Photo: Carsten Windhorst

Changing Faces

Jackson named Controller of BBC Radio 3

Robin Cantrill-Fenwick
2 min read

SAM JACKSON will become Controller of BBC Radio 3 in April.

Jackson succeeds ALAN DAVEY who, following eight years in post, will step down in March.

As Controller, Jackson will set BBC Radio 3's strategic vision and will be responsible for the delivery of the annual BBC Proms, the world’s largest classical music festival.  

The BBC said Jackson will ensure the Proms “remain at the forefront of cultural life in the UK and across the world”. 

Starting his career as a runner for BBC Proms, Jackson has since worked across broadcasting and the recorded music industry. He has run three national radio brands – Classical FM, Smooth and Gold – and was most recently the Executive Vice-President of Global Classics & Jazz for Universal Music Group, managing teams in London and Berlin. 

Jackson is also a Board Member of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance and Trustee of charities Help Musicians and the Young Classical Artists Trust. 

He commented: “BBC Radio 3 is unlike any other station: a network delivering ambitious, unique content, with live classical music at its core. This ambition, quality and diversity must stay at the heart of everything Radio 3 and the BBC Proms deliver. 

“I'm thrilled to be tasked with driving both Radio 3 and the Proms forward, with the help of brilliant people across the BBC and the wider music sector."