Greg James is to host a new 'Top of the Pops'-style TV show.

Greg James

Greg James

The BBC Radio 1 DJ has signed up to co-host the music programme alongside a different A-list celebrity each week, and he "can't wait" to get started on the six-part series.

A BBC source said: "Greg is the perfect host for the new music show. He's great under pressure and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music. He can't wait to get going on it.

"The show is starting out as a six-parter, with bosses hopeful it will become a proper series if it takes off."

Greg - who has hosted Radio 1's drivetime slot for the past five years - is said to have beaten off huge competition to land the presenting role.

The source added to The Sun newspaper: "There was huge interest in the regular hosting job, but Greg has beaten the competition."

James Corden has a hand in the show of sorts as it will be produced by Fulwell 73, the company which co-produces his 'Late Late Show' alongside CBS.

In January, the 'Gavin and Stacey' star joined the firm as their fifth full partner.

Fulwell 73's Gabe Turner and Suzi Aplin will act as executive producers on the new music show, which is expected to take over from the previously axed chart TV series 'Top of the Pops'.

The programme previously aired from January 1964 to July 2006 before being shelved due to dwindling ratings, but Christmas specials still air every year.

The show featured performances from a selection of that week's best-selling pop artists and had a rundown of the UK singles chart.