A BIG exciting adventure for 2026 Info: twohalvesofguinness.com

The last ice cream of summer? Certainly not for my mother and her daily cornet. Mr Lamarti’s van arrived punctually this morning, just as we finished our walk on #Lowestoft beach with Oscar the dog.

Honoured to take the Chancellor baton from Dr Helen Pankhurst and see the University of Suffolk into its second decade. Exciting times ahead. Read more: www.uos.ac.uk/about/news/u...

A broadcasters’ breakfast. I adore @petroc.bsky.social (I know I’m not alone, sharing him with several million others). A catch-up over coffee and Austrian eggs was a great start to the day. Contrary to the sign, we were not obliged to be joined by a member of staff.

Mum’s daily ice cream taken at Lowestoft’s #FirstLightFestival — a spectacular celebration of the UK’s sunrise town on the longest weekend of the year. 🍦☀️

I’m being joined by a new recruit in the @classicfm.com studio this evening. Meet Edward, a kind gift from the BRILLIANT ESO Youth Orchestra after our concert at this year’s @elgarfestival.bsky.social ❤️ He’s getting the hang of the bear essentials of broadcasting.

Join me for a summer afternoon performance of BETJEMAN'S BANANA BLUSH on Sat 14th June, 2.30pm at the historic City of London church of St James Garlickhythe — a rare chance to hear this delightful cult classic performed live. TICKETS: www.ticketsource.co.uk/zeb-soanes/b...

A Sunday morning peregrination around Clerkenwell: taking in The Charterhouse, paying respects to Daniel Defoe at Bunhill Fields and making use of the finest lavatories in East London at Wesley’s Chapel.

One of the many advantages of arriving at London City Airport is the view as you come in to land, flying directly over The Shard — Join me tonight from 7pm on @classicfm.com 📻

Mother Soanes, absolutely delighted that her ‘small 99’ from Mr. Lamarti is bigger than usual. It’s the simple pleasures. Happy Saturday everyone! 🍦 #Lowestoft

A wonderful evening as guest of the Suffolk Book League at the @ipswichinstitute.bsky.social — and my favourite thing: the ‘Conversation Room,’ where talk is permitted. Rather like the ‘Policy Room’ I once found at the BBC, where decisions were made 😂

Join me tonight at 9pm on @classicfm.com for a Celebration of Mother’s Day featuring sublime music from St Martin’s Voices and poems, including one beautifully read by my own mother, Jeanette Soanes ❤️

Join me at the recording of a @classicfm.com CELEBRATION OF MOTHER’S DAY next Tuesday, 25th March at 1pm — St Martin-in-the-Fields, London | TICKETS: stmartinsvoices.com/classicfm

A happy afternoon celebrating the blooming of the magnolia trees at St Mary le Strand. Peter, the priest gave me a tour of the crypt where the boiler dates from the Great Exhibition and is still going strong — wish mine was as reliable!

Available April 8, Robert Garland's What to Expect When You're Dead takes an entertaining and enlightening look at how ancient peoples dealt with death—and what we might learn from them. 🎧 Pre-order the #audiobook, read by @zebsoanes.com: press.princeton.edu/books/audio/...

This was me telling the local foxes last night that I would be visiting @stedwardsfirst.bsky.social for #WorldBookDay today. Looking forward!

A flâneur sort of a morning in Paris. Now on the Eurostar back for tonight’s show on @classicfm.com 📻 Join me from 7pm. Merci 🇫🇷

A brief trip to Paris and lucky enough to get into Notre Dame after queuing for only 10 mins AND witness the veneration of the crown of thorns. Not a bad Friday!

Join me for a very special concert from 9pm this evening on @classicfm.com — NOTES FROM DOWNING STREET: An evening with @welshnatopera.bsky.social featuring the fabulous soprano Natalya Romaniw

Was just passing …

What a huge pleasure to talk to Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari for @classicfm about their roles as J.S. Bach and Anna Magdalena in Oliver Cotton's play, THE SCORE, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn - opening at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 20th Feb. Grab a ticket while you can. youtu.be/V4zxMcbTIcw?...

Lunch with the DELIGHTFUL Barry Wordsworth (returning one of his scores we performed together two years ago — sorry Barry!) 🎶

We sent young Ben off to foundry today, where he will achieve further immortality in bronze. Such an exciting moment in this four year journey to honour Benjamin Britten in his (and my) hometown of #Lowestoft. When attached to the plinth (see 2nd photo) he’ll sit an impressive 12ft high.

A huge pleasure to chat to Brian Cox and Nicole Ansari for @classicfm.com about THE SCORE — revealing an explosive encounter and musical conundrum between JS Bach and Frederick II, coming to Theatre Royal Haymarket from February 20th — look out for our conversation, coming soon on @globalplayer.com

Waving at trains: Am on a train from Blackpool to Preston and a couple of ramblers waved at the train. Several of us in the carriage spontaneously waved back and I suddenly felt like I was in an Ealing Film :-) Lovely how some very old traditions haven’t disappeared.

London is a big city, so those little bright moments of ‘community’ are all the more precious. I was given a belated Christmas gift by my local coffee house as a thank you for being a regular. Shop local! ❤️ 🙏 #community #london #coffeeshops

Coming to NORWICH this March — GASPARD’S FOXTROT! Celebrating the centenary of Norfolk County Music Festival | Sat 22nd March, 2.30/4.30pm | TICKETS from £5 👇🏻gaspardthefox.com/events

Thank you to all the fabulous musicians, venues, hardworking orchestral management and most of all AUDIENCES for supporting concerts throughout 2024 (especially if you've encouraged young children to experience the thrill of live music). Here's to a happy and harmonious 2025 🙏🏻

And, that’s a wrap! My final Christmas concert of 2024: FRED AND THE FANTASTIC TUB-TUB with THE SNOWMAN at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne where I met wonderful @ClassicFM listener Loretta Wood who listens every evening. Happy Christmas! 🎄

Farewell magnificent #Liverpool, a city that has always shown me great kindness and welcome. Until next time ❤️

How wonderful of Father Christmas to take time from his busy schedule to present today’s family concerts at the @liverpoolphil and our tree was far from wooden in his magnificent conducting! 🎄 Do join us when we do it again tomorrow at 11.30am and 2.30pm! www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all...

Looking forward to our weekend of festive family concerts at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 🎄 Come and hear GASPARD’S CHRISTMAS and snap up a signed book afterwards. Shows at 11.30am & 2.30pm 🦊 TICKETS: www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all...

On Monday I’ll be performing my book FRED AND THE FANTASTIC TUB-TUB with the Orpheus Sinfonia at Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre at 3pm including THE SNOWMAN. Snap up a signed book afterwards as a stocking filler! 🎄 TICKETS: www.zebsoanes.com/events/2024/...

This is the wonderful Black Dyke Band after our sell-out ‘A Yorkshire Christmas Extravaganza’ at Sheffield City Hall yesterday. If you’re stuck for a Christmas present their JOHN RUTTER: BRASS AT CHRISTMAS album is riding high in the classical chart.

I’m looking forward to celebrating A YORKSHIRE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA with Black Dyke Band at Sheffield City Hall tomorrow afternoon! Come and singalong at 2.30pm. TICKETS: zebsoanes.com/events

The Nutcracker with Septura was brilliantly festive at @theglasshouseicm.bsky.social yesterday — what a smashing bunch — and I got to see devoted @classicfm.com listener Heather Gould afterwards. Next stop on the Christmas concert tour, St Martin-in-the-Fields at 1pm for ‘A Classic FM Christmas’🎄

Nothing beats waking to bagpipes in this most majestic city. I love Edinburgh. The Christmas concert tour continues today at @theglasshouseicm.bsky.social narrating The Nutctacker with Septura 🎺 TICKETS: www.zebsoanes.com/events/2024/...

VERY ROUGH sea at Berwick upon Tweed as I speed up to Edinburgh on the train, studying The Nutcracker for tomorrows concert with @SepturaOfficial at @glasshouseicm | TICKETS: theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/chr...

Some photos from our tenth annual screening party of The Box of Delights. Celebrating 40 years of television magic. I can’t believe our Maria carried those pistols across London — and, yes, Ellen made possets! 🎄 #BoxOfDelights

This little fox appears every night when I get home from @classicfm.com and gazes longingly at the kitchen window 🦊

With the marvellous St Martin’s Voices at Selby Abbey ❄️ Join us next for ‘A @ClassicFM Christmas,’ recorded on Monday 9th Dec, 1pm at St Martin-in-the-Fields 🎄 TICKETS from £12 👇🏻 www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/calendar/a-c...

Selby Abbey, bustling with its Christmas market but it was its 9’ long ‘leper squint’ that caught my eye. The only way medieval lepers could have a view of the high altar from outside the abbey. You won’t need it to watch our WINTER concert here tonight at 7.45pm 👉🏻 stmartinsvoices.com/winter

Farewell #Southwell as we head off on the next leg of our WINTER tour with St Martin’s Voices — I couldn’t leave @southwellminster.bsky.social without seeing its famous carved leaves 🍁 Next stop, Selby Abbey. TICKETS for tonight’s 7.45 concert 👉🏻 stmartinsvoices.com/winter

Lovely to meet @classicfm.com listeners @figgiezannaspruce.bsky.social and Simon Wright after the WINTER concert with St Martin’s Voices at @southwellminster.bsky.social last night. Next stop: Selby Abbey — come and join me at 7.30pm! TICKETS: stmartinsvoices.com/winter

My Christmas concert tour starts tonight at beautiful @southwellminster.bsky.social then Selby Abbey tomorrow with St Martin’s Voices — tickets at zebsoanes.com/events

Join me tonight at 9pm on @classicfm.com for NOTES FROM DOWNING STREET — an intimate chamber concert performed by the @rnsinfonia.bsky.social from the very heart of government.

This week I had the privilege to talk to the luminously talented @cynthiaerivo.bsky.social about singing, stunts and Defying Gravity for @classicfm.com | m.youtube.com/watch?v=fMk7...

Join me and Gaspard in this Christmas adventure at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall this December 👇🏻

Today, on Benjamin Britten’s birthday I have a BIG announcement about Lowestoft’s Britten as a Boy statue 👇🏻 m.youtube.com/watch?v=UJWx...