Claudia Winkleman fans, brace yourselves. While we’ve all been busy pondering when another dose of The Traitors will arrive, the presenter has been busy conjuring up another jaw-droppingly good TV series for us all to enjoy. Enter series 3 of Channel 4’s The Piano.

If you’re not familiar, Claudia hosts the tear-jerker series, which sees amateur pianists perform on pianos across the UK – and this is where the jaw-dropping part comes in. The contestants range from nonagenarians to blind pianists to 12-year-olds who have never played in public before. So, if you want to see something incredible, this is the show to watch.

With the arrival of series 3 imminent, here’s everything you need to know about what’s in store…

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What is Channel 4's The Piano?

Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the Channel 4 series is essentially a music competition, but we must point out that it isn’t your typical one. Talented amateur pianists are invited to play on public pianos in locations including London St Pancras, Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow train stations. They can perform anything from contemporary chart hits to original compositions – and some even sing, too!

the piano
Channel 4

As you've probably gathered by now, it’s a competition and each performer is being watched by a panel of two judges - classical pianist Lang Lang and pop superstar Mika - who are taking notes and deciding who deserves to be in the final. It all culminates in a grand concert at the Royal Festival Hall, where the winner, as decided by Lang Lang and Mika, is crowned.

The first series, which aired in 2023, saw blind 13-year-old Lucy Illingworth scoop the crown, while the series 2 winner was Brad Kella, who taught himself to play piano by ear, after his foster parents bought him one when he was 7 years old. We've no doubt series 3 is going to bring us more incredible talent.

Will The Piano series 3 follow the same format?

For the most part, yes. However, five-time Grammy award winner, Jon Batiste (who’s worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Stevie Wonder and Prince – yes, wow!), will replace Lang Lang as judge and mentor.

Jon has shared what a dream it is to witness pianists express themselves on the instrument he’s dedicated his life to. "This show will bring together my unique history of performing in both train stations and concert halls. No matter where, I always have believed that music at its best creates community and brings folks together in divided times," he says.

"It will be a massive joy to do just that all around the UK train stations with the piano and new talent. In collaboration with Mika, an incredible songwriter and musician and Claudia with her own inimitable style, I can't wait for all the thrilling musical experiences ahead."

The new series will consist of seven episodes, with host Claudia Winkleman and judges Jon Batiste and Mika travelling to five iconic new railway stations – and, for the first time, an airport - to give amateur pianists the chance to showcase their talents.

Is there a trailer for The Piano series 3?

While a full trailer hasn’t yet been released, Channel 4 has released a teaser, which you can watch below…

Is The Piano any good?

The fact that the series is back for a third run says a lot about how good it is. It’s been described as "Bake Off for pianos" and we wholly agree. It’s brilliantly heartwarming and not only do we get to hear some seriously outstanding tunes, we also get to hear the players’ incredible life stories. It also helps that Claudia Winkleman is the queen of pre-performance chats - and well, the queen of presenting full stop. We should warn you though, tears may be shed during the viewing of this series.

How can I watch The Piano series 3?

Channel 4 hasn’t released an exact date just yet, but we do know that The Piano series 3 will arrive on our screens this April. As soon as we have a confirmed date and time, we’ll share it here.