Katie Derham

“It’s a strange alternate universe, the Proms,” begins the 46-year-old. “On the one hand, it feels like it goes on forever, and then suddenly you think: ‘It can’t be six weeks already, it was only the first night five minutes ago’ Each week, you think it can’t get any better, but then something else amazing happens.”

A cornerstone of classical music broadcasting, Derham - a former newsreader, regular on Radio 3 and seasoned host of arts documentaries - is the face of the BBC Proms, and having fronted seven consecutive runs out of its 122 seasons, she certainly knows her crowd.

So does she ever get nervous?

“Not presenting from here or up in the gallery,” she says. “Maybe a little frisson, but it’s fine. But waiting to go on stage, which I will be tonight, however,” she quips, gesturing to the empty arena.

“When you see 6,000 people - it’s a lot of faces. But it’s exciting; you can see how people get addicted to it. I didn’t want the Strictly Prom to end [Derham performed in a Prom which married music and professional dancers from the BBC dancing show back in July]. I felt like Beyonce!”

Dedicated ‘prommers’ aren’t the only individuals the Kent-born presenter has had to entertain this summer.

For those who didn’t catch the first episode last week, Derham - along with renowned conductor Paul Daniel and celebrated double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku - has been shining a light on unsung musical heroes, in new four-part series All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge.

Linked to the BBC Music initiative Get Playing, the show launched a nationwide search for the orchestra that best captures the spirit of Great British amateur music-making - and of the five to make it through, only one will be crowned winner to perform on stage at BBC Proms in the Park, in London’s Hyde Park later this month.

With Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra eliminated already, currently still in the running are the London Gay Symphony Orchestra, North Devon Sinfonia, Stirling Orchestra and The People’s Orchestra.

Her sequin-filled Strictly stint (Derham took part in last year’s series and finished fourth ) did impress, her two teenage daughters.

“They’re dancers, so they thought that was great. They do lots of singing and dancing. I live vicariously through them,” adds Derham, who’s been married to husband John Vincent for 17 years, co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain. “I’m not a pushy stage mother, but I’m very proud of them. They’re much more showbiz than I am. I just ask questions and read words out loud,” she says. “Apart from Strictly, I’m not a performer, but Natasha particularly is very comfortable on stage, so I’ll be interested to see what she does.” Derham cites her 40s as her best years yet.“I’ve been blessed. It’s not as if there are big things I still want to do and it’s getting too late.”