BBC Radio Scotland's flagship news programme, Good Morning Scotland, is to be given a major overhaul with a change of presenters and suggestions of a more "populist" approach.

The main change at the show is to be the introduction of presenter Gary Robertson as the new voice of GMS.

The Herald understands that the re-launch of the show will be in July and is being put in place to "freshen up" the established brand, widely considered to be the station's most authoritative news programme.

Robertson is already one of Radio Scotland's busiest presenters: he mans a morning phone-in, a weekday lunchtime show and another programme on Sunday mornings.

It is believed that the new plan for the morning news show, which runs between 6am and 8.50am, is to install the presenter alongside Mhairi Stuart, the existing GMS presenter and Isabel Fraser, his current co-presenter on Sunday Live.

Current GMS presenter Derek Bateman has been tipped to move from the show to a new political programme, possibly broadcast in the evening, either the same as, or along the lines of, the current Scotland at Ten.

As yet the plans have not been confirmed by Jeff Zycinski, the head of Radio Scotland, but it is understood they have been planned for some time. He was not available for comment last night.

Last year, Mr Zycinski suggested that there were only two "sacred cows" at Radio Scotland, but the rest of its schedules were open to changes. The two exceptions were GMS and the popular folk music presenter, Robbie Shepherd.

Now it seems Mr Zycinski and Blair Jenkins, the station's head of news and current affairs, have decided changes need to be made.

Mr Zycinski has also previously said that he would like to hear more human-interest journalism and public participation on Radio Scotland - Mr Robertson is known for his phone-ins and this could herald a change in the way GMS operates.

Recently, it was announced that Mr Zycinski is to relocate to Inverness as part of the corporation's plan to position key editorial roles in regional offices.

Mr Zycinski, the seventh son of a Scottish mother and a Polish father, an ex-sailor who settled here after serving with the Polish Free Navy during the Second World War, is no stranger to Inverness, having worked on Moray Firth Radio - along with Gary Robertson.

On the move

Gary Robertson (left)

The presenter of BBC Radio Scotland's morning phone-in programme, Morning Extra, and the lunchtime news programme, Scotland Live. He also co-presents the news programme Sunday Live.

Mhairi Stuart

Has been presenter of GMS since 1999. After joining the BBC as a news trainee, she became a producer, picking up a Sony award for GMS, as well as heading many special productions. In 1999, she was awarded BT Scotland Radio Presenter of the Year.

Isabel Fraser (right)

Gary Robertson's current co-presenter on Sunday Live and one of BBC Scotland's most popular presenters.

Derek Bateman

Had a long career as a newspaper journalist, before becoming a regular presenter of GMS in 1995. He also reported on international affairs for Scottish Television and began working for Radio Scotland as a reporter concentrating on international affairs, with assignments in Brussels, Strasbourg, Dublin and Belfast.