The comedian, singer, and television presenter Alexander Armstrong has backed the relocation of a leading music school to the former Royal High School building on Calton Hill in Edinburgh.
Armstrong, known for being half of the Armstrong and Miller double act, as well as presenting shows such as Pointless and Have I Got News for You, attended St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh.
Armstrong, also known for his voiceover work on programmes such as Peppa Pig, brought out his first solo vocal album last year.
He is now backing St Mary's Music School to the controversial site in the heart of the city.
Armstrong, who was in Edinburgh this week, said: "There are plans for St Mary’s Music School to move to the former Royal High School building in Edinburgh.
"This will offer the school a high profile location to expand and continue its work in being a musical centre of excellence in Scotland. The ties with St Mary’s Cathedral will remain strong.
"As a former pupil, I send my best wishes and support for a positive step forward for the arts in Scotland’s capital."
He added: "My love of singing started when I was a child. I was a chorister at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh from the age of 11, that is when it took hold and went up a gear.
"When you are singing five days a week, that’s a big commitment....but singing for fun is always good."
Other musicians and composers have already signalled their support for the relocation scheme, which are backed by the Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT), including Dame Evelyn Glennie, the composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and Simon Frith, chair of the Mercury Prize.
Other supporters of the plan include Richard Hillier, the headmaster of the Yehudi Menuhin music school, and Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
Edinburgh councillors have already rejected plans for the high school to be turned into a luxury hotel.
Sir Peter, who was master of the Queen's music from 2004-2014, and is founder of the St Magnus Festival in Orkney, said: "I strongly support the enlightened proposal to restore the former Royal High School as a home for St Mary's Music School.
"It is essential that we continue to invest in the future of specialist music education in this country."
Frith, chair of the leading music prize since 1992 and professor of music at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for the school and would make a major contribution to the musical life of Edinburgh and Scotland.
"This is too good an opportunity to miss."
