Im A BBC Radio 2 legend – I know brutal reason why | UK News

In 2023, Ken Bruce bid farewell to his loyal BBC Radio 2 listeners after more than 30 years of internet hosting his well-liked mid-morning show. The 72-year-old broadcaster, who obtained an MBE for his contribution to radio, left the favored station to be a part of Greatest Hits Radio. The Scottish presenter was finally changed by Vernon Kay, who hosts the weekday slot from 9.30am to 12pm, but the new host has struggled to impress listeners.

Since stepping into the recording sales space, listeners have reportedly dropped by more than 1.5million, with Ken leaving the show with roughly 8.1million to 6.6million tuning in today. Now, two and a half years on, Ken has revealed why he believes the viewers has shrunk since he left.

Speaking to Saga magazine, he revealed: (*2*)  

He added: “You won’t hear me gloating or badmouthing the BBC, though. My new show’s doing well – apparently, the audience has doubled since I joined – and that’s all that matters.”  

Ken is the proud father of six kids aged between 15 and 43 from his three marriages and is now a grandfather to his three grandchildren. The presenter has always insisted that it was “his decision” to step away from the BBC after 46 years and assured followers that he “wasn’t sacked”.  

He added that he had turn out to be more and more pissed off with the shortage of change in his life. The radio host explained: “Although it’s only been two-and-a-half years since I moved from Radio 2 to Greatest Hits Radio, it feels like a completely different part of my life.  

“I had 46 fantastic years at the BBC, but I was turning into the grumpiest man in the world. I was 71, I’d done the same job for a long tim,e and I started to think, ‘Is that it? Next stop the scrapheap?’  

“So, I decided – and I’m sure there are lots of people out there in the same position – that it was time to shake things up. New place and new people, full of enthusiasm for the show. Retirement any time soon? Not a chance!”  

After he left the Beeb, Ken took on a brand-new mid-morning show on Greatest Hits Radio, where he hosts the beloved Pop Master radio quiz, which he owns the rights to. During his morning show, he challenges listeners to recall chart-topping information and stats in order to turn out to be the new Pop Master champion.  

Opening up about securing the rights to the radio quiz, he joked: “Although I am not well-known for my financial acumen, I have made a few sound business decisions, one of which was securing rights to the Pop Master quiz. 

“It meant I could take the format with me when I moved to Greatest Hits Radio, and I’ll be bringing it with me next year when I join the Saga Cruise to the Canary Islands.”  

The radio icon first started his mid-morning show in 1986 after a transient stint on late nights for less than a yr in 1990 and then into early mornings – he returned to mid-morning in January 1992, where he hosted his loyal show for more than 30 years until his departure.