Ken Bruce reveals why Radio 2’s audience numbers have fallen after Vernon Kay took over hosting duties following his departure

It’s been more than two years since Ken Bruce left BBC Radio 2 after hosting the mid-morning show for more than three decades.

The 72-year-old Scottish presenter, who was awarded an MBE for his contribution to radio, has left to join commercial station Greatest Hits Radio.

Vernon Kay currently sits in the 9.30-12 weekday slot, but since taking the helm streaming figures have reportedly fallen from 8.1 million listeners to 6.6 million.

Two and a half years later, Ken now tells us why he hasn’t adapted to the old timeslot and what his views are on Radio 2 audience figures since he left.

To talk saga magazine He explained: ‘I’m always asked if I listen to Vernon Kay, who took over the old show on Radio 2, and I always say “No”.

‘This isn’t because I’m boycotting the BBC; I still listen to Radio 3 and archive programs on 4 Extra. But now that I am part of a new family, Bauer Radio.

Vernon Kay currently sits in the 9.30-12 weekday slot, but since taking the helm streaming figures have reportedly fallen from around 8.1 million listeners to 6.6 million

‘I want to know what our men are up to, so I listen to our shows. Am I aware that the audience for the Radio 2 program has fallen since I left? Yes. Did some follow me to Greatest Hits Radio? Yes.’

He added: ‘But you won’t hear me boasting or speaking ill of the BBC. My new show is doing well – apparently viewership has doubled since I joined – and that’s all that matters.’

Ken, who has six children and three grandchildren aged between 15 and 43 from his three marriages, has always insisted that it was ‘his decision’ to leave the BBC after 46 years and assured fans that he was ‘not fired’.

Sticking to this narrative, he revealed that he had become increasingly cranky and frustrated with the lack of change in his life.

He continued: ‘Even though 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 wonderful years at the BBC but I was turning into the grumpiest man in the world. I was 71 years old, had been doing the same job for a long time, and I started thinking: “Is that it? Should we stop the next pile of scrap?”

‘So I decided it was time to change things and I’m sure there are many people in the same situation.

‘New place and new people, full of enthusiasm for the show. Is retirement possible soon? ‘I don’t stand a chance!’

Two-and-a-half years on and Ken now tells us why he hasn’t adapted to his old timeslot and what his views on Radio 2 audience figures have been since he left

Ken, who has been with the BBC for 46 years, explained that he decided to change radio stations because he found himself becoming increasingly grumpy and frustrated at the lack of change in his life (Photo taken in 1984)

Following his debut, Ken launched a brand new morning show on Greatest Hits Radio and took part in the legendary Pop Master radio competition, to which he owns the rights.

There, he challenges music fans to remember chart-topping facts and statistics in his bid to become the PopMaster champion.

Speaking of securing the rights to PopMaster, Ken joked: ‘While I am not known for my financial acumen, I made a few sound business decisions, one of which was securing the rights to the PopMaster quiz.

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

Ken first moved to mid-morning in 1986, and after a brief stay in late night and then early morning for less than a year in 1990, he returned to mid-morning in January 1992, where he served for over 30 years until his departure in 2023.

Greatest Hits has a history of poaching popular BBC Radio 2 staffers for the last five years.

Listening figures released by RAJAR last year showed that the station’s audience had increased by 13 per cent since the 2023 report covering the same period last year, from 6.66 million to 7.54 million listeners.