September 15th 2024.
Ken Bruce, a well-known broadcaster, recently left his long-standing role at BBC Radio 2. The exit was not a pleasant one, with Ken expressing his concern for the future of the BBC. Having hosted the weekday mid-morning show for nearly four decades, Ken's familiar slot was changed to a late-night show. It was at this point that he made the decision to hand in his resignation and join Greatest Hits Radio in April of last year.
Looking back on his departure, the Scottish radio presenter believes that politics played a role in the BBC's decision to nudge him out. He expressed his frustration with a new generation of presenters taking over the airwaves and regaling tales from their own lives on the mic. In a recent interview, Ken vented about this trend, stating that younger, less experienced broadcasters may believe that audiences want to hear them talk about themselves. He believes this is not necessarily true and that it is more important to know what not to say on the radio. Ken emphasized the impact that can be made with just a few words or a sentence, rather than talking for long periods about personal anecdotes.
Ken also shared his worries about the future direction of the BBC. He noted that commercial radio is thriving and growing, while the BBC is struggling to reinvent itself. As a long-standing member of the BBC, Ken believes that it is a slow organization to turn around and it needs vision and guidance to ensure it goes in the right direction.
This is not the first time Ken has voiced his concerns about the broadcaster since his departure. Prior to his final show last spring, he wrote on social media about leaving the BBC earlier than planned. A spokesperson responded, stating that it had always been known that Ken would be leaving in March and that he had returned to host one final week of shows before leaving. They wished him the best for the future.
Unfortunately for the BBC, Ken's departure has had a negative impact on their Radio 2 figures. Over one million listeners no longer tune in, while Ken's new show on Greatest Hits has an average of 3.8 million listeners per week. Ken believes this is due to Radio 2's attempt to be a "cool" station. He urged them to focus on appealing to those over the age of 35, rather than trying to compete with Radio 1.
In a recent interview, Ken expressed his belief that there should always be a clear division between Radio 1 and Radio 2. He stated that Radio 2 thinking it's cool is the worst thing they could do and urged them to focus on their target audience of people over 35. A BBC spokesperson responded, stating that Radio 2 has remained targeted towards an audience aged 35+ and that Vernon Kay, who took over Ken's weekday mid-morning show, remains the most listened-to radio programme in the UK.
BBC DJ Gary Davies filled in as a mid-morning host until last May, when Vernon took over permanently. Ken's replacement was officially confirmed last February. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can contact the entertainment team by email or phone, or by visiting their website.
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