Radio 2 star Ken Bruce presents his last show for the BBC TODAY after more than 30 years – after Corporation axed the veteran presenter a month early as he prepares to join rival station Greatest Hits Radio
Veteran broadcaster Ken Bruce today presents his last show on BBC Radio 2 after more than three decades.
The Scottish presenter’s final morning program airs from 9.30am to 12am, before leaving the company to join rival station Greatest Hits Radio.
His departure seems to suggest a shift within the BBC towards trying to attract a younger audience, although critics including Paul O’Grady have argued that this ‘doesn’t make sense’ when Radio 1 is already targeting that demographic.
Bruce leaves a month ahead of schedule because company bosses became “frustrated” that his shows were “free advertising” for his next channel.
The 72-year-old first joined the BBC in 1977 when he was in his thirties as a presenter for Radio Scotland, and went on to present several programmes.
Veteran broadcaster Ken Bruce today presents his last show on BBC Radio 2 after more than three decades
His first regular appearance on Radio 2 was the Saturday Late Show in 1984, and the following year he fronted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, succeeding Sir Terry Wogan.
Bruce later moved to mid-morning in 1986 and after a brief stint of late nights and early mornings, he returned to mid-morning in January 1992.
The presenter will move to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio in April to present a new morning show from 10am to 1pm.
Prior to his departure, Bruce said he would ‘always be proud’ of working with the BBC and Radio 2, but wanted to continue his career in ‘a slightly different way’ over the next few years.
But he revealed he was “surprised and a little disappointed” when he learned his last show had been brought forward to Friday by the BBC.
“I was going to run my contract until the end of March, but the BBC have decided they want me to leave earlier. Let’s enjoy the week ahead!’ he tweeted.
He later told the Daily Mail newspaper that the BBC had given him “no real reason that I understood” for the decision to move his latest programme.
However, sources report that The sun: ‘The BBC believes every second it’s on the air is nothing more than free advertising for its new show on Greatest Hits Radio.
“They became frustrated when the rival channel launched a marketing campaign for its show. It leaves a sour taste.’
The Scottish presenter’s final morning program airs from 9.30am to 12am, before leaving the company to join rival station Greatest Hits Radio.
In response to his comments, a spokesman for Radio 2 said: ‘Ken has decided to leave Radio 2 and it has always been known that he is leaving in March.
‘Returning to Wogan House for a week after a month of broadcasting the Piano Room sessions in Maida Vale provided a natural break.
“We wish Ken all the best for the future.”
Bruce’s slot will be taken over by TV presenter Vernon Kay in May, at a date to be determined.
Sounds Of The 80s presenter Gary Davies will present the morning show from March 6 until Kay takes over, the BBC said.
The company’s apparent shift to a younger audience has been criticized by industry giants including Paul O’Grady.
The broadcaster, who left Radio 2 in 2021 after being asked to share his slot with comedian Rob Beckett, criticized the bosses’ approach.
‘Radio 2 has changed, it’s not what it used to be,’ he says told Metro.co.uk.
“They’re trying to target a much younger audience, which doesn’t make sense, because you have Radio 1. Radio 2 was always for an older audience.”