Ken Bruce, 71, quit BBC amid fresh ageism storm as he follows raft of older stars out the door
THE BBC was at the centre of another ageism storm earlier tonight after Ken Bruce quit Radio 2 for a rival commercial broadcaster.
The 71-year-old turned down a new contract after becoming concerned by the corporation’s drive for younger talent, The Sun can reveal.
Following an exodus of older stars — all over 60 — the presenter will join Greatest Hits Radio in April, taking his cult quiz segment Popmaster with him.
News of his departure comes in the wake of a series of top talent being edged out including Steve Wright, 68, Paul O’Grady, 67, Vanessa Feltz, 60, and Simon Mayo, 64.
Tonight a source said: “Ken is Europe’s most listened-to DJ and has nothing left to prove at the BBC.
“He’s had an incredible time working there and is so grateful for the loyalty of all his listeners.
“But in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in direction, with a drive to attract a younger audience.
“The music has become edgier and more modern and the DJs seemingly ever-younger, which is a bit concerning for the old guard.
“Ken is still hugely ambitious and the BBC actually offered him a new deal.
“But after some months of negotiations, he decided the time was right for new opportunities.
“The fact he is taking Popmaster with him is a real coup for Greatest Hits — and a hammer blow for the Beeb. The very real fear is that listeners will leave in their droves.”
Social media was today flooded with fans mourning his departure, with many pledging to boycott Radio 2.
TV presenter and fellow Scot Lorraine Kelly tweeted: “This is too much. I draw the line — Ken Bruce is the best presenter on radio anywhere in the world.
“He’s kind, funny, wise and warm and I am really sad about this. End of an era. You will be sorely missed young man.”
Listener Darren Rigby-ONeill posted: “Ken Bruce leaving Radio 2 to go to Greatest Hits Radio with a similar time slot and with Popmaster sends a serious message about the current management of the station.
“They clearly don’t want older presenters and are phasing them out. Watch the ratings drop.”
Gary Marshall added: “Ken Bruce is by far the greatest DJ the BBC has ever had, a ridiculous decision letting him go, so Greatest Hits Radio it is then….#popmaster still at 10.30am?”
Ken regularly drew more than nine million listeners and has interviewed stars from Sir Rod Stewart, 78, to Beyoncé, 41. He said yesterday “the time is right” to move on from the weekday mid-morning show which he has presented since 1986.
In his press release for Greatest Hits Radio, he also pointedly said he looked forward to playing music from the 1970s to the 1990s — not mentioning the Noughties music Radio 2 often plays nowadays.
He said: “What better way to celebrate my 45 years in radio than with a new adventure.”
Ken, who joined the Beeb in 1977, said in his BBC statement: “Nothing stays the same forever. I’ve done everything it is possible to do at Radio 2. I’ve always felt I’ve got something more to prove.
“I hope when people hear the news they will say, ‘Sorry to hear you’re going Ken, but maybe I’ll follow you to wherever it is you’re going’.”
SIX OTHER ‘OLDIES’ LOST BY THE BBC
O’GRADY: OUT AT 67
PAUL O’Grady, 67, quit Radio 2 last August saying he was unhappy with an internal shake-up which saw him swapping presenting duties every 13 weeks with comedian Rob Beckett, 37.
MAYO: OUT AT 59
SIMON Mayo, 64, walked away from Radio 2 for commercial radio in 2018 after 17 years with the station when he was told he had to share his hit Drivetime show with his pal Jo Whiley, 57.
CHARLES: OUT AT 58
CRAIG Charles, 58, had his Saturday night Radio 2 House Party show cancelled last June after eight years, saying: “They couldn’t give me any reason other than they just wanted a change.”
NORTON: OUT AT 57
GRAHAM Norton, 59, moved to Virgin Radio in January 2021 after ten years on BBC Radio 2, saying he had tired of coming under fire each year when the BBC revealed stars’ salaries.
FELTZ: OUT AT 60
VANESSA Feltz, 60, announced in July last year she was stepping down from her BBC London and Radio 2 slots, saying she had made the decision to “catch up on her beauty sleep”.
WRIGHT: OUT AT 68
STEVE Wright, 68, walked away from his afternoon and Sunday Love Songs Radio 2 slots last September after 24 years, saying his boss had “wanted to do something different in the afternoons”.