BBC Radio 2 has lost a million listeners following Ken Bruce’s departure earlier this year, with diehard fans following the beloved presenter to its rival commercial station Greatest Radio Hits.
The slashed ratings come after the broadcaster found itself at the centre of an ageism storm after a number of older presenters, including Steve Wright, Craig Charles and the late Paul O’Grady, were shipped out for younger DJs.
It has led to so-called ‘Radio 2 refugees’ abandoning the station – which despite its listener departures remains the most popular in the country – in favour of commercial rivals that play more hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
In March the Scottish presenter, 72, best known for presenting his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 show from 1986 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 2023, signed off from the station for the final time after 31 years.
In the wake of his departure show the station dropped from 14.5 million listeners in the first three months of 2023 to 13.5 million from the period covering March until the end of June, according to Rajar, the UK’s radio audience measurement body.
While Bruce was still on air, however, the station saw 14.5 million viewers tuning in on a weekly basis.
Bruce, 72, left the BBC in March and has three million listeners for his new show on Bauer’s Greatest Hits station
In the wake of Bruce’s departure show the station dropped from 14.5 million listeners in the first three months of 2023 to 13.5 million
Steve Wright’s afternoon show of 23 years was replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 49, last year
Radio 2 still remains the most listened station in the UK but the dramatic drop in listeners coincides with the veteran broadcaster’s departure from the BBC.
He told Radio Times earlier this year: ‘I probably wanted to prove a few things to myself, and maybe to some other people, about my worth on Radio 2.
‘There were times when I felt I wasn’t really noticed by either the BBC itself or some listeners. So I thought, ‘I’m going to make these people appreciate me.
‘And having done that to my satisfaction, I felt it was time to give myself a little challenge, try something different, rather than become stale and wait for the axe.’
The former BBC 2 star also reflected on his upset that the broadcaster had asked him to step down before his contract had fully expired.
‘I’m a little bit disappointed by that, I have to say. Because I thought that, after 45 years, I could be trusted to do the right thing for the next few weeks’, he said. ‘But obviously it’s up to them. It’s their choice.’
The veteran presenter’s slot was temporarily filled by BBC DJ Gary Davis, before Bolton-born broadcaster Vernon Kay, 49, took over permanently.
Tearful fans admitted they were crying as Bruce signed off from his final BBC show in March – with some vowing they would not listen to Radio 2 again.
Bruce being replaced by Kay led to BBC bosses being accused of choosing ‘younger, cheaper’ TV stars over its veteran DJs.
A senior radio source told MailOnline ahead of the switch: ‘Vernon’s agents would have used Ken’s salary as a starting point but would probably have been negotiated down to £250,000 to £300,000, reflecting that he’s much less experienced than Ken. He is younger and probably cheaper.’
Amongst the replacement of older staff, which saw the BBC being accused of ‘rank ageism’, 68-year-old Steve Wright’s afternoon show of 23 years was replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 49.
The late Paul O’Grady, 67, who had been at Radio 2 for 14 years also quit the broadcaster after he was forced to share his time slot with comedian Rob Beckett, 37.
Bruce started his new job on Bauer’s Greatest Hits station in April, where he now has three million listeners, double the station’s ratings in the same period last year.
Bruce was replaced by Vernon Kay, 49, who is married to Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly
The late Paul O’Grady, 67, who had been at Radio 2 for 14 years also quit the broadcaster after he was forced to share his time slot with comedian Rob Beckett, 37
BBC 2’s Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball has also had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 people turning off since March, down to 6.7 million from 7.26 million
‘I’ve always said that it’s not really about the numbers and it’s not, for me at least, but I’m delighted to hear today’s news for the team here at my new home, Greatest Hits Radio,’ said Bruce.
‘My first four months have flown by and I’ve loved every minute of it – and there’s much more to come.’
Upon his departure he reassured fans that his new radio show would be ‘much the same’ and he was not looking to introduce ‘massive great bells and whistles’ into the format.
While the show airs from 1am to 1pm, the PopMaster quiz – which Bruce brought over from the BBC due to him trademarking the long-standing segment – will be played at the same time between 10.30am and 10.50am.
Hit songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s – all beloved by his loyal fan base – are also still played.
Bruce has just announced that he is launching another digital radio station with Bauer – Ken Bruce’s Secret 60s, which will only play music from the 1960s.
The latest listener ratings also revealed that BBC 2’s Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball has also had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 people turning off since March, down to 6.7 million from 7.26 million.
Compared to this time last year, Ms Ball’s show is also down more than half a million listeners. It is still the most listened to breakfast show across all stations.
‘Radio 2 remains the UK’s most popular radio station with 13.5 million loyal listeners who tune in each week to the best music from the past seven decades, presented by some of the country’s most loved presenters,’ said Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2.
‘Congratulations to the brilliant Zoe Ball who continues to host the most listened to Breakfast Show in the country.’
Radio 4 has also seen a significant year on year drop, with 1.3 million fewer listeners tuning in during the same period this year compared to 2022.
Last year 10.3 million people were listening to Radio 4, dropping to 9.4 million at the beginning of 2023 and now down to 9 million.
Radio 4’s flagship Today programme has also taken a hit, with 300,000 viewers turning off between March and the end of June.
‘Today remains one of the most listened to breakfast radio programmes, providing listeners with trusted in-depth reporting and agenda setting interviews,’ said a BBC spokesman.
While listeners might be dropping at BBC stations, alternative offerings such as Boom Radio – aimed at the Baby Boomer generation – are seeing an increase in ratings.
The station has doubled its listeners year-on-year, with 641,000 tuning in this year compared to 336,000 in the same period last year.
Speaking following the ratings reveal, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: ‘Radio 2 remains the UK’s most popular radio station with 13.5 million loyal listeners who tune in each week to the best music from the past seven decades, presented by some of the country’s most loved presenters.
‘Congratulations to the brilliant Zoe Ball who continues to host the most listened to breakfast show in the country.’
