Vernon Kay taking over from Ken Bruce on R2

[PuppyMonkey]

I think he’s great when he does Zoe Ball’s show but is he fit to step into the shoes of living legend Ken?

I agree. He did a brilliant job filling in between Steve Wright finishing his afternoon show and Scott Mills starting last autumn.

Gary Davies is also a good stand in for Ken but then I remember him from his radio 1 days when I was in my teens (I’m early 50’s). I’m not sure how I would feel if he was the permanent replacement though.

I usually catch Zoe while I’m in the kitchen sorting breakfast (so generally after 8am) but only for 1/2 hour or so or the end of the show when I’m taking my kids to nursery. Scott is usually only when I’m picking them up again in the afternoon; so little more than an hour and a half. Ken however, I tend to listen to all the way through if I can. I like Piano Room month and his ‘Tracks of My Years’ feature. I love Popmaster (but only because I’m so bad at music quizzes and like to see if I actually have any music knowledge!)

Am not sure what I’ll do regarding what to listen to in future as I do like the fact you don’t have adverts constantly breaking into the programmes so I’m not sure I’ll get on well with GHR. I can see myself not putting the
radio on during the day and just having it on in the car as background noise.

You need to get over to virgin on weekend mornings for Graham Norton and no ads!

Sir Ken is irreplaceable.

I'm 45 and I listen to radio 2. I remember Simon Mayo, Gary Davies, Steve Wright,Sara Cox and Scott Mills on radio 1 .
I love Ken Bruce and pop master, but I've not minded Vernon Kay when he's stood in for SW. In fact he and almost anyone else were an improvement on Steve Wright. I felt he didn't really update always having some annoying character (DJ silly boy was uber cringey) and constantly talked over or sung along (badly) to the music. So for me Scott Mills is a massive improvement.
I'm really not keen on Jeremy Vine - I don't want to hear about bunion surgery or pus at lunchtime 🤢 on Medical Mondays, or the way he creates a phone in based on a random news story. A few weeks ago an aquarium exploded in a hotel and you were meant to phone in if you'd experienced anything similar. Well duh, the reason it's news is because it's an unusual thing to happen! Although maybe he doesn't actually choose the content.
Not sure about changing to greatest hits because I do want to hear current music as well. 1980s onwards is my choice of music.

Gutted about this - find Vernon Kaye really annoying. His chat always sounds forced and just like he loves the sound of his own voice.

I really like Gary Davies and OJ Borg

Jeremy Vine should have been replaced by Vanessa Feltz (who has now left after only ever having the awful dawn shifts). He lets listeners say one sentence and then kicks them off. She at least knew how to tease out the interesting bits.

There is a guy from a Northern station (Manchester) who has stepped in sometimes for a week in August. Anyone know who he is?
He was great actually too. So Vanessa or Manchester man to replace Jeremy Vine.

Owain would have been a better choice
Whoever makes these decisions doesn't know their audience
I'll follow Ken I think

I've moved over to 6music and love it.

I think it could have been a lot worse . Vernon Kay is not a bad presenter. Ken is a big act to follow. I like Jeremy Vine I hope he stays. I don't mind Zoe but the rest of week day is rubbish. I like Rylan and Rob Becket on weekends

I'm also target audience as mid 40's and I'm very happy with the choice. I will miss Ken but I absolutely hate commercial radio. I dislike the ads and how sponsors infiltrate their way into all the speaking segments, not to mention the competitions to win cash etc. It's just one constant advert. Of course the BBC is often pushing their own agenda and publicising their own events but I can cope with that. I do like Vernon so I think he'll be great. I also want to listen to new music too and so not keen that greatest hits appears to be limited to 70s, 80s and 90s.

Welcome to Greatest Hits Radio and the fabulous Pop Master, our WhatsApp group at work will be moving there too as we do P M every day . Shame on R 2

I have just read that Ken Bruce is leaving Radio 2 next Friday instead of the end of March. Apparently he was called in yesterday to be told that next Friday would be his last day.

What a way to treat him after all the years he's been there 😥

I have moved to R4 and 6Music.

I'm signing up for the premium GHR. I've accepted that Radio 2 no longer wants me as their demographic.
But I only used to listen to pop master on Sounds anyway.
I did follow Chris Evans to Virgin when he left - but he has become even more smug and pleased with himself lately - so for £1 a week for no adverts, Ken and Simon - GHR have played a blinder.

Ooh that sounds good!

That is pretty shit of the BBC.

Wrong thread though the post might still be appropriate 😂

I saw your post @Veescience and thought it quite profound.

Gutted that Ken is finishing early, I'm usually home on a Friday pretty much all day, so I will be listening for the final time to his show and snivelling into a hankie.

I will be switching from R2 after Friday to GHR and only switch back on a Saturday morning for Tony Blackburn.

Bloody BBC!

I stuck with R2 after Simon Mayo's departure despite never enjoying the new drivetimes show as much. However, since finding out Ken is leaving I've made the switch to Virgin for the commute to and from work. I can't get GHR in my car but listen to it and a mix of Virgin at home. I've been loving Chris Evans in the mornings, Ricky Wilson on the way home and Graham Norton at the weekends. I've actually not missed R2 a jot!

Me too. I find Vernon so disingenuous. Scott is the same - really seems to dislike everyone who calls in. He tries to fake warmth.

Ken Bruce has been treated appallingly by the BBC.

There’s no need for it.