Those that stayed with Radio 2 after Ken left ...

[grayhairdontcare]

What's your verdict?

I loved listening to Ken and thought Vernon would be pants....but he is great. He comes across as a very pleasant, chatty guy who it's easy to warm to.

I've moved with Ken, and am enjoying Simon Mayo again. And Richard Allinson on a Saturday.

I like Gary Davies and listen on BBC Sounds. I tried listening while he covered Ken but the playlist was bloody awful and I switched off again.

I wasn't expecting to feel too old for Radio 2 before reaching 45! Scott Mills sounds bored. Zoe Ball needs an inhaler. I'm not interested in why Joe Public is halfway up the M6 chatting with Sara Cox. I want clear, calm DJs who talk and sound like they know where to put their microphone, and care about music.

I’m really enjoying Vernon and love 10 to the top. Scot Mills is crap and Zoe and Sara are alright but yeah I’m really impressed with Vernon.

For years I used to only listen to R2 but now I flick between R2, Virgin (and even Heart.)

Sara Cox's voice has recently started to really grate on me so I switch over to Ricky Wilson on Virgin the second I hear the annoying title music to Sara's show.

But I've also gone right off Chris Evans and his crew so Zoe Ball now in the mornings. Chris is very full of himself.

I miss Terry actually even though he was my dads age.

I don't mind Vernon. Quite like Jeremy Vine.

However, I was listening to Zoe Ball ( cos my old radio is stuck on R2) last week and heard about the Party in the Park and managed to get tickets, LOOK at this fabulous lineup!😁

I ditched R2 when Boom Radio started. Great music from the golden age of rock and pop (60s to the 80s), with selected modern stuff.
The DJs are hugely knowledgeable and experienced - some are ex pirate radio, Caroline, or Radio London and some ex radio one. All have a good sense of humour and loads of anecdotes about the stars they’ve interviewed over the years.

I switched off from R2 a long time ago. Feels like they are trying to make it into an extension of R1 these days.

I'm surprised how much I like Vernon. I strongly dislike Zoe Ball and her constant 'putting herself down because she is a menopausal woman' dialogue.
The best thing about Radio 2 is no Steve Wright on weekday afternoons, and that they play a reasonable amount of current music.

All the Radio 2 DJs are my age now

I'm sure Ken Bruce was a similar age or even younger maybe when he started

They've got the demographic right for the new round of DJ that have taken over in the last 5 years or so

But why does it matter how old the DJs are, if they are presenting programmes that the listeners want to hear? You wouldn't say that about older people in other jobs, who were consistently at the top of their game and delivering excellent figures and feedback.

There's this 'euphemistic' myth that the BBC hopes to encourage people to 'move along' to a 'more appropriate' station when they reach a different age demographic; but in reality, where on the BBC is there for older people to move to, if they want music radio and don't want to suddenly switch to the very different world of classical music?

The BBC are just digging their own grave when they show such disdain for older people and are only interested in chasing the young, as the older folk are the ones continuing to faithfully pay the licence fee, whilst to a lot of younger people, it just seems like a pointless anachronism.

I wasn't a fan of Ken Bruce, or Simon Mayo and I am glad that Steve Wright has gone. So, I'm rather liking the new line up. It feels less staid.

I like Vernon far more than I thought I would. He needs to calm down on the "I have had a normal job" act, I'm not sure who it's for. but he is lovely with the ten to the top callers and it's quite a cosy show overall.
I couldn't get to grips with greatest hits at all, couldn't even listen to it, so no ken for me anymore.

To answer the actual question in the OP, I think Vernon is a very good presenter and will happily listen to him; but he doesn't have the special magic touch that Ken always did. I enjoy listening to Vernon's show, but as a listener, I always felt like Ken's show was MY show, if that makes sense - the same as with Terry Wogan.

In fact, I don't think some people quite got the nuance of what Terry was saying when he frequently spoke about 'our listener' in the singular. Of course, it was a classic TW self-deprecating joke on one level; but on a broader level, it was referring to how the listeners were treated as valued 'clients', who could be made to feel like they were the sole focus of the programme, rather than just as one of a huge number on a ratings chart.

I love Ken and Simon and I feel annoyed with BBC for shatting on them, so I won’t be bothering with Radio 2.

Ooh, that looks like a fab line up @Appalonia

i like jeremy vine's music choices
same as liza tarbuck
that's about it

I like Vernon much more than I thought I would and I am even warming to the quiz . I can’t listen to Scott Mills though. I also think Rob Becket was a terrible choice for Sunday teatime . I guess I am no longer the listener that Radio wants but I am not ready for Radio 4 yet!

I've really enjoyed the bits of Vernon's show I've heard, just a shame I'm usually at work at the time he's on so can't listen regularly. I find him warm and engaging and pretty amusing too. I did like Ken Bruce (something very comforting about his voice and dad jokes) but I don't miss him when I catch Vernon instead.

Surprisingly Scott Mills has grown on me. I thought he was terrible at first (although not so terrible that I would bring back Steve Wright 😂). I like Zoe and Sara, so I'm pretty happy with the R2 line up at the moment and that coming from someone who really doesn't "do" change is quite a big endorsement! I did really want to
like Gary Davies but just find him rather dull, ok as an occasional stand in though.

I liked Ken and tried to move as I do sometimes listen to GHR but I can't be arsed with the adverts.
I don't mind Vernon. It's quite easy listening and he's a cheery chap.

My DH moved to greatest hits when Ken left but I can't get it in my car without it fizzing and popping or disappearing altogether, so I have stayed with R2. I only listen when I'm in the car so get 10 minutes of Zoe in the morning and it's timed so I get to hear the quiz or whatever is on at the time of the morning. What I've heard of Vernon I really like but haven't warmed to Scott Mills at all but if I time I right and leave work a little later he's nearly finished. I love Sara Cox and Jo Whiley so am happy if I'm in the car at their times. Liza Tarbuck's voice annoys me but she plays some great music.

All in all, I'm happy to stay with R2 (even Jeremy Vine though it does make me shout at the radio a lot as he's such a prat) 😀

In the house I moved with Ken (digital radio) in the car I have to stay with radio two cos my car and it radio to old so can only get analog.

Have stayed loyal to Ken but do enjoy Vernon so I generally listen to Ken live and bits of Vernon on catch-up.
Still missing the mighty Paul O’Grady and Malcom dream team on a Sunday teatime. Rob Becket is fine but just not a patch on his predecessors.

Vernon is surprisingly good. I listen to him, Johnny Walker and Lisa Tarbuck.

I'm loving Vernon, the show is brilliant from start to finish. He's so much better at the quiz than Gary Davis thank goodness. I'm loving the archive slots, some are hilarious. He has a good rapport with the other presenters linking the shows especially Jeremy Vine. I do listen to Zoe Ball but I'm not struck on her, it's on for background in the morning. I turn off after 2pm because Scott Mills is grating. I've on occasion listened to Sara Cox, she's a hit and miss for me too.
It would be good to find another station for after 2pm, with little or no adverts. Either with current topical discussions and one with a good mix of music for choice if anyone has a recommendation.

My little or no advert station is Smooth radio, or Smooth Country. There’s not much chatter and very few adverts. I particularly like Jenny Falconer who does the breakfast show. If I want something upbeat, I listen to Zoe, but if I want something more mellow, I listen to Jenny.

I like Zoe but yes she does put herself down and shouldn't.
Can't stand Vernon, I switch over to Ken.
I quite like Scott now and then I switch back to Greatest hits radio for Simon Mayo. The adverts are annoying though but Sara Cox is grating.