Ken Bruce has just announced he’s leaving Radio 2!

[HannahinHampshire]

Says it’s entirely his own decision. End of an era for me

Yeah- I moved with Simon Mayo too. The adds are very annoying but I tune out easily enough.

Gary Davis - his shouty presentation- please God, no.

The whole beauty of radio (excluding actual R4 documentary-style programmes) is that you don't want to be 'presented at' - you want a friendly voice to guide you gently through the time. Terry understood that; Ken understands that.

In fact, Terry's ongoing joke about his (singular) listener had more truth in it than just a bit of silly fun - as he had the perfect way to make you feel like he was just talking to you. Obviously, he wasn't; but you always felt your presence was valued and not like just another number in the ratings.

I would love Paddy or Tina to replace Jeremy. I feel Jeremy has become a parody of himself over time and plays devils advocate so hard he ends up sounding stupid.

Back to Ken I'm gutted to see him go. I hope they don't replace him with Gary Davies, he's okay but would grate quickly enough.

I would love it to be OJ Borg. He was great when he filled afternoons until Scott started, then I had to stop listening to afternoons. I do think Vernon Kay is very good too and would love him on more regularly.

I heard he was leaving a long time ago

Another vote for OJ Borg. Really enjoy him on the radio.

I like Gary Davies but I think he would be wrong for the morning slot. More of an evening presenter.

If they want an outsider, I’d go for Jenni Falconer. If I want a calmer morning, I listen to her on Smooth Radio. I really like her on the show - nice and gentle.

i remember when Chris Evan’s moved radio station. He said he was leaving to do something new and exciting, and then announced he was doing the breakfast show on Virgin. Hardly different! Don’t know why, but that made me loose respect for him.

I’m surprised Ken Bruce is taking popmaster with him. I thought that would stay on radio 2.

I’ll definitely be listening to him when he moves. He said he’ll be playing 70’s, 80’s and 90’s music on Greatest Hits Radio so I wonder if he got fed up playing the newer and (in my opinion) not so great playlists that Radio 2 are currently pushing. I can understand that the BBC are trying to recruit a younger audience, but the majority of people who listen to the radio are older and don’t particularly want to listen to stuff that is aimed at an younger age group - the majority of who probably access music via other platforms and never even think about putting the radio on. I wouldn’t be surprised if they replaced Ken with a ‘personality’ who has no actual interest in music and fills in the air time with phone ins and inane guests. The 9 million listeners that Ken attracts will very quickly become a thing of the past for Radio 2.

Who will do the R2 coverage of Eurovision now?

Methinks he has agreed to say he went of his own volition in return for taking Popmaster. Popmaster contestants are by and large not the sort of listeners Radio 2 wants now. Plus it is difficult to have a “modern” Popmaster as the charts and “pop” are so different from what they used to be.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll Rylan will be a shoe in for Eurovision. Tho I expect Richie is angling for it

Rylan will be a shoe in for Eurovision.

He's normally on the telly, though, isn't he? Mingling with the acts and audience, even if not as the main presenter.

Paddy would be very good at it.

Not Vernon Kaye, he's awful and shouts.

Yes, I noticed this too about Richie. I can’t stand him either!

I loathe him! Always wants to talks about his partying days back in the day - and himself, very tedious.

I was driving when I heard Ken say he was going, gutted doesn't even cover it. I love his show, I used to dread him going on holiday because none of the stand ins were anywhere near as good. I'll miss Popmaster too.

I will only listen Saturday mornings if I'm up early enough to Tony Blackburn's 60s show. Not sure what the hell I'll listen to during the week though. 😪

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like Richie. They shoe horn him on to every bbc program going!

I’ll miss Popmaster hugely.

Ken is also one of the last R2 presenters with accurate pronunciation and grammar, no daft usage of ‘myself’ from Ken. Shame.

I found it so funny when he was voted off Strictly so early. He clearly thought he was popular, as presumably did the BBC. Nah.

The Richie Anderson thing is bizarre. Agree he is shoehorned into every darn thing. Is he someone’s boyfriend?

I think OJ would be a great one to step up into this prime time slot, though I do like Gary Davies too. Please, please not Vernon. If Jeremy left then definitely Tina Daheely. I find Paddy has a slightly condescending manner.

I don't mind Richie Anderson. I wasn't that aware of him before he did strictly. Has he always done Kens show?

Ken isn’t stupid. He was the last man standing of his generation of presenters & he could see which way the wind was blowing so he decided to jump before he was pushed. He also saw Steve Wright hang on for too long doing what had become a very tired show until R2 bosses kicked him out. I’m sure the canny old Scotsman will have negotiated a very nice contract with Bauer, so good luck to him.

No, he was a local radio presenter until he took over the traffic presenter/ sidekick role on Ken’s show from Lynne Bowles a few years ago.

Nooooo. Radio 2 kept me company during lock down. Was gutted when Paul o'Grady left-helped combat the Sunday night blues. There will no doubt be another exodus elsewhere.

The dislike of Richie was scathing! But hilarious.
He's definitely warmed up to him now but the first few months I'd be waiting for the traffic to see what ken would say. I do t love Richie but he took it on the chin.

All of which is to say I am gutted Ken is off. I love his show, he's so quietly knowledgeable and expert in a way most current presenters are not.

Agree I love Ken's humour (and popmaster) I don't hate Richie either..for those who say radio 2 is too modern for playing chart stuff as well as older stuff, you're getting old unfortunately...I like to hear the newer stuff and the random stuff still played personally..constant 80s and adverts drive me nuts