Ken Bruce has revealed he left BBC Radio 2 because he didn't want to be 'the old bloke in the corner being made fun of'. The 72-year-old had been at the broadcaster for over four decades and presented his mid-morning show for just over 30 years.
Why Ken Bruce decided to leave
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Bruce told Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway that he didn't leave for dramatic impact, but knew he had time for one more thing in his career. He praised his 'fantastic' years at the BBC but admitted he no longer felt like the 'youngster' he was used to being, having worked alongside Terry Wogan and Jimmy Young.
Bruce said he became a veteran 'overnight' and that's when he knew it was 'time to go'.
His emotional sign-off
In his final BBC Radio 2 show in 2023, Bruce played Golden Slumbers by The Beatles, quoting: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make - and I have loved being here with you."
He thanked listeners, saying: "I really couldn't do it without the listeners, who contribute and complete the dialogue. We talk to each other on a daily basis, and I hope sometime in the future we may be able to continue doing that."
Moving on to Greatest Hits Radio
Bruce left to join Greatest Hits Radio, taking many loyal listeners with him. He also took his popular quiz PopMaster, which now airs on Channel 4 in a TV format.
He concluded his BBC farewell by thanking his production team and saying: "To the BBC I have been here for a long time and apart from the occasional vagary it is still the finest broadcasting organisation in the world."
