Ken Bruce has opened up about his decision to leave BBC Radio 2, saying there were times in his life when he felt it was the moment to move on. The veteran broadcaster, 75, departed the station in 2023 after 31 years hosting its weekday mid-morning programme, and now presents his PopMaster segment on Greatest Hits Radio at 10:30am.
Appearing on Sunday's edition of Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, Bruce spoke candidly about his choice to leave the BBC and why he has no plans to step away from Greatest Hits Radio in the near future.
A 'brave move' to Greatest Hits Radio
Presenter Alan Titchmarsh, 77, remarked: "A big, brave move, really, to Greatest Hits Radio!" to which Bruce responded: "There are times in your life when you think, this is the moment, you know, this is..."
He continued: "I've done it here, and there's time to do something else, which I felt there was. Maybe there wasn't, but, yeah, there's still time in my life to do something just slightly different."
PopMaster's enduring popularity
Reflecting on PopMaster's popularity and its move to Greatest Hits Radio, Bruce said: "I honestly don't know. I mean, I think, like many successful things, it's organic, it grows, the time is right."
He added: "It was quite big, and then it got even bigger during lockdown, because people found it a signpost in their day, and they would all congregate or be in touch with other members of their family or friends at 10.30. It just became a sort of meeting point, and I was delighted by that."
Time for a change
Back in 2023, Bruce said: "I have decided the time is right for me to move on from Radio 2," adding he'd had "a tremendously happy time" but it was "time for a change".
He told listeners: "I'll reach the end of my current contract in March, and so at that point I will be moving on from Radio 2. Nothing stays the same forever... I have been here for quite a long time now, and it possibly is time to move over and let somebody else have a go."
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh continues on Sundays at 9:30am on ITV and ITVX.
