Ken Bruce claims BBC failed to promote huge Radio 2 moment: ‘It wasn’t mentioned’

Veteran broadcaster stepped down from his BBC Radio 2 slot in February after 30 years, and now hosts a show for Greatest Hits Radio

Radio presenter Ken Bruce has expressed his hurt that the BBC allegedly failed to promote the news that, in 2019, his mid-morning programme became the most listened-to radio show in the UK.

The veteran broadcaster, 73, regularly presented the Radio 2 show from 9.30am to midday for more than 30 years, until he left the station in March 2023 to be replaced by Vernon Kay.

His decision came after the late Steve Wright was nudged out of his Radio 2 afternoon slot, while Simon Mayo, Graham Norton and the late Paul O’Grady also stepped down from their respective programmes.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Bruce said he didn’t recall the BBC mentioning his success in 2019, when he overtook Zoe Ball to become Britain’s most listened-to radio presenter.

“I didn’t want any hoo-ha, so when my show became the biggest show on radio, I didn’t want to say anything about it, but I kind of thought the BBC should,” he said.

“I wasn’t expecting to be carried on a litter with people strewing palms in front of me, but I thought, surely that’s worth a mention? As far as I’m aware, it wasn’t mentioned by the BBC at all. Ever.”

The BBC declined to comment when approached by The Independent.