Vernon Kay takes Ken Bruce’s radio crown but loses some of his listenerson October 26, 2023 at 9:17 am

Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show has 6.9 million listeners, according to new audience figures – 1.3 million fewer than predecessor Ken Bruce pulled in before he left the mid-morning slot.

Kay took over in May after Bruce left the BBC for Greatest Hits Radio.

Kay’s ratings mean he has the most popular radio show in the UK.

But Bruce, going head-to-head with his Radio 2 successor, has increased the audience for his new Greatest Hits show to 3.7 million, Rajar said.

The ratings body publishes audience figures four times a year, and the latest set – covering July, August and September – is the first to cover a full three-month period for Kay.

The host began his first day in May by promising long-standing listeners “more of the same”.

BBC chief content officer Charlotte Moore said: “Radio 2 continues to be the country’s most popular station and I’m delighted with the flying start Vernon Kay has made to mid-mornings as the UK’s biggest radio show, bringing his warmth, energy and charisma to listeners up and down the country.”

Radio 2 controller Helen Thomas added that she was “proud that Radio 2 remains the UK’s most listened to radio station”.

The station registered 13.5 million weekly listeners – one million down on the same period last year.

Bruce, who will be receive an MBE on Friday, spent 31 years as Radio 2’s mid-morning host.

On his final show in March, Bruce thanked the BBC, commenting: “I’ve been here for a long time, and apart from the occasional vagary, it is still the finest broadcasting organisation in the world.”

He has said Greatest Hits approached him towards the end of his Radio 2 contract, and later learned the BBC was also planning to offer him a new deal.

“But they hadn’t actually done so yet, but by then I’d made my decision,” he told the Times.

He told the Radio Times he previously felt he was “just an afterthought” and had been taken for granted by Radio 2. He has also said he was struggling to get enthusiastic about the new music he had to play.

And he has said it was “a shame” that the station asked him to finish three weeks before his contract officially ended.

“I was annoyed because I thought, I’m reasonable. I’m not being difficult. Neither were you,” he said. “I think the idea is just to create a bit of space between me and Vernon starting.”

At the time, the BBC said the end of his show’s season of Piano Room sessions “provided a natural break”, adding: “We wish Ken all the best for the future.”

On Thursday, the presenter said he was was “delighted” to hear he had helped his new station reach its biggest audience yet – 6.7 million per week.

“It’s been an honour to share this new adventure with those that have made the switch, and talking of honours I have an appointment to keep this Friday, which explains why I’m not on air this week,” he said.

Bruce will receive his MBE for services to radio, charity and autism awareness at Buckingham Palace. His son, Murray, is autistic.

When the presenter was named on the King’s first Birthday Honours list in June, he labelled the honour a “great surprise and privilege”.