News about Ken Bruce

Ken Bruce describes himself as more of a tortoise than a hare.  The famously modest DJ took a risk at the age of 72 when he left Radio 2, where he'd been for 31 years, to join the commercial station Greatest Hits Radio.  But the move last year has paid off in spades for Ken because he's almost doubled the audience for the 10am-1pm weekday show. One reason for his success is his enduringly popular music quiz PopMaster (pictured left), to which he acquired the rights after the BBC turned down the opportunity to jointly trademark it years ago.

Channel 4's hit music quiz Popmaster is returning for a 'bigger and better second series' with radio legend Ken Bruce once again hosting. The show was previously a staple of the 73-year-old's BBC Radio 2 show, before transitioning to a TV following his exit from the corporation last year.  As well as a new series Popmaster will have also feature a celebrity special with guests Toyah Wilcox, Sally Lindsay and Richard Blackwood. 

Mark Lawrenson (right) has branded the BBC as being 'top of the woke league' after again claiming he was dropped as a Match of the Day pundit due to being '65 and white'. The former Liverpool spent three decades with the corporation, including 25 years with Football Focus, but left at the end of the 2021-22 football season. Lawrenson claimed in 2022 that he was informed the show would be going 'on the road' and that bosses told him 'we don't think it is really something for you'.

Some faithful listeners have erupted in the wake of Paddy McGuiness's controversial departure from the BBC, but it comes after the comedian demonstrated extraordinary loyalty to the BBC in the aftermath of Top Gear's demise.

Michael Ball's plush 11am slot on Sundays with an as-yet-unspecified design, prompting a protest from veteran Radio 2 listeners who find him off-putting. McGuinness' presence on Saturday's show in recent weeks left a "large impression," according to radio 2's chief, with listeners seated for him on his Saturday show, but listeners to the UK's most popular radio station fear that his presence will 'decimate' the listeners. In the weekday afternoon slot, Radio 2's most popular presenter shake-ups and burn-outs have seen nearly a million listeners fall nearly a million viewers since last year, most notable Ken Bruce's departure and Steve Wright's replacement with Radio 1's Scott Mills. In addition, a number of shows McGuinness has performed have been cancelled or delayed (Quest Gear and Question of Sport, right).

On Thursday, the 73-year-old will be celebrating his first year with Greatest Hits Radio as he commemorates a year of his fame. On the one-year anniversary of the station, the actor will host a special show from a little rare occasion. The radio broadcaster was best known for presenting his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 show from 1986 to 1990 and then again from 1992 to 2023.

Skinner told listeners on Saturday that his breakfast show would come to an end after 15 years, and that, 'I'm not going to pretend I took it well.' Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie, the 67-year-old comedian, were'sacked,' and the co-hosts, according to him.' He will be out of work in May after being told that his deal will not be renewed, but that he does not want to go'. Critics also protested the decision to cancel Skinner's famous program, which has been on air since 2009. Absolute's decision, according to journalist Nick Duerden, was due to ageism, and there were similarities with Ken Bruce's departure from BBC Radio 2 last year. 'No one could guess how Radio 2 undervalued Ken Bruce so much,' and now much the same appears with Skinner, a man of some vintage, but who never looked his age and never sounded it out.' He was fine, and he still is.' 'Ageism may have been a factor in Skinner's dismissal,' Tristam Fane Saunders said. He's technically a pensioner at 67. 'On X: Frank Skinner's show on Absolute is brilliant, but the decision not to renew it can only have been made by an Absolute t***.'

Helen and her children, who were left dead outside BBC Radio 2's London HQ to see the building renamed Wogan House (inset), are likely to be ruled out as the Beeb moves out. Sir Terry will be commemorated somewhere else, according to a BBC spokesperson who declines to say if he will be remembered elsewhere. Ken Bruce, his ex colleague, sees the change as a shame and has begged the Beeb to honor fellow DJ Steve Wright (right), who died last month.

When the host, 72, appeared on Radio 2 for more than 30 years, he said that the radio broadcaster begged him to resurface in January 2023. Now, Ken has stated that he did not even get a mention or any form of advertisement when it became the biggest show on television.

Ken Bruce, 73, (right) started Radio 2 in March last year and reported that he did not like some of the new music he was forced to play and was concerned about being seen as a 'old man.' He had listened to his colleague Wright (left), who was booted from his Radio 2 afternoon show in 2022. Bruce told The Telegraph, 'I had already made up my mind to go before that happened to Steve.' Well, it did make me think, and it could happen to me too - this year, next year, or whichever.

Steve Wright, who died shortly before his death, was apparently hoping for a revival on the BBC just 18 months after the broadcaster cut his Radio 2 show. On Tuesday, veteran broadcaster Steve, one of the country's most popular voices on the airwaves, died at the age of 69. Simon Margorali told The Mirror how he talked to Steve about his TV plans when the DJ stayed at his hotel just two weeks before his death.

I realised a tragic coincidence while standing in Steve Wright's old studio at Radio 2 this week. JEREMY VINE writes that the studio in which he talked live to the nation for more than 40 years had been gutted just days before his death. The symbolism was too heavy to bear. The studio was his home for Steve Wright, whom I would regard as much as a colleague.

Some of the Beeb's most popular voices have been kicked off Radio 2, including Simon Mayo (right inset), Ken Bruce (main image left), and Paul O'Grady (left inset). Listeners are supposed to tune in to their replacements, such as Vernon Kaye and Sara Cox, without knowing the difference. And the sheer injustice of it was brought home yesterday with Steve Wright's sudden death (main picture correct).

According to MailOnline, Steve Wright was discovered dead in his apartment on Monday morning after ambulances were alerted to a 'incident.' Only after ten o'clock on February 12, emergency services rushed to the actor's home in Marylebone, central London, but he was declared dead at the scene. The coroner's report was not being treated as suspicious, but police say a report was not released about his 'unexpected' death. Before his death at the age of 69, the radio personality hosted BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than four decades.

As they posed for a funny selfie, composer Anthony James snapped the snap (left) of himself next to the beloved BBC Radio 2 host (right and inset). The photograph was taken four weeks ago, when the pair met up in New York, and it is likely that the last picture of Steve before his heartbroken family revealed it on Tuesday. The musician released the images along with an emotional tribute to his 'dear friend Steve', who, he said, had such a passion for Life and Radio'.

Before his death, Steve Wright was supposed to return to BBC Radio 2 as part of a 'pop nostalgia' spin-off station. Last week, Bosses revealed plans to introduce four new radio stations in an attempt to relegate dissatisfied listeners to the BBC, including a new Radio 2 spin-off focusing on the music of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The station would have been the new home of the legendary DJ's Sunday Love Songs show, which had been on the channel since 1996, before his'very sudden' death earlier this week.

During a touching piano rendition of the host's afternoon theme tune, BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg paid a loving tribute to late Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright. The news of Wright's sudden death aged 69 on Monday afternoon stunned family and colleagues alike, as many tried to get to work by live bulletins. Rosenberg celebrated Wright's legendary talent as a DJ on X, formerly Twitter. "He was, quite simply, brilliant...a broadcaster in a class of his own,' He wrote. In the Afternoon theme, I play Steve Wright as a tribute to Steve Wright.'

Sara Cox, Zoe Ball, and Ken Bruce all paid their respects to the veteran host's passing on Sunday afternoon, sparking a torrent of emotional tributes from actors and fellow BBC Radio presenters, including Sara Cox, Zoe Ball and Ken Bruce. And now his listeners are sharing their own memories with Nicki Chapman as she takes the lead of the BBC Radio Breakfast Show from Zoe Ball. Longtime Radio presenter Steve has shared how his death "feels like losing a friend" and how "selecting what Steve meant" to them is so difficult. Some people have also recalled their fond memories of Steve's shows, reminiscing how they listened to him through their teenage and adult lives, while others have recalled seeing the 'kind, funny, humble, and lovable' actor.

Colleagues and acquaintances of BBC broadcaster Steve Wright have been left stunned by the DJ's death after he announced they only knew him a few days ago. Sara Cox and Zoe Ball's deaths were announced this afternoon, sparking an outpouring of emotional tributes from the veteran host. Wright's death was seen as'very, very unexpected' by coworkers, as he was in touch with bosses at the station within the last few days. They told the Mail: Steve had been talking to Radio 2 executives just two or three days ago... we were aware he was having trouble with his health, but nothing that seemed serious.' 'It has been a big surprise.' Nobody believes it. So recently, he was working with his coworkers. It doesn't seem that it's even real.' Jo Whiley, a fellow Radio 2 DJ, said it was'very strange' to be discussing Steve's death on her show when she hadn't seen him 'days before,', while Ken Bruce said he'deserved MBE's to celebrate his 'richly deserved MBE'. Wright, one of the United Kingdom's most popular voices on the airwaves, died at the age of 69.

The surprise has left coworkers and fans of the legendary British broadcaster 'heartbroken' and devastated his millions of followers. In a tweet today, his family expressed deep sadness and profound regret for the loss of our beloved Steve Wright. Steve leaves his brother, Laurence and his father Richard in lieu of his son, Tom, and daughter, Lucy. Also, millions of dedicated radio listeners who had the opportunity and joy of welcoming Steve into their everyday lives as one of the United Kingdom's most popular and well-known radio stars.'

The legendary DJ debuted on the BBC in the 1970s, then went on to host shows on BBC Radio 1 and 2 for more than four decades, attracted millions of viewers. Professionals have been left 'heartbroken,' while others have prompted an outpouring of emotional tributes from actors such as Ken Bruce, Simon Mayo, Zoe Ball, and Vernon Kay. I think he was one of the true pioneers of music radio, speaking on Greatest Hits radio.' I loved his shows. I'm sure a lot of you did as well. It was a thrill to be on the same radio stations as him. He'll be greatly missed.' Sara Cox, the presenter, said, 'It's really difficult to know what to say about Steve Wright's death, but we're all shocked and disgust with this news.'

The BBC is trying to retaliate with dissatisfied Radio 2 listeners by launching a 'pop nostalgia' spin-off station.' A service that has been accused of alienating the station's heartland audience by hounding younger listeners will debut a service focusing on the music of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. It was one of four digital stations the company revealed yesterday, igniting a competition dispute with the commercial radio industry. In addition to the Radio 2 station, a new classical chill-out style version of Radio 3 and two Radio 1 sister-stations will be released.

The BBC has revealed plans for a new Radio 2 spin-off station to woo back listeners, many of whom were outraged by Ken Bruce and Steve Wright's departure from shows fronted. According to the broadcaster, the new station is one of four planned to debut on DAB and online via BBC sounds, and it will concentrate on music from the 1950s, 1960s, and 70s. Other notables include a sister station for Radio One aimed at young listeners and playing hits from the 2000s to today. The Radio 2 spin-off will be 'a unique spin on pop nostalgia' from the 1950s, 60s, and 1970s.

While perched on a swing above water, the DJ, 39, transformed into a white two-piece, while another snappe showed her dressed in a stunning gold skirt on the beach.