BBC Radio 2 loses 1MILLION listeners following Ken Bruce’s departure to rival Best Hits Radio – after station bosses sparked backlash for delivery out older expertise together with Steve Wright for youthful DJs

BBC Radio 2 has misplaced 1,000,000 listeners following Ken Bruce’s departure earlier this yr, together with his diehard followers following the beloved presenter to its rival Best Radio Hits. 

It comes after the broadcaster sparked backlash and was accused of ‘rank ageism’ after quite a few older presenters, together with Steve Wright, Craig Charles and the late Paul O’Grady, had been shipped out for youthful DJs final yr.

In April the veteran Scottish presenter, 72, finest identified for presenting his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 present from 1986 to 1990 and once more from 1992 to 2023, introduced he can be leaving after 31 years to affix the business station.

Within the wake of his departure present the station dropped from 14.5 million listeners within the first three months of 2023 to 13.5 million from the interval masking March till the tip of June, in accordance with Rajar, the UK’s radio viewers measurement physique.

In the meantime, whereas Bruce was nonetheless on air, the station noticed 14.5 million viewers tuning in on a weekly foundation. 

The identical interval final yr, when Bruce was nonetheless on air, additionally noticed 14.5 million viewers tuning in on a weekly foundation.

Bruce, 72, left the BBC in March and has three million listeners for his new present on Bauer’s Best Hits station

Whereas Radio 2 continues to be probably the most listened to station within the UK, the dramatic drop in listeners coincides with the veteran broadcaster’s departure from the BBC after 46 years in March.

Bruce, 72, was taken off air two weeks before the end of his contract and later said he felt he had been taken for granted by BBC bosses. He was changed by Vernon Kay.

Bruce began his new job on Bauer’s Best Hits station in April, the place he now has three million listeners, double the station’s rankings in the identical interval final yr.

‘I’ve all the time stated that it’s not likely concerning the numbers and it’s not, for me no less than, however I’m delighted to listen to right this moment’s information for the crew right here at my new house, Best Hits Radio,’ stated Bruce.

‘My first 4 months have flown by and I’ve cherished each minute of it – and there’s rather more to return.’

Bruce has simply introduced that he’s launching one other digital radio station with Bauer – Ken Bruce’s Secret 60s, which can solely play music from the Sixties.

BBC 2’s Breakfast Present with Zoe Ball has additionally had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 folks turning off since March, down to six.7 million from 7.26 million.

In comparison with this time final yr, Ms Ball’s present can also be down greater than half 1,000,000 listeners. It’s nonetheless probably the most listened to breakfast present throughout all stations.

‘Radio 2 stays the UK’s hottest radio station with 13.5 million loyal listeners who tune in every week to one of the best music from the previous seven a long time, offered by among the nation’s most cherished presenters,’ stated Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2.

‘Congratulations to the sensible Zoe Ball who continues to host probably the most listened to Breakfast Present within the nation.’

Radio 4 has additionally seen a major yr on yr drop, with 1.3 million fewer listeners tuning in throughout the identical interval this yr in comparison with 2022.

Final yr 10.3 million folks had been listening to Radio 4, dropping to 9.4 million initially of 2023 and now all the way down to 9 million.

BBC 2’s Breakfast Present with Zoe Ball has additionally had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 folks turning off since March, down to six.7 million from 7.26 million

Radio 4’s flagship At the moment programme has additionally taken successful, with 300,000 viewers turning off between March and the tip of June.

‘At the moment stays some of the listened to breakfast radio programmes, offering listeners with trusted in-depth reporting and agenda setting interviews,’ stated a BBC spokesman.

Whereas listeners is likely to be dropping at BBC stations, different choices equivalent to Increase Radio – aimed on the Child Boomer era – are seeing a rise in rankings.

The station has doubled its listeners year-on-year, with 641,000 tuning on this yr in comparison with 336,000 in the identical interval final yr.

BBC Radio 2 has confronted criticism for attempting to attraction to youthful listeners following the departure of veteran broadcasters together with Bruce, Steve Wright and Simon Mayo.