How Greatest Hits Radio is becoming a retirement home for BBC legends trends now
Greatest Hits Radio is becoming the retirement home for BBC legends as Ken Bruce becomes the latest DJ to leave Radio 2.
The Scottish broadcaster, 71, said 'the time is right' for him to move on from the weekday mid-morning show he's presented since 1986.
Mr Bruce is the latest veteran to leave the station - insisting it is his decision - and has urged his fans to follow him to his new home. He will be joining BBC alums Simon Mayo, Jackie Brambles, Mark Goodier and Paul Gambaccini at the station.
Experts say Greatest Hits Radio boss Ben Cooper is adding Mr Bruce to his roster for an estimated £500,000 as they try to steal listeners from the increasingly younger-focused Radio 2.
Greatest Hits Radio is becoming the retirement home for BBC legends as Ken Bruce (pictured) becomes the latest DJ to leave Radio 2
Experts say Greatest Hits Radio bosses added Mr Bruce to the roster of Simon Mayo, 64, (left) and Jackie Brambles, 55, (right) as they try to steal listeners from the increasingly younger-focused Radio 2
The broadcaster, 71, will present a show from 10am to 1pm on the Bauer radio station, alongside presenters including Mr Mayo, 64, at Drivetime and Ms Brambles, 55, in the early evening.
Mr Bruce, informing his 9million listeners this morning that he would be quitting, said: 'Nothing stays the same forever and I have decided the time is right for me to move on from Radio 2 when I reach the end of my current contract in March.
'It's been a tremendously happy time for me: I've made many friends and worked with many wonderful colleagues. However I feel that after 45 years of full-time broadcasting on BBC Radio it's time for a change.
'I would stress that this is entirely my decision but some new opportunities have come up and I would like to continue my career in a slightly different way in the next few years, the details of which will be revealed shortly.
'I will always be very proud of my association with the BBC and Radio 2 in particular and I'd like to thank everyone who has helped to make the mid-morning show a success'.
A radio insider estimates that Bauer Media offered Mr Bruce around £500,000 annually to host the show on Greatest Hits Radio.
A radio insider estimates that Bauer Media offered Mr Bruce around £500,000 annually to host the show on Greatest Hits Radio. Pictured: Ken running through his Radio 2 show with a producer
Mr Bruce will present a show from 10am to 1pm on the Bauer radio station
'Bauer, are trying to build Greatest Hits Radio into much more of a rival to Radio 2,' the insider told MailOnline. 'They will undoubtedly get an excellent return on their investment in Ken through sponsorship of the daily PopMaster competition which advertisers will love to be associated with because of its popularity.
'Radio 2 is definitely pitching itself towards a younger audience now, having just brought in Scott Mills and phasing out classic songs from the sixties and seventies during daytime programming.
'It'll be interesting to see who replaces Ken. My guess is Rylan, who's become a favourite on Saturdays and is has wide appeal thanks to his TV profile.'
Radio 2 is provide more details about the new mid-morning show at a later date.
The insider added: 'It seems the BBC is abandoning older music listeners. Commercial stations like Boom Radio and Serenade Radio are taking care of the tastes of the 50+ audience leaving Radio 2 to appeal to 35 to 50 year olds.
What kind of music does Greatest Hits Radio play?
Greatest Hits Radio plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s
