Your help helps us to inform the story
In my reporting on girls’s reproductive rights, I’ve witnessed the crucial position that impartial journalism performs in defending freedoms and informing the general public.
Your help permits us to maintain these very important points within the highlight. With out your assist, we would not be capable to combat for reality and justice.
Each contribution ensures that we are able to proceed to report on the tales that influence lives
Kelly Rissman
US Information Reporter
Ken Bruce has hit out on the BBC over a “political resolution” he claims they made throughout his 40 years with the broadcaster.
The radio host, 73, presently presents Best Hits Radio, which has doubled its listenership since he joined to an viewers of 4.1 million.
He left the BBC when his mid-morning present was the most-listened-to programme within the nation. The channel has since misplaced over a million listeners over the identical interval.
In a brand new interview with The Times, Bruce hit out at BBC administration over their alternative to vary the slot for his radio present. He was taken off the mid-morning slot and compelled into an unfamiliar late-night timing which he says aggravated him.
“I assumed, I haven’t finished something fallacious right here and it’s all working. It was a political resolution,” he stated.
After informing the BBC of his resolution to depart early final 12 months, the veteran presenter was requested to depart earlier than his contract had ended which he additionally discovered disrespectful.
“I do fear for the way forward for the BBC. I believe it wants to observe the place it’s going,” he continued.
“Business radio is admittedly wholesome, it’s rising and rising and rising. And I simply suppose it’s tough to reinvent one thing [the Radio 2 schedule] that has been profitable for a few years. It’s a gradual organisation to show round, like a supertanker. It wants individuals with imaginative and prescient to verify it goes the appropriate approach.”
The Impartial has contacted the BBC for remark.
Whereas he initially stated it was his resolution to step down from the BBC, Bruce later accused the company of pushing him to depart sooner than he had supposed, in a tweet shared shortly earlier than his final present.
“I will probably be presenting my final present on Radio 2 subsequent Friday,” he wrote on 24 February final 12 months. “I had supposed fulfilling my contract till the top of March however the BBC has determined it needs me to depart earlier. Let’s benefit from the week forward!”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers solely. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews till cancelled
Responding to Bruce’s tweet, a BBC spokesperson instructed The Impartial: “Ken determined to depart Radio 2 and it’s at all times been identified he’s leaving in March.
“Returning to Wogan Home for every week after a month of broadcasting the Piano Room periods at Maida Vale offered a pure break. We want Ken all the very best for the longer term.”
Bruce was changed by Vernon Kay. Throughout his interview, he alluded to a bent amongst youthful hosts to maintain speaking about themselves, which he stated might distract viewers from the purpose of the programme.
“I believe some youthful individuals in broadcasting, much less skilled individuals, can say, ‘They wish to hear me speak about myself.’ And that’s not essentially true,” he defined.
“It’s not about what you say, it’s what you don’t say on radio. You don’t have to speak so much to make an impression. You are able to do that in three phrases or a sentence. You don’t have to speak for 4 minutes about what you had been doing or what you thought was humorous.”
Earlier this 12 months, he told Beyond the Title podcast that Radio 2 was making a nasty resolution by making an attempt to be “cool”.
“Once you’re over 35, you’re extra comfy with your self and don’t thoughts being uncool. Radio 2 considering it’s cool is the worst factor we are able to do,” he stated.
