Radio legend Ken Bruce was a staple at the BBC for over four decades before he made the decision to leave in 2023.
Ken Bruce has opened up on when he knew it was time for him to leave BBC Radio 2 after so many years on-air.
The 72-year-old had been at the broadcaster for over four decades and fronted his mid-morning show on Radio 2 for just over 30 years.
Three years ago, he left the station to join Greatest Hits Radio, taking a large proportion of his loyal listeners with him.
In a recent instalment of Good Morning Britain, Ken confessed he didn’t decide to leave for any dramatic impact, but knew he had time to do one more thing in his career, reports the Mirror.
Speaking to Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway, he praised the ‘fantastic’ years he at at the broadcaster before confessed he felt he was no longer felt like the ‘youngster’ he was used to being, having played alongside the likes of Terry Wogan and Jimmy Young.
Admitting he became a veteran ‘overnight’, Ken added that he didn’t want to ‘be the old bloke in the corner being made fun of’ as he shared that’s when he knew it was ‘time to go’.
During his final sign-off on BBC Radio 2, Ken played Golden Slumbers by The Beatles as he quoted the song, saying: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make – and I have loved being here with you.”
He continued: “Thank you so much, and may we meet again somewhere. Thank you to everybody who has contributed in any small way to this programme, particularly the listeners.
“I really couldn’t do it without the listeners, who contribute and complete the dialogue. We talk to each other on a daily basis, and I hope sometime in the future we may be able to continue doing that.
“Thank you, particularly to the members of the Ken Bruce preservation society who sent in a lovely bottle of a certain Irish cream liquor, which I did think about drinking after song nine of the show today, but I thought I’d better just wait until now.
“That is very, very kind of you. Thanks to all who have sent any kind of message of congratulations or good riddance!”
Ken continued his sign off by thanking his production team, Phil McGarby and Jeanine Mayer-Smith, calling the duo a ‘fabulous pair’.
He finished off with: “To the BBC I have been here for a long time and apart from the occasional vagary it is still the finest broadcasting organisation in the world.”
Although he left the broadcaster, Ken took his popular trivia quiz show PopMaster with him, having it air on Channel 4 in a new TV format.
Good Morning Britain is available to watch weekdays on ITV from 6am.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login