Share this @internewscast.com
Defiant Ken Bruce signed off his first Greatest Hits Radio Show with Abba‘s The Winner Takes It All as fans celebrated his triumphant return to the airwaves.
The veteran Scottish broadcaster, who had a following of more than eight million listeners, kicked off his new show on Greatest Hits Radio today weeks after his shock departure from BBC Radio 2.
Mr Bruce played several classic anthems, most of which carried upbeat tones, and resurrected his beloved PopMaster quiz before closing the show with the 1980 Abba hit about losing someone who you deeply loved.
Fans delighted over his return took to social media saying ‘King Ken s back and all of a sudden the world is a brighter place.’ But not all listeners gave it a glowing review, with some complaining there were too many ‘annoying’ adverts on the 72-year-old’s show and that its app had been blighted by technical issues.
Defiant Ken Bruce (pictured last month) signed off his first Greatest Hits Radio Show with Abba’s The Winner Takes It All as fans celebrated his triumphant return to the airwaves
The veteran Scottish broadcaster, who had a following of more than eight million listeners, kicked off his new show on Greatest Hits Radio today weeks after his shock departure from BBC Radio 2. He is pictured with Jenny Powell today at a welcome party on day one of his show
Mr Bruce played several classic anthems, most of which carried upbeat tones, and resurrected his beloved PopMaster quiz on today’s show. He is pictured with Jenny Powell today
Mr Bruce kicked off his new show today with the Beatles‘ 1969 hit, Come Together – the opening track of the band’s Abbey Road album.
He welcomed listeners, saying: ‘There you are’ and added: ‘Quality music all the way… you’re going to love it.’
He followed up the classic Beatles’ hit with Manic Monday by The Bangles, seemingly paying homage to the start of the work week.
The show featured upbeat songs with underlying tones of loss and freedom, such as Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way, Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, and The Best Things In Life Are Free by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson.
The radio star also played several fun nostalgia-inducing bangers like Blondie’s Heart of Glass, Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and Summer Nights by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
‘King Ken’ is back: Fans take to social media to express their joy at Bruce’s new show on Greatest Hits Radio today
…But some listeners appeared to struggle to listen to the Scottish broadcasting legend’s first show with Greatest Hits Radio via its app, with some taking to social media saying the online service had crashed (above and below)
Ahead of his appearance, Bruce teased what listeners can expect to hear from his new show, which runs from 10am to 1pm.
He said: ‘What better way to celebrate my forty-five years in radio than with a new adventure and a brand-new show on Greatest Hits Radio.
‘I say brand new but there will still be PopMaster, me and my musings and all the great records you know and love from the 70s, 80s and 90s.’
Bruce had the last day of his Radio 2 mid-morning slot – which aired from 9.30am to midday for more than 30 years – in March before moving to Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio.
The acrimonious split stunned his audience and came amid a growing ‘ageism’ row at the BBC, with the corporation letting some of its biggest veteran stars go in a bid to freshen up Radio 2’s image and attract a younger audience.
But Bruce fans say the Beeb may have shot itself in the foot with the decision, with people taking to social media saying they are dumping Radio 2.
One said: ‘Hooray. back on the radio today on Greatest Hits Radio. back on at 10am No more for me.’
Another added: ‘The Pop Master himself Ken Bruce is back on Greatest Hits. How I’ve missed him.’
Other’s questioned how many listeners the BBC would lose, with one saying: ‘#BBCradio2 about to become a ghost town,’ while a third added: ‘Good to hear #KenBruce again on the radio – Radio 2’s loss!’
But some claimed to have difficulties listening to the show amid claims Mr Bruce’s huge following of fans had caused Greatest Hits Radio’s app to crash.
One said: ‘Has Ken Bruce broken the Premium Login? I’m only getting “Something went wrong! Please try again” on the website and the app doesn’t connect either.’
Another added: ‘Can’t log into any Planet Radio app or site. I’m guessing this is a rush of people signing up to listen to Ken Bruce ad-free on GHR. There’s clearly a problem with the premium system…’
In a familiar feeling to fans of his former Radio 2 show, Bruce’s Popmaster returned at its same time from 10.30am to 10.50am.
New venture: Ken Bruce pictured in the hot seat of his new show on Greatest Hits Radio. He opened his show with the Beatles’ 1969 hit, Come Together – the opening track of the band’s Abbey Road album
Some listeners were met with a ‘something went wrong’ warning when they attempted to tune into Ken Bruce’s new shot this morning
When Bruce left the BBC in March, after being at the corporation for more than 40 years, he chose the medley of Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight and The End that closes the 1969 record to end his long-running stint.
When asked how he felt ahead of his first show, he told BBC Breakfast: ‘It’s a fresh start, it is something a little bit different in a new place, that is always good for somebody to try something a little bit new so there I am ready to go.’
He added: ‘There is a certain aspect of oddness about it, yes, I look around the studio I am in and it’s not quite the same as it was.’
Popmaster contestant Richard also received 39 points to win a smart speaker and a Greatest Hits Radio subscription.
He gave a shout-out to his wife along with several Facebook groups, centred around the radio presenter, such as The Ken Bruce Preservation Society, and PopMaster With Ken Bruce.
Asked by Bruce if he could amalgamate the groups, Richard said there is ‘too much rivalry’ between them.
The DJ, who first fronted the Breakfast Show, took over from Sir Terry Wogan in 1985 on Radio 2.
Bruce later moved to mid-mornings in 1986 and after a brief stint on late nights and early mornings, returned to mid-mornings in January 1992.
The BBC announced Gary Davies, host of the station’s Sounds Of The 80s, will present the mid-morning show from March until TV presenter Vernon Kay takes over Bruce’s Radio 2 slot at a date in the future.
The radio legend’s return to Britain’s airwaves comes after he revealed he was ‘struggling’ with how the hours of his workday will change after leaving the BBC.
When asked if there are adjustments he has to make since moving to Bauer, Bruce said: ‘I’m struggling to work my day out.
Details: His new show airs from 10am to 1pm and will feature PopMaster, which Bruce has brought over from the BBC due to him trademarking the long-standing segment
Read Related Also: Hairdresser attacked three police officers in naked rampage after drink was ‘spiked’ at Creamfields
Bruce welcomed viewers onto his new show with the Beatles 1969 hit Come Together. It came weeks after his shock departure from BBC Radio 2 (Ken is pictured at his former show)
‘I think I’m going to be going to bed an hour later because I just have to squeeze everything into the remaining hours of the day.
‘Once I get my body clock right, I think I’ll be all right, but I’m really enjoying having a half-hour extra in bed every morning.’
The radio DJ added that he will be ‘looking for lunch’ at 12.30pm when he is on-air and joked there will be a ‘problem with the microphones’ during this time.
He also said his new radio show after leaving the BBC will be ‘much the same’ and he is not looking to introduce ‘massive great bells and whistles stuff’ into the format.
Bruce added: ‘It’s just going to be nice things to keep people engaged, keep people listening, and taking part in the show, it’ll just be much the same as it was before just in a different place.’
After joining BBC Radio Scotland in 1977 in his 30s, he went on to several other shows at the corporation.
When asked how he was feeling about the move from a workplace after more than 40 years, Bruce said: ‘Well, I’ve got lots of friends still working at the BBC and who worked at the BBC for a long time, and still I’m very, very warm towards the BBC.
‘I think it’s a great organisation. It was just time for me to leave and now … it’s been quite a few weeks and really, I’m looking forward to doing a month or two, maybe a year or two, maybe a decade or two, on Greatest Hits Radio.’
Moving on: After joining BBC Radio Scotland in 1977 in his 30s, Bruce said of the BBC: ‘I’m still very, very warm towards the BBC. I think it’s a great organisation. It was just time for me to leave’
Bruce said he also has ‘plans’ to branch out to other avenues before adding he is not as young as he ‘used to be’.
The BBC announced Davies, host of the station’s Sounds Of The 80s, will present the mid-morning show from March until TV presenter Vernon Kay takes over Bruce’s Radio 2 slot in the future.
Bruce said he was seen as ‘the young pretender’ when he first fronted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, taking over from ‘the great’ Sir Terry Wogan in 1985.
He added: ‘I did get a fair bit of criticism but you just have to ride that through and people are always comparing something they’ve listened to for a long time with something that’s brand new they’re not familiar with.’
Bruce later moved to mid-mornings in 1986 and after a brief stint on late nights and early mornings, returned to mid-mornings in January 1992.
He added: ‘I don’t give advice to other broadcasters, [Sir Terry] refused to give me any advice… I asked him for it, he wouldn’t do it.
‘So, I don’t think I should give advice, but this will pass is all I ever can say… if it’s not going as well as you might like, it’ll get better soon. Don’t worry, keep at it.’
Why did Ken Bruce leave BBC Radio 2?
Mr Bruce told his fans that after decades with the BBC, he wanted to continue his career ‘in a slightly different way in the next few years’.
Decision: Ken told his fans that after decades with the BBC, he wanted to continue his career ‘in a slightly different way in the next few years’
However, the presenter claimed the national broadcaster asked him to leave Radio 2 before the end of his contract.
In a tweet, Mr Bruce said: ‘I had intended fulfilling my contract until the end of March but the BBC has decided it wants me to leave earlier. Let’s enjoy the week ahead!’
He later told the Daily Mail that he ‘wasn’t given any real reason that I understood’ by the BBC for the decision to move his final programme.
However, sources told The Sun: ‘The BBC believe that every second he is on air is just free advertising for his new show on Greatest Hits Radio.
‘They became frustrated by the rival station launching a marketing campaign for his show. It leaves a sour taste.’
In response to Bruce’s comments, a Radio 2 spokesman said: ‘Ken decided to leave Radio 2 and it’s always been known he’s leaving in March.
Dispute: However, the presenter claimed the national broadcaster asked him to leave Radio 2 before the end of his contract
‘Returning to Wogan House for a week after a month of broadcasting the Piano Room sessions at Maida Vale provided a natural break. We wish Ken all the best for the future.’
When asked how he was feeling about the move from a workplace after more than 40 years, Mr Bruce said: ‘Well, I’ve got lots of friends still working at the BBC and who worked at the BBC for a long time, and still I’m very, very warm towards the BBC.
‘I think it’s a great organisation. It was just time for me to leave and now … it’s been quite a few weeks and really, I’m looking forward to doing a month or two, maybe a year or two, maybe a decade or two, on Greatest Hits Radio.’
What is Ken Bruce’s new show?
His new show airs from 10am to 1pm and will feature Popmaster, which Bruce has brought over from the BBC due to him trademarking the long-standing segment, and hit songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The popular radio quiz is still airing at the same time from 10.30pm to 10.50pm.
