Ken Bruce reflects on the BBC’s decision that he found to be ‘annoying,’ stating, ‘It was politically motivated.’

In experienced radio host expresses concerns regarding the future of the BBC in a frank new interview.

Ken Bruce has expressed his dissatisfaction with the BBC regarding what he describes as a “political decision” made during his four-decade tenure with the organization.

The 73-year-old radio host currently leads the programming at Greatest Hits Radio, which has seen its audience grow to 4.1 million since his arrival.

He departed from the BBC while his mid-morning show was the most popular radio program in the nation. In contrast, the BBC has experienced a decline of over one million listeners during the same timeframe.

In a recent interview with The Times, Bruce criticized BBC management for their decision to alter the scheduling of his radio show. He was moved from the mid-morning slot to a less familiar late-night time, a change that he found frustrating.

“I felt that I hadn’t done anything wrong and that everything was functioning well. It was a political decision,” he remarked.

Bruce initially transitioned to the mid-morning slot in 1986 after a brief stint in late-night programming in 1990. He later shifted to early mornings before returning to mid-mornings in January 1992, where he remained until his exit last year.

After notifying the BBC of his intention to leave early last year, the seasoned presenter claims he was asked to vacate his position before the conclusion of his contract, which he regarded as disrespectful.

“I am concerned about the future of the BBC. I believe it needs to be mindful of its direction,” he added.

The commercial radio sector is thriving, experiencing continuous growth. However, I believe it is challenging to revamp a successful entity such as the Radio 2 schedule, which has been effective for many years. Transforming such an organization is akin to maneuvering a supertanker; it requires time and careful navigation. Visionary leadership is essential to ensure it progresses in the right direction.

The Independent has reached out to the BBC for a response.

Initially, he stated that his departure from the BBC was his own decision; however, he later claimed that the corporation had pressured him to leave sooner than he had planned, as indicated in a tweet posted shortly before his final broadcast.

On 24 February of the previous year, he announced, “I will be delivering my final broadcast on Radio 2 next Friday. Although I had planned to fulfill my contract until the end of March, the BBC has opted for an earlier departure. Let us make the most of the upcoming week!”

In response to Bruce’s tweet, a BBC representative informed The Independent: “Ken made the decision to depart from Radio 2, and it has always been understood that his exit would occur in March.

“His return to Wogan House for a week, following a month of hosting the Piano Room sessions at Maida Vale, created a natural transition. We extend our best wishes to Ken for his future endeavors.”

Bruce was succeeded by Vernon Kay. In his interview, he remarked on a trend among younger presenters who tend to focus excessively on themselves, which he suggested could divert the audience’s attention from the program’s main objectives.