Ken Bruce’s diehard fans vowed to go with him when he parted ways with the BBC earlier this year.
And it seems that many of them have stayed true their word, with a million listeners leaving Radio 2 in the wake of his departure.
The station dropped from 14.5 million listeners in the first three months of 2023 to 13.5 million from the period covering March until the end of June, according to Rajar, the UK’s radio audience measurement body.
The same period last year, when Bruce was still on air, also saw 14.5 million viewers tuning in on a weekly basis.
While Radio 2 is still the most listened to station in the UK, the dramatic drop in listeners coincides with the veteran broadcaster’s departure from the BBC after 46 years in March.
Bruce, 72, was taken off air two weeks before the end of his contract and later said he felt he had been taken for granted by BBC bosses. He was replaced by Vernon Kay.
Bruce, 72, left the BBC in March and has three million listeners for his new show on Bauer’s Greatest Hits station
Bruce started his new job on Bauer’s Greatest Hits station in April, where he now has three million listeners, double the station’s ratings in the same period last year.
‘I’ve always said that it’s not really about the numbers and it’s not, for me at least, but I’m delighted to hear today’s news for the team here at my new home, Greatest Hits Radio,’ said Bruce.
‘My first four months have flown by and I’ve loved every minute of it – and there’s much more to come.’
Bruce has just announced that he is launching another digital radio station with Bauer – Ken Bruce’s Secret 60s, which will only play music from the 1960s.
BBC 2’s Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball has also had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 people turning off since March, down to 6.7 million from 7.26 million.
Compared to this time last year, Ms Ball’s show is also down more than half a million listeners. It is still the most listened to breakfast show across all stations.
‘Radio 2 remains the UK’s most popular radio station with 13.5 million loyal listeners who tune in each week to the best music from the past seven decades, presented by some of the country’s most loved presenters,’ said Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2.
‘Congratulations to the brilliant Zoe Ball who continues to host the most listened to Breakfast Show in the country.’
Radio 4 has also seen a significant year on year drop, with 1.3 million fewer listeners tuning in during the same period this year compared to 2022.
Last year 10.3 million people were listening to Radio 4, dropping to 9.4 million at the beginning of 2023 and now down to 9 million.
BBC 2’s Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball has also had a dip in listeners, with 560,000 people turning off since March, down to 6.7 million from 7.26 million
Radio 4’s flagship Today programme has also taken a hit, with 300,000 viewers turning off between March and the end of June.
‘Today remains one of the most listened to breakfast radio programmes, providing listeners with trusted in-depth reporting and agenda setting interviews,’ said a BBC spokesman.
While listeners might be dropping at BBC stations, alternative offerings such as Boom Radio – aimed at the Baby Boomer generation – are seeing an increase in ratings.
The station has doubled its listeners year-on-year, with 641,000 tuning in this year compared to 336,000 in the same period last year.
BBC Radio 2 has faced criticism for trying to appeal to younger listeners following the departure of veteran broadcasters including Bruce, Steve Wright and Simon Mayo.
