Former Radio 2 mid-morning DJ, Ken Bruce, has revealed that he is a lot happier in life now thanks to some major changes to his life after becoming ‘grumpy’
23:59, 23 Nov 2025Updated 08:29, 24 Nov 2025
Ken Bruce is content working where he is now and shows no signs of slowing down(Image: PA)
Radio DJ Ken Bruce says he was becoming the “grumpiest man in the world ” at the BBC before he left Radio 2. The much-loved DJ had a mid-morning slot on Radio 2 for much of his life between 1986 and 1990, then again from 1992 to 2023.
But he said enough was enough and quit to join Greatest Hits Radio where he still works now. Speaking to Saga magazine, Ken said: “Although it’s only been two-and-a-half years since I moved from Radio 2 to Greatest Hits Radio, it feels like a completely different part of my life. I had 46 fantastic years at the BBC, but I was turning into the grumpiest man in the world.
“I was 71, I’d done the same job for a long time and I started to think, ‘Is that it? Next stop the scrapheap?’ So, I decided – and I’m sure there are lots of people out there in the same position – that it was time to shake things up. New place and new people, full of enthusiasm for the show. Retirement any time soon? Not a chance!”
Ken, now 74, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to radio and continues to love broadcasting to the nation. And he is not someone who looks back but prefers to look forward.
Ken in his old Radio 2 studio(Image: PA)
Referring to his old job, he added: “I’m always asked if I listen to Vernon Kay, who took over the old show on Radio 2 and I always say, ‘No’. It’s not because I’m boycotting the BBC – I still listen to Radio 3 and archive shows on 4 Extra – but because I’m part of a new family now, Bauer Radio.
“I want to know what our guys are up to, so I listen to our shows. Am I aware that audience figures for the Radio 2 show have fallen since I left? Yes. Did some follow me over to Greatest Hits Radio? Yes. You won’t hear me gloating or badmouthing the BBC, though. My new show’s doing well – apparently, the audience has doubled since I joined – and that’s all that matters.”
Ken also credited being an older dad with keeping his mind and body young. He married third wife Kerith in 2000 and they have three children together. Ken explained: “I have got grown-up kids from my first two marriages [Campbell, 46; Douglas, 44; and Kate, 33] but Kerith and I have also got Murray [23], Verity [20] and Charlie [17].
“I was 57 when Charlie arrived and, yes, being an older parent can be hard but it keeps your mind and body active. Murray is autistic and we like to have him living with us. He’s currently in the process of moving from one college to a new provision, which always seems to cause stress. Kerith deals with it all…filling in forms, speaking to the right people.”
During one of his BBC shows in January 2023, Scottish broadcaster announced he would be departing his 9.30am – midday slot in March of the same year. This news was shortly followed by the confirmation he will be moving to the Bauer radio station Greatest Hits to present a brand new mid-morning show from 10am to 1pm.
On leaving BBC Radio 2, Bruce said at the time: “Nothing stays the same forever and I have decided the time is right for me to move on from Radio 2 when I reach the end of my current contract in March.
“It’s been a tremendously happy time for me: I’ve made many friends and worked with many wonderful colleagues. However, I feel that after 45 years of full-time broadcasting on BBC Radio, it’s time for a change.
“I would stress that this is entirely my decision but some new opportunities have come up and I would like to continue my career in a slightly different way in the next few years, the details of which will be revealed shortly.
“I will always be very proud of my association with the BBC and Radio 2 in particular and I’d like to thank everyone who has helped to make the mid-morning show a success.”
The radio DJ first joined the corporation in 1977 as a BBC Radio Scotland presenter and his first regular slot on Radio 2 was the Saturday Late Show in 1984.
The following year he fronted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, taking over from Sir Terry Wogan. He later moved to mid-mornings in 1986 and after a brief stint on late nights and early mornings, he returned to mid-mornings in January 1992.
* The full interview with Ken is in Saga Magazine’s December issue, out now.
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