The decision by BBC bosses to hand Ken Bruce’s mid-morning slot to Vernon Kay has upset listeners and further deepened the ‘ageism’ storm engulfing Radio 2 – but going ‘younger and cheaper’ could save the corporation £100,000-a-year, MailOnline can reveal today.
The veteran DJ, 72, will step down from his show in just over a month before moving over to rival Greatest Hits radio, with Kay signing a two-year deal.
But industry insiders have said that Vernon is unlikely to be given Ken Bruce’s £389,999-a-year salary because of his age and lack of radio experience compared to the veteran who draws in 8.2million listeners each week.
The source told MailOnline: ‘Vernon’s agents would have used Ken’s salary as a starting point but would probably have been negotiated down to £250,000 to £300,000 reflecting that he’s much less experienced than Ken. He is younger and probably cheaper’.
Ken Bruce is the latest in a long line of older DJs to leave Radio 2 in and his loyal fans have vowed to follow him and his much-loved Popmaster quiz. His mid-morning show is the most popular in the UK.
So-called ‘Radio 2 refugees’ are upset by ever-younger DJs playing increasingly modern hits with Ken also reportedly said to share concerns about the station’s edgier playlist.
Radio 2 has hemorrhaged 580,000 listeners in the last year after axing older stars. Former fan of the station Fiona Rees tweeted: ‘This has had a huge impact on me. All negative… Vernon Kay now replacing Ken Bruce. Radio 2 is totally unrecognisable.’
Veteran DJ Ken Bruce is to step down from his popular BBC Radio 2 show in April and is set to be succeeded by Vernon Kay
Kay, who is married to Strictly presenter Tess Daly, will host his first show on April 3.
Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O’Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo
The BBC has been accused of ageism summer Paul O’Grady exited Radio 2 after Steve Wright, 68, Graham Norton, 59, and Simon Mayo, 64, all left and were replaced with a younger line up. Vanessa Feltz, 60, and Craig Charles, 58, have also moved on, with Ms Feltz saying her exit was because she was a woman over the age of 60.
This sidelining of older ‘baby-boomer’ DJs and pursuing ‘Gen Z’ and younger listeners with under-50 presenters playing fewer classic hits and more modern pop has coincided with listeners going elsewhere.
Dan Tappin wrote: ‘I’ve been quite supportive of the changes to Radio 2 because the station has to change to reflect 40-year-olds of now. But Vernon Kay is not the correct replacement for Ken Bruce.’
Dan Rowley added: ‘Vernon Kay to replace Ken Bruce. Poor lad. It’s like when Moyes replaced Fergie.’
Bruce’s slot has been hailed as the ‘biggest, most coveted’ job in radio.
A source said: ‘Ken’s show is the most listened to in Europe so Vernon has massive shoes to fill. But he’s such a warm, easy presenter and listeners have really taken to him.
‘Vernon has a raft of fresh, new ideas and content, but will not be trying to reinvent the wheel here – he knows how important this show is to listeners, and wants them to feel welcome and safe.
‘Everyone at the Beeb is hugely excited to have him on board.’
A formal announcement is expected to be made in the coming days, while contracts are understood to have been signed last week.
Kay, who is married to Strictly presenter Tess Daly, will host his first show on April 3.
Ken Bruce (pictured with his good friend Rod Stewart) is leaving the BBC after 45 years, quitting Radio 2 for Greatest Hits Radio
Ken Bruce said he has done all he could at the BBC and wants a fresh challenge for the end of his career. Many fans will follow him
BBC Radio 2 has been accused of ageism after the mass departure of some of its best-known hosts
Radio 2 has been accused of ageism after a mass departure of some of its best-known hosts.
Steve Wright, 68, Paul O’Grady, 67, Vanessa Feltz, 60, and Simon Mayo, 64, have all bid adieu from the station in recent months.
A source told the Sun: ‘Ken is Europe’s most listened-to DJ and has nothing left to prove at the BBC.
‘He’s had an incredible time working there and is so grateful for the loyalty of all his listeners.
‘But in recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in direction, with a drive to attract a younger audience.’
Last month, it was reported Bruce quit Radio 2 because he felt ‘unloved’ by bosses – who failed to reassure him over a new contract even though they wanted to keep him, say BBC insiders.
One source claimed that despite the desire to hang on to the DJ – Britain’s most popular radio host – a ‘mix-up’ meant he wasn’t told. This is said to have helped convince him to join commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio.
The unexpected announcement of the 71-year-old presenter’s departure is now said to have sparked discord at the BBC, as many regard it as completely avoidable.
One well-placed source said: ‘They definitely wanted to renew his contract but because of a mix-up nobody told him. He is a proud man and did not want to ask. When he told them he was going they were all saying, ‘but we were about to offer you a three-year deal’… Bit late.’
But another source close to the station disputed the contract claims, saying: ‘Ken was reassured on more than one occasion that his future on Radio 2 was safe.’
The Scottish star is believed to have been unsettled by the way the corporation had axed presenter Steve Wright’s long-running show last year amid a push to appeal to younger listeners.
Bruce is also said to have asked bosses to stop making him play ‘tuneless dance music’ but had not received any proper responses to his pleas.
The Radio 2 insider told the Mail: ‘Ken felt unloved. Part of the issue was being told our target audience is ‘mood mums’ but never hearing who they are or what they want! We have started to play a lot of tuneless dance music and Ken had begged them to stop making him play it but apparently his emails never got responses.’
The source, who accused bosses of being ‘asleep at the wheel’, added: ‘[Wright’s departure] just focused his mind. When they sacked Steve they didn’t consider the effect it might have on the rest of the presenters.’
Bruce has been at the BBC for 45 years – 31 of them presenting his Radio 2 mid-morning show. But loyal listeners have become increasingly fed-up at what they see as a shift to a younger audience.
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