Ken Bruce has taken goal on the BBC for its persistent makes an attempt to draw youthful viewers and listeners, arguing the technique typically backfires on profitable programmes.
The 75-year-old broadcaster departed his mid-morning Radio 2 slot in 2023 following almost 5 a long time with BBC radio, subsequently becoming a member of Biggest Hits Radio.
In an interview with the Telegraph, Mr Bruce acknowledged having fun with his time on the company and feeling “very proud to work for the BBC,” while noting its recurring tendency to chase youthful demographics.
“You see it on the BBC on a regular basis. They’ve a profitable present, they usually say, ‘Let’s get (youthful)…'” he informed the newspaper.
At his present station, Mr Bruce stated the strategy differs: “I feel what we do is we all know who we’re speaking to, we all know what they wish to hear, and we ship that.”
Bruce pointed to A Query Of Sport as a first-rate instance of this misguided strategy.
“That was an excellent present, and now I do not suppose it exists anymore, as a result of they tried to resume it to attraction to youthful viewers, they usually weren’t there,” he stated.
The long-running sports activities quiz was cancelled by the BBC in 2023 after greater than half a century on air, with the company citing inflation and funding pressures on the time.
Former tennis star Sue Barker had offered the programme for twenty-four years earlier than actor Paddy McGuinness took over internet hosting duties in 2021.
The present was additionally given a makeover throughout this era, with celebrities from outdoors the sporting world introduced in as visitors.
Mr Bruce’s broadcasting profession started at BBC Radio Scotland in 1977, and he finally grew to become one of many company’s best-paid presenters, receiving £395,000 in his closing yr.
Whereas he expressed fondness for his former office, Bruce famous that a lot of his outdated colleagues have since “retired or left.”
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“I had a good time there, and [was] very, very proud to work for the BBC all these years, however you understand, folks do retire. It is simply that I retired and took up one other job,” he stated.
The veteran broadcaster admitted he appreciates the decreased consideration at his new house: “I get pleasure from being on this station, the place I feel the scrutiny is barely lower than it’s on the BBC.”
He described the BBC’s annual high-pay checklist as “essentially the most annoying factor”.
Regardless of his prolonged tenure on the company, Bruce seldom tunes into Radio 2 these days. “I do not keep away from it, I simply do not hassle switching it on,” he stated.
Mr Bruce mirrored on predictions made early in his profession that radio would turn out to be out of date, recalling recommendation from a course teacher round 1978.
“After I began within the BBC, I used to be doing a information course, and the man taking it stated: ‘It is going to occur. Radio will die. There is not any future in radio. Tv goes to be the way in which folks devour the whole lot. There is not any future for radio’,” he stated.
“Effectively, that was 1978 or one thing. And right here we’re 50-odd years later, and it is nonetheless going robust. And stronger than ever in some circumstances.”
Talking to the Press Affiliation in 2024, Mr Bruce indicated he had no plans to step away from broadcasting, although he remained conscious of realizing when to cease.
“I do not wish to get to a Joe Biden stage,” he stated on the time.
GB Information has approached the BBC for a remark.
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