Vernon Kay is said to be taking over for Ken Bruce on Radio 2, and some of the station’s dedicated fans are suffering with the news.
Bruce, 72, revealed earlier this year that he would leave the BBC, where he had been since 1986, and would instead work on Greatest Hits Radio.
Kay, 48, who joined the BBC in 2004 and will begin anchoring on Radio 2 in 2021, emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Bruce this week.
Many Radio 2 listeners expected veteran broadcaster Gary Davies, who fills in for Bruce on a regular basis, to take up the post full-time.
Some suggested that Scott Mills, who has sat in for Bruce on occasion, may be interested in taking over, but Kay now looks to be the front-runner.
The announcement has divided Radio 2 listeners, with many fearing the thought of Kay hosting the mid-morning slot while others rejoiced.
One disgruntled listener tweeted: ‘Anyone tuning in to Radio 2 and expecting to hear Ken Bruce might be a little disappointed when they hear Vernon Kay instead. Rather like turning up at a Tom Jones concert to find out he’s been replaced by Jack Duckworth.’
‘Vernon Kay replacing Ken Bruce on Radio 2? Oh dear,’ another tweeted, before someone responded, coming to Kay’s defence: ‘I’m pleased with this. He was great standing in for Zoe Ball.’
‘Vernon Kay is the best Radio 2 DJ not to have a regular slot. Ideal choice for Ken’s replacement,’ one supportive listener commented.
The issue of Kay’s age dominated conversations surrounding the reported forthcoming transition, with many older listeners confessing to feeling ‘disenfranchised’.
‘With such seismic shifts in Radio 2 towards a younger demographic, I wonder where they want us older listeners to go? Feeling a tad disenfranchised,’ a social media user commented.
Another older listened said they will ‘follow’ Bruce to his new radio home.
Nonetheless, it has been noted that Kay, at 48, is at least 13 years older than Bruce was when he began working at the station in the mid-1980s.
‘Vernon Kay is 13 years older than Ken Bruce was when he started his mid morning slot. Is it shifting toward a younger demographic, or just keeping its demographic as it is?,’ another Twitter user questioned.
The BBC has yet to clarify whether or whether Kay will succeed Bruce.
Kay recently revealed that he and I’m A Celebrity star Shane Richie breached the rules by sneaking in a cell phone.
‘I knew Shane was doing it. I said to him beforehand, “Look they’re gonna take all our stuff off us, take a burner phone in and then we can keep in touch.”‘
