Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show has amassed 6.9 million listeners, according to the latest audience figures. However, this is 1.3 million fewer than Ken Bruce, whom Kay succeeded as host after Bruce left the mid-morning slot for Greatest Hits Radio. Rajar, the ratings body, stated that Bruce’s new show has increased its audience to 3.7 million as well. These figures mark the first full three-month period for Kay, which Rajar covers, and track figures for July, August, and September. Kay’s ratings mean he currently has the most popular UK radio show.
On his first day as host in May, Kay promised his long-standing listeners “more of the same”. Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, commented, “Radio 2 continues to be the country’s most popular station and I’m delighted with the flying start Vernon Kay has made to mid-mornings as the UK’s biggest radio show, bringing his warmth, energy, and charisma to listeners up and down the country.” Radio 2’s controller, Helen Thomas, added that she was “proud that Radio 2 remains the UK’s most listened to radio station”. However, the station registered 13.5 million weekly listeners, which is a decrease of one million from the same period last year.
Bruce, who spent 31 years as Radio 2’s mid-morning host, will be made an MBE for services to radio, charity, and autism awareness. He said that he was “delighted” to know that he had assisted his new station in achieving its biggest audience yet – 6.7 million per week. Bruce’s son, Murray, has autism, and earlier in the summer, he labelled his honour as a “great surprise and privilege
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