KEN BRUCE ON CARVING OUT A CAREER IN UK RADIO

Ken Bruce is a UK game changer. Ken has hosted mornings on BBC Radio 2 for more than thirty years, and is a bona fide radio legend. He has the second largest radio audience in Europe, and is known for segments include Tracks of My Years and Pop Master which have become a permanent part of the radio landscape.

Ken Bruce is a game changer. Listen to his interview with Craig Bruce on Game Changers: Radio.
Ken Bruce is a game changer. Listen to his interview with Craig Bruce on Game Changers: Radio.

READ THE SHOW NOTES

3:30 Describing his early interest in radio and growing up in a family of talkers

4:36 Recalling a love of performing led to radio

5:08 Being rejected by the BBC

6:58 Learning from his time in Hospital Radio

9:53 Talking to an audience of 8 million 

11:11 Explaining how his 15 year quiz is a 'must listen' part of the program

13:45 Starting out with fill-in work (including a the time he had to fill in for Terry Wogan)

19:04 Understanding the qualities a breakfast host requires

21:26 Talking about the success of BBC Radio 2

22:15 Explaining the danger of reducing your audience to a demographic

23:50 Attributing success to a very broad playlist

24:50 Building rapport with the musicians he interviews

27:37 Sharing his standout moments 

28:50 Remembering the surprising tracks musicians select on Tracks Of My Years

29:53 Hating catchphrases (and explaining how he ended up with one)

31:28 Hosting the radio broadcast of Eurovision

35:42 Talking about friend and mentor Terry Wogan 

37:38 Explaining how you can (selectively) rely on the audience for humour

38:30 Sharing the secret to his longevity.