NathanS

That's a good point, same with Trevor... It would be a shame to lose either of them from those slots as they suit them so well.

Dermot O Leary and Claudia Winkleman will probably be names banded about as well. However... Both of them have many TV committments that it's unlikely, imo that either would want to commit to a daily radio show. They both suit Saturday mornings well so would be poor to change that line up

There will of course be endless speculation about who replaces Ken. If it did indeed come out of the blue for the BBC, then it's going to be quite a task deciding on the right successor. At least with Steve, they probably had it planned out for a good while. They'd probably ideally want to avoid a situation like Early Breakfast where they've had a rotating set of presenters until they decided on Owain. Looking at who could be a likely replacement depends on what direction they take the show. It'll definitely be someone who is familiar to the Radio 2 audience. Gary Davies would probably be the safest bet that would cause the 'least' uproar, and seems fairly popular with both ends of R2's demographic. That's of course if he would want it. Of course age of a presenter isn't everything, but he's only 6 years younger than Ken and they'll probably be looking at someone younger who will establish themselves in that slot OJ Borg could be another option. He has been on overnights for a few years. He's a solid cover presenter when he's been on for the likes of Steve Wright, Sara Cox, Rylan etc. but is that enough to take on the most listened to show? Could be broadcast from Salford though... Which would be a big plus point for the BBC moving a major R2 daytime show out of London. Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley are probably the two other likely options.

I can see Tracks Of My Years featuring on Ken's new show, along with the 'love song' slot, they'd presumably want to keep the show broadly the same as his Radio 2 one.

Vanessa Feltz is another one jumping on the BBC bashing bandwagon... (unsurprising considering who she works for now) She was happy to take a wage from them for many years until she jumped ship. Funny how she's piping up with the ageism bollocks. All the people moaning at the BBC for "getting rid of him like they did Steve Wright"... The latter still works at R2, and Ken was signed up by GHR, not much the BBC can do if his mind is made up.

It is indeed massive news, and a huge blow to the BBC. Fair play to Bauer and Greatest Hits Radio for signing him up (and importantly Popmaster going with him) for what is effectively the same timeslot. It's news that probably took R2/the BBC by surprise. From Ken's insistence it's his choice... And the fact it's not long since Steve left the afternoon show, it's clear that GHR indeed poached him rather than them choosing to get rid. There could be a number of factors at play, but I doubt Helen Thomas wouldn't have chosen to take him off that slot just yet. His contract was up in March, and it would've been likely it was renewed by at least another year but, maybe the offer was too good to refuse. Best leaving on a high and of your own accord now rather than outstay your welcome and have the decision made for you further down the line. Although it might be a bit of a blow to R2, especially so soon after the last major changes were made.. it does make things easier for them to press on with evolving the station. It's clear the direction Radio 2 is going in (and it's not necessarily a bad thing, they've been gradually moving towards their current daytime sound for a few years now.. it's just more noticeable now) and Ken's show..both presenting style and music played.. has stuck out compared to the other daytime shows. Once he gets started at GHR in April..It'll be a bit of a waste if he's not allowed a bit more room to put a stamp on things (like Simon Mayo at Drive time), mid mornings are very much generic commercial radio "That was, next up", three in a row..30 second links mostly about the Cash Register competition. The addition of PopMaster will be a massive improvement to the slot already. It's sounds like they're sticking with the 70's, 80's and 90's thing so...Would be good if they give him similar freedom to play a few lesser played tracks from those decades alongside the usual overplayed hits, like he does currently. For what it's worth, despite many cries online of "Radio 2 will die now" or "nobody will listen", It will likely still remain the most listened to station, and like with Scott's show and the other changes, the direction the station is heading in will attract many more listeners (many of which may well be those who have migrated from Radio 1 with Scott). I doubt Ken will take all 8 million listeners with him, although whoever replaces him will undoubtedly have huge shoes to fill taking over the most listened to slot in the UK. Sorry for the long winded essay.

I did chuckle at a response Greg put on a Twitter thread where Richard Osman called for Liza Tarbuck to replace Ken. Someone put "Is it too early for Greg", Greg replied "Not at all, his show starts at 09:30"

I could be proved wrong... But for a slot like that, I can't see them going too radical with Ken's successor, i.e someone already well established at R2, and not someone parachuted in like Greg James or Vernon Kay* *I know Vernon is somewhat on the schedule with his BBC Sounds series (which goes out in the early hours on R2), but he has TV commitments that see him regularly on the other side of the world.

Ah, apologies. I understand what you mean now. Although, I do think breakfast is the exception to the rule. Imo, with Radio 1 breakfast you do need someone who is familiar to the Radio 1 audience and it does feel like (to me anyway) that they are building Jordan up to become their next 'star name'. Whether that will be alone, with Vick or Katie remains to be seen.

Hasn't it been presenters who have worked their way up the ranks since Moyles? Quite a few other breakfast presenters were well established at Radio 1 already as well. Moyles, Grimmy and Greg were all at R1 a while before they gained breakfast and like Jordan, had done several slots before getting it (Chris and Greg were both promoted from drive time as well...) I definitely think Jordan is destined for the breakfast show. Of course they may try and go a different path, but I doubt it. That said... I hope Greg is on breakfast for a while longer.

Will be interesting to see who they get to cover breakfast now Rob Howard has left? I'm assuming the breakfast team will still take the same leave, otherwise it'd have been interesting to hear Chris still on the air paired up with another DJ like Will Manning when Roman is off.

Steve Wright takes the Big Show to Greatest Hits Radio afternoons (1-4pm) with local slots moving to breakfast. Leaves Radio 2 at the same time, by the end of this month. Good Morning Sunday extended till 10am, Michael Ball given an extra hour. That's my prediction.

Pretty sure I read either on here or elsewhere that they're dropping it for 2023 at least.

The one news junction I did hear (I'm not even sure who it was as I haven't been listening much) was shockingly bad yesterday. They went slightly early so there was about 5 seconds of silence. It just highlights how good the main DJ's are at it. On the subject of Newsbeat, I've never heard of today's newsreader before, either reading the news or as a reporter on the main programme?

Apparently Gary Davies was very briefly listed as cover, but that quickly changed when Ken's show needed covering too. I'm assuming Anita Rani wasn't available either. I wouldn't mind hearing Adele Roberts being used to cover Scott's show next time he has a week or two off next year. She's doing a great job on early breakfast from the bits I've listened back to.

Two last minute changes today: Gary Davies in for Ken Bruce Gaby Roslin in for Scott Mills.

Yes, it's been on the schedules since they were published. Now she's on weekends, and she pretty much does no cover on R1.. makes sense to start using her as cover on R2, while still on weekend breakfast.

Occasionally they've managed to get into Radio 2's system to go 'rogue' on a Friday. They played Fleetwood Mac "Everywhere" on the breakfast show the other week. Pretty sure the old Saturday afternoon request show with Reggie Yates was literally anything goes.

There's one for Radio 1, so may as well start an equivalent thread for Radio 2. OJ Borg is in for Rylan tomorrow afternoon. Judi Love is in for Rob Beckett on Sunday afternoon. Ronnie Wood (from the Rolling Stones) is sitting in for Cerys Matthews on the Blues show on Monday 19th December Adele Roberts is covering Radio 2's early breakfast show from the 19th till 23rd December.

The BBC have been trying to ditch it for years. Some of the artists they've had on over the past few years haven't exactly been big chart names like previous Christmas specials, and last year's ratings were poor. That said, as a Christmas tradition, I did usually sit and watch it.. so it's a shame it's gone. The BBC claim the cost of doing up the big studio, and filming for a one off special isn't justifiable.

Sunday Love Songs is pretty much Steve's show, I can see it ending when he leaves the BBC. I agree about next year being a year of stability with the Radio 1 schedule. We've had massive change in the past couple of years. Greg will be on breakfast for as long as he wants to do it in my opinion (within reason... Although slightly biased, I do think Radio 1 have the better breakfast show over Radio 2).

Even Radio 2 breakfast is covered by Gary Davies or Vernon Kay so strong pairs of hands. Matt has done the week after new year solo before, so it's baffling why they would change that.

Matt & Jamie on the breakfast show (not so much Matt, he's great when he does breakfast).... Deary me ??

More than likely. Still a decent line up, presumably live between 8 and 2, and a Greg James special in the evening. Still no confirmation on Radio 2's Christmas Day schedule. Would be nice to see Scott continue the tradition of a live Christmas day show... Although wouldn't surprise me that the move to R2 sparks the end of that. It'll almost certainly be 'Good Morning Sunday/Christmas' and Junior Choice with Anneka Rice in the morning.

Katie's in for Jordan on drive this week too, so she's on going home for a good chunk of this month.