Bye bye popmaster!

Well, now i know what he looks like.... i'd never have thought it was how he looked.

He's taking Popmaster to his new gig, I believe.

A national institution anyway.

Edit to say...

Dermot - yawn
Claudia - yawn
Trevor - dunno
Rylan - would be my choice, but I haven't heard him on the radio

Rylan – would be my choice, but I haven’t heard him on the radio

He's very 'keen'!

Yeah he’s taking it with him.

Anyone but Jo ****ing Whiley. Couldn't stand her when she was on Radio 1.

To where?

Couldn’t stand her when she was on Radio 1

I can't stand anything to do with R1, and haven't since I was about 14 and they banned Frankie's Relax.
Love Jo Whiley, I listen to her on evening dog walks.

It's in the article; greatest hits radio.

I used to loathe the Steve Wright show with a passion and they managed to replace it with something worse! Don't mind old Ken so god knows who they're going to replace him with.

I as much as I enjoy Liza Tarbuck, 5 days a week might be a bit too much.

Nelson is a decent shout but that mid morning spot without gentle leg pulling is going to be weird.

Richie Anderson ??

I as much as I enjoy Liza Tarbuck

Genuinely one of the worst things ever. It's like an insane internal monologue spoken out loud. Utter nonsense.

Utter nonsense.

But that's why she is good... but not everyday 🙂

I as much as I enjoy Liza Tarbuck

Really! Each to their own. I cant stand her whining droning voice that says nothing interesting or funny. Please let it not be Rylan or Feltz both make my ears want to bleed.

What about Gary Davies, he’s pretty good when he does stand in duties

I hope Kermit O'Dreary does not get it, Jo would be Ok but with the way things are going I would not surprised if Tim Westwood gets it.

That's morning tea break ruined. I liked his tone of I don't give a crap, at least that's how he sounded to me!

Gutted pop master has been 20 years of my life

Really cheesed off now.
Ken, the only decent DJ on radio 2 during the week days.

Gutted pop master has been 20 years of my life

Sounds like he's taking it with him.

KB/popmaster has been a part of my working day for 20odd years now since I was an apprentice. Shame but its been on the cards for a while now, surprised he's carrying on though given his age!

Sad times - but not entirely surprised following Mayo going a wee while back.

His departure speech didn't in any way remind me of Terry Wogan's statesman-like address, which I kinda like because I'm sure he's chasing the cash! Good on him.

A shame for sure - as said above there's many a teabreak ritual been built around popmaster.

As for a replacement I don't really care as I've stopped listening. The Mayo debacle and the introduction of morons like Rylan, Liza Tarbuck and Sara Cox has shafted it.

You're never going to like all the presenters on any channel but R2 is going through a particularly bad patch and the daytime line up now looks pretty poor up until Jo Wiley but it's an only in the wife's car kind of channel these days (no dab).

Glad I've found 6Music - great music and mostly decent DJs.

Apparently there's calls for Keaveney to be brought in. That'd be fine for me, but can't see that happening.

Please not Tarbuck, her entire show is made up of reading texts from people sat in their cars or making their tea.

I’m sure he’s chasing the cash! Good on him.

If he's earning north of £350k at age 71, I don't know what he's planning on buying that needs more cash. Glasgow, perhaps.

Making a nest egg for his family?

If he’s earning north of £350k at age 71, I don’t know what he’s planning on buying that needs more cash. Glasgow, perhaps.

C & H hopefully 🙂

It's a shame. That cuts Radio 2 down to Johnnie Walker once a week.

I think he'll be in for a surprise on Greatest Hits Radio though; it has the highest ratio of ads:music than any other station I've listened to outside the USA. It's unbearable. Song - ads - ads - DJ speaking - ads - song - ads - news - ads - travel - ads - DJ - ads - song.

Surprised that Mayo has stuck with it. Virgin Radio is a much better home for competent presenters.

Dunno if he jumped or was pushed, but I suspect he loves his job and just wants to keep doing it.

Craig Charles might be a good fit as a replacement

Craig Charles might be a good fit as a replacement

...and Keaveney back on 6 Music!

I don’t know what he’s planning on buying that needs more cash.

I doubt it's about cash - more likely sick of the BBC. And jump before he was pushed.

I think he’ll be in for a surprise on Greatest Hits Radio though; it has the highest ratio of ads:music than any other station I’ve listened to outside the USA

Presenters don't always care as to what's on air. Marc Riley was asked about the playlist when he was on Radio 1. He said that he didn't know and that it was Mark Radcliffe who put the records on and would turn the speaker off and have a chat, so it could have been anyone. Don't blame him.,😃

Stopped listening to R2 years a couple of years ago when they started shedding good presenters and replacing them with dross. 6Music only now.

I love R2 for work. It's a weird one. It generally has/had a kind of relaxing, nostalgic effect. On paper it doesn't make sense, I should hate it as I usually listen to house and techno. Radio 6 music has the potential to make me scream at the radio. They play some amazing music but my god, the waffle! I can't stand it. I'd rather listen to Ken Bruce than some insufferable little millennial telling me about the early nineties rave scene that I spent most weekends actually experiencing first hand.

My workday generally goes like this. R3 early morning - R2 until lunch - 6Music for Keaveny/Craig Charles, R3 or R4 to close. Commercial stations are a no, full stop.

I started listening to R2 a few years ago when they got rid of the old duffers. Getting better with mayo and wright gone. Just Vine to get rid of now.

Careful what you wish for Drac, have you heard the Scot Mills show!?

If he’s earning north of £350k at age 71, I don’t know what he’s planning on buying that needs more cash. Glasgow, perhaps.

This crossed my mind as well - surprising moving to a new job at 71... i very much hope to have retired before then.

have you heard the Scot Mills show!?

Now he's settling in, it's better than Wrighty!

I like Sara Cox too and the way she goes off on a random tangent.

Don't actually mind Rylan either - I could cope with him in the morning slot.

Vine - very much depends on the subject matter!

Zoe Ball - just can't listen to her. I listen to Chris Evans on Virgin instead or my local radio DJ Andy Twigge (who is so bad at times it's great!).

Trevor Nelson is good.

Claudia and Dermot - big no from me. Stick to TV.

Thank god hes going, hes from a different era. Unfortunately at 49 I am nearly at the top end of their demographic.

R2 is not what it was and Ken leaving is a final nail in the coffin for me. Sara Cox is OK, like Jo Whiley and most of the stuff that's on at 9pm, Johnny Walker on a Sunday and can just about cope with Ryland but Ball, Vine, Mills, Winkleman, no thanks. Prefer Virgin these days, ratio of music to ads to inane babble isn't too bad.

@FunkyDunc and @Drac you're obviously their target market! I did wonder if anyone likes these people. Especially the Rylan/Tarbuk/Cox triumvirate. Obviously it's not just middle aged housewives.

I'll be happy so long as R2 keep packing out the roster with dross the less likely they'll appear elsewhere.

Still a shame they've screwed it all up though as I do like Whiley, Dermot, Claudia and most of all Johnnie Walker.

I must admit I'm surprised the BBC are letting him take Popmaster with him.....you think they'd own the rights, not him.

The only thing I'll listen to on R2 now will be Sarah Cox while I'm cooking and Whispering Bob occasionally.
Can't stand R6 in the mid morning with that bloody awful Mary Ann Hobs and her fake "down with da kidz" speak

Now he’s settling in, it’s better than Wrighty!

It would be difficult to be any worse.

I must admit I’m surprised the BBC are letting him take Popmaster with him…..you think they’d own the rights, not him.

He might own the rights to the 'Popmaster' name, but it's only a music quiz so easily replicated with a different name.

I like the R2 line up with the exception of Jeremy Vine - Ken will leave big boots to fill.

Jo Whiley for me would be the best choice, she is good in the evenings. But don't they have a habit of bringing in ex Radio 1 DJs so it could be Nick Grimshaw.

Nick Grimshaw.

There's a thought!

Careful what you wish for Drac, have you heard the Scot Mills show!?

I have. Not great but not as terrible as Mayo and Wrighty.

you’re obviously their target market! I did wonder if anyone likes these people. Especially the Rylan/Tarbuk/Cox

Tarbut I’m not keen of at all. Rylan I can tolerate.

I quite enjoy Rylan, but he suits his time slot, just like Paul O'Grady suited Sunday tea time. But Rob Beckett replaced him and he's bloody awful.

just like Paul O’Grady suited Sunday tea time

What... When no one was listening?
😉

I would have money on Gary Davies or OJ Borg fill in for Ken

I wish Alan Partridge was real. Mid-Morning Matters!

Query: 'was real' or 'were real'?

Am I alone in being dismayed by the level of interest in R2 on this here forum?

cheese@4p
Am I alone in being dismayed by the level of interest in R2 on this here forum?

Are you new here?

Not new by any means, but I am going to have to classify R2 as an obscure hardcore cult genre to keep planet STW spinning on its axis.

It's inoffensive radio for work. Background music.

As jambourgie on previous page - I like 6 music but I just have to switch it off at times.

Grimmy is a good shout. He's a very funny chap.

Crikey, Mrs. S is bereft about Ken leaving. And incandescent at the same time! The BBC is effed.

Thinking about it, KB and Popmaster could've worked great on 6 music. Better playlist obvs. Same slot, before Craig Charles at lunchtime-ish. Boot MAH over to the afternoon slump slot. They could dress it up as being "ironic" if necessary.

Well it's truly gone to the dogs now.

The BBC has fallen apart after engaging in a self-chosen race to the bottom over the past 5-10 years - a race it has won by at least 10 lengths and an innings to spare, and is now on the victory lap / funeral precession.

Steve Wright was naff on R1 and continued the utter insincerity on R2.

Jeremy Whine at dinner time for goodness knows how many years. Instant Radio retune.

Zone Ball's voice makes me want to poke my eyeballs out.

The cluster they made with Jo Wiley and Simon Mayo was just utter incompetence or tone deafness beyond belief (and not fair on Jo either - her eve show was good I thought).

I've never listened to R1 except for Tommy Vance on a Friday night. The rest was shiiite when I was a lad. And it's got a whole lot worse since.

Even Radio 4 has lost virtually all of its appeal except for a couple of comedy slots.  Too argumentative and actually don't spend any time properly analysing or assessing stuff - just leaping from one poor interview that is not incisive , to another.  If I want to hear what's actually happening in the world  I find myself listening to Times Radio these days. Waaaaaay better amd balanced for politics and current affairs.

Local Radio. What a waste of Electro-Magnetic-Radiation around the entire country (except the Leicester Tigers games commentary for about 2hrs once a week between September and May.

The rest if the time ? Planet Rock mainly, where presenters can present and are engaging and pleasant without exception Come on - who'd you want to listen to more between records... Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Jezzer Whine, or... ALICE COOPER.

I'm sorry but I just found Bruce & popmaster weary as fk.My first job in London r2 was on all day and it bored the tits off me, Instead of listening to Muse, the white stripes,prodigy, aphex twin, the streets, system of a down, gorillaz, dj shadow or any of the music I liked at the time.... it'd be Wings and Glen Campbell and then Janet from northampton impressing us all answering what cliff Richards first number 1 was

Aural methadone

, that was 20 years ago, to this day his voice depresses me!

Genuinely one of the worst things ever. It’s like an insane internal monologue spoken out loud. Utter nonsense.

Don't forget the occasional squeaky dog toy.

Hated her on the Big Breakfast as well.

The insanity is only matched by Elaine Piage who is at least ancient.

Don't mind Cox and thought Mayo was decent. Popmaster is about the only thing mildly worth tuning in for in the morning.

Breakfast has been shite since Wogan left.

squirrelking

Don’t forget the occasional squeaky dog toy.

makes me want to kill things that "feature".

I think I might start a campaign to bring back Mark & Lard.

It isn't in the same tone, but BBC Radio 4 Extra seems to be winning for me - daft comedy shows and the serious stuff seems to be very easy to tune out.

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/how-to-accept-youre-a-radio-2-listener-now-20180111142150

I've tried the Radio 4 thing - it works! Innit. Word, bro.

When Ken asks "do you want to say hello to anyone?" I always want the contestant to go "no ken, I don't. No-one I know will be listening. They're all at work or listening to something else," rather than inanely listing every bloody person they know. Including someone who's sat in the same bloody room with them.

I always planned on answering "I'd like to say hello to everyone who doesn't know me, because they never get a mention."

I think I might start a campaign to bring back Mark & Lard.

Last featured together on the radio 19 years ago. I'm guessing that if the campaign was successful then Mark (64) and Lard (61) would be retiring shortly.

I miss them as well, especially their late night Radio 1 show from the mid 90s, when they'd have poets, comedians, etc on. I like the fact that I first started to appreciate the current Poet Laureate on a slightly subversive radio program.

Thank God for that !

I’m guessing that if the campaign was successful then Mark (64) and Lard (61) would be retiring shortly.

Nah, they'd be head-hunted by Global or Bauer for a commercial station (or podcast).

It's George Lamb

Not really!

Hubby just said that Vernon Kaye has been announced to replace Ken.
It's a no from me.

Hmmmm.

Yup

https://twitter.com/BBCRadio2/status/1629119387117539332

Don’t mind Vern. A bit 90’s dance orientated, but I can live with that. He would be better on the breakfast slot imo. Boot out Ball.

Only ever really tuned in to Ken for Pop Master just after 10. Generally find the music both before and after utter crap. Taking PM with him is probably a massive coup for Greatest Hits Radio (or whatever it’s called). Vernon is a good option IMO, almost a direct replacement, same dry sense of humour that I think the Ken fans will appreciate.

Aye. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64755872

As above. I don't mind VK but he has appalling taste in music (or if it wasn't his choice then what he was told to play was consistently dreadful).

I'm 50 and I've got this far without ever personally tuning into R2. The only time it ever hits my ear drums is at the in-laws so maybe I'm biased by association; but the plan is to end my days without crossing that rubicon. My R1 days are long long behind me but I've kept myself amused with a mix of R6, R4, Spotify and audiobooks and podcasts.

Is R2 something some of you quietly got into as an embarrassing secret in your youth until you were old enough to admit it public? Did you 'convert' in later life and if so, how old? Or is the next generation of R2 a dying breed with the advent of streaming?

I don’t mind VK I found Ken a bit dull but easy to listen to.

My R1 days are long long behind me but I’ve kept myself amused with a mix of R6, R4 and audiobooks and podcasts.

Sounds like you’ve skipped your 50s and gone straight to your 70s.

Well the rumours that Ken has been pushed out early by the BBC are true. He was supposed to leave 2nd April, however today is his last show on the BBC after 30 years.

He is leaving to move to a rival station. The being asked to go quietly and quickly is quite normal in a lot of jobs