Vernon Kay ‘not surprised’ his BBC Radio 2 listener figures have dipped | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

Vernon Kay has admitted he “expected” BBC Radio 2 listener figures to dip when he took over the show.

It comes after beloved long-time presenter Ken Bruce announced his exit in January this year, taking many fans with him.

With 6.9 million listeners, Vernon still hosts the UK’s biggest radio show, but he has acknowledged that it came as no surprise to him that he has not yet been able to match Ken’s 8.2 million listeners.

Speaking to Radio Times, he said: “There was a dip when Ken Bruce left but that’s to be expected.

“Ken’s a radio icon and there’s a lot of love for him. That’s proven by him taking some of the audience with him to Greatest Hits, which is fabulous for him.

“But since that dip, figures have stayed steady, so I’m pleased. It feels like I’m chatting to a load of mates.

“When the fader’s down, it’s me on my Jack Jones. When it’s up, 6.9 million people from all over the UK and Europe cram into the studio.

“That’s mind-blowing – but you can’t take it too seriously,” he added.

Asked if he’d spoken to Ken since taking over the show, he confirmed: “We take the same train every morning!

“He gets on a few stops further down the line but we bump into each other all the time – we say hello and have a chinwag.

“Ken did 31 years in the mid-morning slot but in 31 years, I’ll be 80. There’s no way I’ll be sat at this desk!

“It’s a precious slot that needs the utmost respect. It’s not about me or Ken, it’s about the listener.”

This year, Vernon is taking part in a demanding Ultra Ultramarathon challenge for Children in Need, which will see him run a series of marathons that will take him from Victoria Park in Leicester to Bolton Wanderers’ stadium.

Read the full interview with Vernon Kay in the Radio Times.