FEATURE:
All Hail the PopMaster
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
The Iconic Ken Bruce at Seventy
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I have written about Ken Bruce before…
IN THIS PHOTO: Ken Bruce with the late great Sir Terry Wogan
but, upon discovering he is seventy on Tuesday (2nd February), I wanted to salute a radio icon. I will bring in some Wikipedia before I get to me diving into the legendary PopMaster quiz. Make sure you tune into Bruce’s weekday BBC Radio 2 show from 09:30. I am not sure whether the station are planning anything big on Tuesday to mark Ken Bruce’s seventieth but, having been at the station for so long, there will be a wave of love for him! Here is some history one of the greatest broadcaster who has ever lived:
“Kenneth Robertson Bruce (born 2 February 1951) is a Scottish broadcaster who is best known for hosting his long-running weekday mid-morning show on BBC Radio 2 since 1986.
Bruce was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He attended Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School, Glasgow, before training as a chartered accountant, Bruce's first job was washing cars. He began his broadcasting career with the Hospital Broadcasting Service in Glasgow.
Bruce became a staff announcer for BBC Radio 4 Scotland and after BBC Radio Scotland launched in November 1978, became one of the original presenters of Nightbeat alongside Iain Purdon. Charles Nove subsequently joined the presentation rota. He also presented a Saturday morning show.
In 1980, he took on the mid-morning slot and then, in 1983, he presented a daily afternoon entertainment show. He hosted his mid-morning show on the BBC World Service in the late 1980s.
In January 1985, Bruce replaced Terry Wogan on the breakfast programme, being replaced himself by Derek Jameson in April 1986. Following Wogan's death in 2016, his tenure of the show became the oldest for a presenter still living. He then began his first stint on the mid-morning show which lasted until the end of March 1990, when he took over the late show until the end of that year. He then hosted the early show throughout 1991, and on 6 January 1992 he returned to the mid-morning slot,[4] where he remains today. As of 14 January 2019, Bruce follows Zoe Ball at 9:30 am and is followed by Jeremy Vine at 12 noon. On Thursday 1 August 2019 it was announced that his show had become the most popular radio programme in the UK, with 8.49m daily listeners, following a fall in the popularity of Zoe Ball's breakfast show”.
Go and buy the PopMaster book if you are a music fan and want a good quiz. Not to discount the rest of Ken Bruce’s illustrious career and great radio work, but I don’t feel that he would mind! Every weekday morning, millions stop what they are doing to tune into the national institution that is PopMaster (you can check out episodes on the podcast). If you do not know about the long-running quiz, then here is some more detail:
“PopMaster has run as a feature of Bruce's show since 16 February 1998. With questions set by music expert Phil Swern, it offers a DAB radio for successfully completing the 3 in 10 bonus round. If the listener fails, they are awarded a Bluetooth speaker (replacing the previous consolation prize of an mp3 player). An earlier consolation prize, a 'Space' radio, has been known to appear on eBay, to Bruce's amusement. The losing contestant is given a T-shirt with 'One Year Out' printed across the front (a catchphrase Bruce uses in the quiz when a contestant trying to place the year a song was in the charts is out by one year). This 'prize' replaced a CD wallet as of 27 February 2012.
The public phone-in PopMaster quiz was suspended after airing on 18 July 2007. A celebrity version was quickly introduced on 20 July 2007, and continued until 18 January 2008. "3 in 10" was not played in the celebrity version and there was no tie-breaker in the event of a draw. It was rumoured that members of the public would be able to play again before Christmas 2007, however this did not happen. Following an announcement by Bruce on 7 January 2008, the normal format returned on 21 January 2008. The game returned with new dramatic, orchestral and guitar based jingles”.
I love Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio 2 show, and I think that PopMaster is merely the jewel in the weighty crown! He is so warm and funny that one cannot help but be charmed and in awe of the Scottish icon. I hope that he remains at the station for many more years to come - as there is such a huge amount of affection for him. I am going to finish off with a recent bit of news regarding Bruce supporting the charity, Autistica:
“We are thrilled to announce that BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce is supporting our Radio 4 appeal this month. Listen out to hear Ken's story and reasons for supporting Autistica.
PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
Ken's son Murray is eighteen, he was diagnosed with autism aged three. Ken is keen to help others understand the unique contribution that people like his son can make to society with the right support. By presenting our appeal, he hopes that Radio 4 listeners can make more of a difference to every autistic person by supporting research.
"A gift of £30 would involve a family like mine in a research trial to test a new anxiety therapy to address fears of uncertainty. This research could lead to a new NHS service ensuring autistic people have access to better therapies and ultimately saving lives. Murray has proved to me that we should never limit our expectations of autistic people”. Ken Bruce”.
Ahead of his seventieth birthday on Tuesday, I wanted to do a small nod to a man who means so much to so many people (me included). His incredible show is a lifeline to many and, for serious music lovers, pitting out wits against PopMaster is an absolute weekday must! Ken Bruce is a legend of the airwaves who brings joy to millions. Let us all hope that he is in our radio lives…
FOR so many years more!