The BBC has announced that presenter Vernon Kay will take over Ken Bruce's mid-morning radio show on weekdays.
In January, Bruce made a live announcement that he would be leaving the station after 31 years in the position.
Bruce said to BBC News, "Vernon is a lovely guy, and I wish him all the best. However, I wouldn't dare give anyone else any advice about broadcasting.
The show's new host, Kay, who is best known for hosting ITV's All Star Family Fortunes, called taking over "a dream come true.".
And what a privilege it is to continue in the footsteps of the great Ken Bruce, he said in a statement. "Getting the microphone has me absolutely giddy. ".
The 48-year-old, who previously hosted his own programs on Radio 1 and Radio X, currently hosts Dance Sounds of the 90s on Radio 2.
In May, Kay, who is married to Tess Daly, a presenter on Strictly Come Dancing, will debut his new program.
Between Bruce's departure on March 3 and Kay's debut performance, DJ Gary Davies will fill the void.
Currently, more than 8.5 million people listen to the mid-morning show each week, which is well-known for its daily Popmaster quiz, according to statistics from the trade group Rajar.
When Bruce switches to the competing commercial station Greatest Hits Radio, he will bring the Popmaster format with him.
His departure comes shortly after that of Steve Wright, who spent 23 years as the afternoon host of Radio 2. Wright insisted that his Sunday morning show would continue and that he was not retiring.
According to recent data from industry group Rajar, Bruce's program, known for its daily Popmaster quiz, currently has more than 8.5 million weekly listeners. Kay will take Bruce's place.
Paul O'Grady and Vanessa Feltz are two additional well-liked presenters who have recently left the station.
Scott Mills took over for Wright, and Rob Beckett now hosts in O'Grady's place.
Feltz was replaced as host of the early morning show by Cardiff-based weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans.
The 48-year-old presenter, who is from Bolton, started his career as a model before becoming a presenter for Channel 4's T4 strand, which is geared toward teenagers.
He began his radio career by hosting his own show on BBC Radio 1 between 2004 and 2012. He later hosted the mid-morning show on Radio X between 2015 and 2017.
From 2006 to 2015, the TV and radio personality also served as host of two seasons of Beat the Star, which ran from 2008 to 2009, and the celebrity-themed game show All Star Family Fortunes, which was broadcast on ITV.
He and Caroline Flack co-hosted The Whole 19 Yards, an ITV game show, in 2010. The British contestant hosted the six-part Skating with the Stars series in the US that same year.
Kay, a longtime supporter of American football who has also participated in it, hosted The American Football Show on Channel 4 in 2013. He has also provided live Formula E coverage since the 2018–19 season began.
Tom Daley, a diver who won an Olympic gold medal for Team GB, served as a mentor to the pool-bound celebrities on the celebrity diving show Splash! from 2013 to 2014, which he fronted with Gabby Logan.
He occasionally filled in as a presenter on The One Show and This Morning, and he placed third on I'm a Celebrity. behind fellow broadcaster Jordan North and the eventual champion Giovanna Fletcher in the 2020 season of Get Me Out of Here!
He has appeared on numerous television programs over the years, including the Masked Singer, Bo Selecta!, and Shooting Stars. His appearances in movies include Shaun of the Dead.
Kay said he felt "shackled" using an autocue and that it was more his style to prepare before shows and then "have a laugh in the studio" in a 2021 interview with BBC News, around the time of the premiere of his new ITV series Game of Talents.
Having joined the BBC in 1977 and beginning his first consistent Radio 2 gig in 1984, Bruce has been one of the station's longest-tenured hosts.
In addition to hosting the station's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1988, the 72-year-old Scotsman will air his final program in March.
He announced last month that he had "decided the time is right for me to move on from Radio 2," adding that while he had "a tremendously happy time," it was "time for a change.".
Kay has already established himself as a firm favorite with our listeners when he has presented many and varied shows across the station, according to Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2. She called him "a hugely talented, warm and witty host" and said the station was "thrilled to welcome" him on board permanently.
Other plans made public by the station on Friday include a Cerys Matthews-hosted special of the Van Morrison Blues Show, Easter soul specials from Tony Blackburn, and a Nina Simone-themed Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum.
A Country Music Season will be presented to listeners elsewhere to commemorate the station's official affiliation with the Country 2 Country Music Festival, and Jo Whiley will honor the 12" single in a brand-new documentary.
