Ken Bruce: I’ve had just one day off sick in over 3 decades

IF it feels as if Ken Bruce’s dulcet tones are never off the radio, here’s the reason.

The popular radio DJ has revealed that he has had only one sick day in 34 years.

His unexpected absence prompted producers to ‘send off distress flares to management’ to draft in a last-minute replacement, he said. The BBC Radio 2 DJ, 68, who has been broadcasting for more than four decades, made the revelation on the Media Masters podcast.

‘I’ve only had one day off sick in the last, however long, 34 years. Unforced day. I couldn’t come in one day because... well, I won’t give you entire details,’ he said.

‘Yes. I was ill that day. I think I was able to do it either the night before or early in the morning, saying, “I can’t come in”.

‘The producer then sends off distress flares to management. And we used to have the great Richard Allinson on our roster, who lived in north London, so he could be in the studio within 20 minutes or so, in the event of somebody not being able to do it.’ Bruce also said the rise of celebrity DJs, untrained in radio, could ruffle feathers among the old guard.

He said Heart FM’s decision to enlist Amanda Holden was a ‘gamble’ because she has ‘no radio experience whatsoever’, but former X Factor contestant Rylan ClarkNeal was ‘terrific’ on Radio 2.

Bruce became a staff announcer for Radio 4 Scotland in 1978 and then landed his own Saturday morning show. He currently hosts the daily Ken Bruce Show on Radio 2.