Jeremy Vine says he’s ‘cool’ with BBC bosses ‘ageist’ to older talent – despite losing 1 million Radio 2 listeners after shipping Ken Bruce and Steve Wright for younger DJs

BBC presenter Jeremy Vine has insisted he’s “cool” with the company’s apparent “ageist” policy towards his older talent after bosses Ken sent Bruce and Steve Wright away for younger DJs.

Vine, 58, has hosted his Radio 2 lunchtime show since taking over from Sir Jimmy Young in 2003.

Speaking to Kaye Adams and Karen MacKenzie’s How to be 60 podcast, the host said, “We have to accept that because what you can’t do is say how unfair. Look – the unfair thing is we’ve been doing it for so long! I think I’ll actually be cool with it. I think I do.’

The BBC has come under fire for replacing a host of ‘older’ talents including Bruce, Wright and Vanessa Feltz with younger DJs such as Vernon Kay and Scott Mills – accusing the broadcaster of ‘age discrimination’.

It comes after the BBC has broadcast a host of ‘older’ talents such as Ken Bruce (pictured after moving to Greatest Hits Radio), Vanessa Feltz and Steve Wright

Vine insisted he had discussed the matter with close friend and fellow Beeb presenter Fiona Bruce, 59, saying they would ‘go to lunch and say it was great’.

He said Sir Jimmy Young, whom he replaced, was “so angry” when told to leave that he refused to have lunch with him.

But Jeremy’s approach to leaving the BBC is much more relaxed, he insisted. He added: ‘Suddenly I’m the oldest now! I was the youngest for ages. I’ve interviewed every prime minister since 1997. I think that’s a great asset!’

Bruce, 72, left the BBC in March after hosting his BBC 2 mid-morning show since 1986. He was replaced by Kay, 49, in a decision that seemed to leave fans in tears and some vowing never to listen to Radio 2 again. after Bruce left for Greatest Hits Radio.

His program from 9:30 to 12:00, including the daily PopMaster quiz, was the most popular on British radio with over 8.5 million listeners a week. A BBC spokesman confirmed at the time that he had been offered a new contract to stay, but had chosen to go to a rival.

Other stars involved in the exodus include Steve Wright, 68, replaced by Scott Mills, 50, and Vanessa Feltz, 60, who accused bosses of “relentlessly chasing a younger audience.”

Meanwhile, former X-Factor contestant Rylan Clark, 34, now presents a three-hour Saturday afternoon show as the BBC tries to bring in even more young blood.

Other stars caught up in the exodus include Steve Wright (left), 68, replaced by Scott Mills, 50 (right)

Meanwhile, former X-Factor contestant Rylan Clark, 34, now presents a three-hour Saturday afternoon show for the BBC

And the late star Paul O’Grady, 67, announced his departure last year, with sources close to him telling the Mail On Sunday he felt there was an age issue surrounding his departure.

Feltz claimed she was let go by the broadcaster after she passed 60. She said earlier this year that older presenters are ‘not appreciated in the same way’, adding: ‘The music isn’t as appealing because they’ve changed it to appeal to a younger audience that they’re so desperate for’.

She told ITV’s This Morning: ‘Think of all the people who have left: Paul O’Grady is gone. I went. Steve Wright is there, but not much. Chris Evans has left. Graham Norton too.

Radio 2 has tried to modernize in recent months by playing less music from before the 1990s and bringing in younger DJs, including from Radio 1.

Jeremy Vine said if asked to leave he and Fiona Bruce would go out for a ‘big lunch’

Vanessa Feltz claimed she was let go by the Beeb after she passed 60