EXCLUSIVE: Ken Bruce reveals he could barely speak between songs after his second divorce and used radio as his ‘therapy’

Radio legend Ken Bruce has revealed that he could barely speak between some songs after his second divorce.

Bruce, who left Radio 2 in March after 40 years in a huge shake-up, told how the broadcaster had helped him through tough times for most of his career, including the “huge low point” of his first divorce.

The Greatest Hits radio host, 72, has tied the knot three times and is married to Kerith Coldham, whom he tied the knot with in 2000.

Bruce first married Fiona Fraser in 1976, with whom he had two children, but the marriage would end twelve years later.

Reflecting on the time, he said: “That was a huge low point for me.

‘It doesn’t come up at work. I actually find work therapeutic. Being on the radio is very helpful.”

Two years after the divorce, Bruce married again, only to file for another divorce, with Anne Gilchrist, with whom he had his fourth child five years later.

However, the radio host said that work after his second heartache turned out to be a mixed blessing as he found it difficult to cope with the lyrics of sad songs that would leave him almost speechless.

In an interview for the Rosebud podcast, released on Friday, September 15, the father-of-six said: ‘After my second divorce I found myself playing records, you know sad records, like Roy Orbison’s Crying or something like that. , (and it) would really bring me down.

‘It would be quite a task to create the following link. But that was temporary. The work has mainly been an enormous therapy for me and has helped me through a lot.’

When asked what caused his first breakup and whether he thought he might be too young in his mid-20s, he said, “Yes, probably.”

He added: “I was a very good husband at first, but honestly I don’t think I became a great husband.

‘I ended up in broadcasting. I think I was too concerned about what I was doing.

‘I think I was too absorbed in my work. For me, the work I do has always been what I am and who I am, and what I like to do.

‘I loved having a child. I enjoyed it with every child. But yes, I did have feelings of guilt (about his first marriage).”

Ultimately, the BBC star, whose new TV version of its PopMaster quiz was recently upgraded to prime time on Friday evening Channel 4, decided to seek professional therapy.

He added: ‘After my second divorce I went to a therapist to talk it out because at the time I told everyone, ‘I’ve bored all of you, all my friends, with how I feel, I’ll go and with talk to someone else,” which I did.

‘That really helped. It didn’t take me long at all to work through it.’

Describing the sessions, he said that there had been no one big revelation or solution, but that just talking had been enough to help him move forward.

He said: ‘Every now and then they say, ‘But this means you…’

‘There were a few insights into my relationship that made me think ‘that’s not true’, and afterwards I thought ‘that’s actually true’.

“But I don’t think I got anything out of it that would work for anyone else. It was just spilling your guts.

‘It actually helped me. It was really just putting everything out there and thinking, ‘Okay, it’s time to move on now.’

But despite admitting that his first marriage suffered because of his dedication to work, Bruce said he doesn’t see himself as a narcissist despite the popularity and success he has achieved.

He said: ‘I don’t value that level of success. I don’t look at my ratings and think, “Oh, great.” I just think “well, that won’t last long”, or “what does that mean?”

“It just means people don’t really know who you are. They think you are so nice and kind. There is much more to me that may not be so kind and lovely. But that’s what I present and they enjoy that.

‘But I don’t walk away and go home and think, ‘I’m a big star.’ The kids will always take the p**s out of you.

“I think if it’s all over tomorrow, I’ll be fine. I could walk away from it – I’m pretty sure that’s the case. But I do enjoy doing it.

‘There are a number of reasons why I have not yet retired at the age of 72. One is that I still have children in education. The other thought is that I enjoy doing it and I enjoy doing it.’

Bruce married for a third time in 2000 to Kerith Coldham, with whom he shares three more children: sons Murray, 21, and Charlie, 15, and daughter Verity, 18.

Bruce presented Radio 2’s morning show from 1986 until this year, when he announced his departure, saying it was time for a change as he feared he was getting too old for the station and some of its music.

Listener figures have already soared for his GHR slot, while they have fallen for his old BBC show.

Bruce’s other three children are Campbell, Douglas and Kate, the eldest of whom is 42.