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To round off day one, Magic Radio presenter Neev Spencer, co-host of the Future of Media event, introduced Hits Radio presenter Fleur East alongside radio legend and Greatest Hits Radio presenter, Ken Bruce, as Bauer Media鈥檚 Director of Audio Gary Stein went behind the scenes with two of the nation鈥檚 most loved presenters.

Gary opened the session by asking how, after years in the industry, they keep their radio shows feeling fresh. Having started his radio career in the 1977, Ken said you have to think of it 鈥渁s if you鈥檙e talking to one person, all the time鈥�, adding that as soon as you start to think about how you鈥檙e broadcasting to millions of people, 鈥渢he magic goes out the window鈥� as 鈥渋t鈥檚 the renewal everyday of an old friendship and that is the magic of radio鈥�.

Five years now into her Hits Radio breakfast show, Fleur added that 鈥渁 lot goes into the breakfast show, and what makes it tick is bringing your everyday life into it鈥�, proving that adding relatability and authenticity is what garners connection and trust with listeners. Ken noted it鈥檚 鈥渟hared experience鈥� that is key to radio, however stressed that things must be kept organic and natural to stop it from feeling too rehearsed 鈥� a skill that鈥檚 made easier when you鈥檙e live on the air, with Ken observing that you think quicker and more clearly.

Ken and Fleur both emphasized that ‘human connection’ is at the heart of their shows. Gary asked Fleur about being briefly replaced by an AI version of herself during the start of a show last October, which even her own mum didn鈥檛 fall for, proving her job was safe and that it couldn鈥檛 replicate that human connection in the same way. Ken joked that it鈥檚 not AI he fears, but Rob Brydon, who once imitated his voice so convincingly that even his family thought he was on the air.

Having both shared a similar radio career lesson about an interview mishap, Fleur says to do your research, don鈥檛 rely on others to do the groundwork for you. Ken added, 鈥榩repare but don鈥檛 over prepare!鈥� otherwise you take away all the spontaneity that makes radio fun.

When asked about the guests that left the biggest impression, Ken found it a tough question given his long radio career. A standout moment, he shared, was interviewing Carole King as she sat at the piano, playing her iconic songs while they chatted. He also fondly recalled James Taylor singing “Happy Birthday” to him live in the studio, joking at the time, “that鈥檚 it, there鈥檚 nothing left to achieve!” However, if he had to choose just one, it would be sharing the stage with the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in the 1980s. In response, Fleur mentioned that Pink! would have to be her standout guest, as she had the chance to sit down with the pop icon who inspired her throughout her youth: 鈥渉er album was the soundtrack to my childhood.鈥�

Wrapping up the session and asking for a radio career highlight, Ken said aside from meeting Ella Fitzgerald, the Seoul Olympics in 1988 stood out as one of his top career moments adding he was 鈥渉ideously ill-equipped to do it but had a great time nonetheless鈥�.聽 For Fleur, it was being able to provide a voice during the Black Lives Matter movement, connecting through radio like no other medium can.

You can catch Ken Bruce weekdays from 11am-1pm on Greatest Hits Radio and Fleur East on Hits Radio, weekdays from 7 to 11.