Lynn Bowles with Ken Bruce (Picture: BBC2)
Lynn Bowles is hanging up her weather presenting hat after 18 years on BBC Radio 2.
Saying goodbye on the Chris Evans breakfast show today, Bowles’ bulletins have helped listeners avoid travel disruptions for nearly two decades.
But earlier this month, she announced that she is leaving the station for pastures new, at the age of 55.
So why is she leaving and where is she going?
Radio 2 travel presenter Lynn Bowles is leaving the station, but why? (Picture: Emilie Sandy)
Lynn, who was born in Cardiff and joined the station in 2000, is leaving the station because she is retiring from national radio.
However the presenter, dubbed ‘Totty from Splotty’ (a reference to her Welsh roots) by Sir Terry Wogan, will keep presenting her live Saturday show, airing at 2pm, on BBC Radio Wales.
Lynn has worked with Ken Bruce for 18 years, and he described her departure as ‘a sad day for us all’.
Lynn with Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce (Picture: BBC)
In her statement she said: ‘After 18 long years of my alarm clock waking me at 4am, it’s time to destroy it with some heavy machinery.
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‘During my time at BBC Radio 2 I’ve done my best to make Ken Bruce acceptable to polite society. I’m not entirely sure I have been successful in my endeavours.
It's with a heavy heart that today we announce, after 18 fantastic years, @realLynnBowles is leaving Radio 2. 😢@realkenbruce has been with her from the beginning… pic.twitter.com/k1lUDVLlBr — BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) March 16, 2018
‘Working with Sir Terry Wogan was a joy. I was inducted into the practice of eating curries and full Christmas dinners early in the mornings.
‘Luckily for me the madness continued when Chris Evans took over the Breakfast Show.
*Taps mic* Hello is this on? I have a small announcement.
After 275 years at @bbcradio2 I am leaving. There is not enough space here to say everything I would wish. Apart, of course, from my debt of gratitude to the BBC and all those with whom I have worked xx — Lynn Bowles (@RealLynnBowles) March 16, 2018
‘I’d like to thank Radio 2 and all the fabulously informative motorists and truckers who have allowed me to do my bit trying to keep traffic moving around the UK.’
She added: ‘I’m looking forward to seeing a little less of the M4, and a little more of my home territory of Wales in the future.
‘I’d like to thank Radio 2 and all the fabulously informative motorists and truckers who have allowed me to do my bit trying to keep traffic moving around the UK.’
I'll be with @RealKenBruce in Glasgow for the games. I'll be happy to help carry all those medals. pic.twitter.com/MPuEBqo8VV — Lynn Bowles (@RealLynnBowles) June 4, 2014
Lynn’s last day at Radio 2 is today, Thursday 29 March. She will continue presenting her Radio Wales show on Sundays.
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Lynn Bowles’ traffic reporter career on BBC Radio 2 came to an emotional end today. During her final minutes working on the radio, Ken Bruce introduced her compilation of “best bits,” which saw her involved in numerous sections of banter with himself throughout the years. As the compilation came to an end Ken said: “We’re going to miss you terribly on BBC Radio 2. “It has been absolutely delightful, I don’t know how I will get on without you.” She replied: “You’re Scottish, you’ll be fine.”
BBC • TWITTER Lynn Bowles: The traffic reporter presented her last show today
She then gave her last farewell to her team, and her dedicated sea of listeners. “I’m going to miss you, and everyone who works in a corporation knows that it’s never about the job. “It’s about the people I work with, and the people who listen as well.” Fighting through the tears, she finished: “I have been shocked by the support that everyone has given me.”
TWITTER Lynn Bowles: She has reported on BBC Radio 2 for 18 years.
Morning TV presenters through the years Wed, July 20, 2016 We take a trip down memory lane as we look back through decades of morning television presenters. Play slideshow ITV/REX/Shutterstock 1 of 28 Phillip Schofield, Richard Madeley, Judy Finnigan and Holly Willoughby on 'This Morning' for it's 21st anniversary in 2009
It’s about the people I work with, and the people who listen as well Lynn Bowles
Ken cut in and gave her one final send off before the show ended, as Jeremy Vine began honouring her in the first breaths of his show. After 18 years working with numerous radio presenters, Lynn, 55, left the network after making her announcement on Twitter. The tweet read: “Taps mic Hello is this on? I have a small announcement. After 275 years at @bbcradio2 I am leaving. “There is not enough space here to say everything I would wish. Apart, of course, from my debt of gratitude to the BBC and all those with whom I have worked.”
BBC Lynn Bowles: She got emotional during her farewell
Lynn, 55, has been a stalwart of the BBC radio show for 18 years.
However, she has now decided it is time to leave after setting her alarm for four in the morning everyday.
As she took part in her last ever show the BBC with Chris, the presenter tried to make the veteran travel expert stick around a bit longer.
He explained how it was Lynn’s last day and as such the show would be dedicated to her.
But cheeky Chris explained: “So she says… Still working on that!”
Why is Lynn Bowles quitting BBC Radio 2? BBC Radio 2 is set to be losing its veteran traffic reporter Lynn Bowles after today (March 29) marked her last day on the station. Lynn Bowles announced earlier this month that she would be stepping down for the role after 18 years. She announced on the Ken Bruce show that she would be departing on Maundy Tuesday, leaving listeners heartbroken at her decision. A tweet was also shared from the radio channel’s official account, which read: “It's with a heavy heart that today we announced, after 18 fantastic years, @realLynnBowles is leaving Radio 2 later this month. @realkenbruce has been with her from the beginning…”
Bowles explained that she chose to leave due to concerns over her health, saying in a recent interview: “I’ve had things happen to a lot of friends recently. And friends of friends. “Mostly men in their 40s and 50s who were perfectly fine and then suddenly: brain tumours, cancer, strokes.” She went on to tell the Radio Times: “I got a call from a friend about a man I used to work with. He was a lawyer in his 40s who had a stroke. It was an epiphany.” Bowles confessed that she felt "guilty" for leaving her fans behind, many of whom have been vocal today during her last show. The Welsh radio presenter admitted that she was going to be moving back to Cardiff from her South London home.
BBC Veteran traffic reporter Lynn Bowles is leaving BBC Radio 2
Bowles, 55, has worked for a number of big radio stations during her career including LBC, BBC Radio 5 live and Jazz FM. Fellow Radio 2 host Chris Evans even admitted that he recently abushed her and begged her not to leave the station. She joined the Ken Bruce show in 2000 to read the traffic news. But it only when she started verbally sparring with broadcaster Richard Littlejohn that she really made waves. The radio reporter was invited by a BBC producer to face off with John Inverdale with her “smart mouth”. She was also referred to as "totty" by the late Sir Terry Wogan but admitted that she didn't mind the description.
BBC Veteran traffic reporter Lynn Bowles is leaving BBC Radio 2
This Morning: Then and Now Mon, May 8, 2017 This Morning presenters then and now: From Holly and Phil to Ruth and Eamonn. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 11 Phillip Schofield looking fresh-faced in 1985
BBC Lynn Bowles has been part of BBC Radio 2 for 18 years
