Vernon Kay has kicked off his first Radio 2 show after replacing legend Ken Bruce.
The TV presenter, 49, today takes over from popular Ken, who announced in January that he would be stepping down from presenting his mid-morning show on the station after 31 years.
The broadcasting great says parts of his exit were 'disappointingly' handled by BBC bosses – and said last month that he should have left sooner.
The 72-year-old presenter departed in March after decades at the station and swiftly started his new job at Greatest Hits Radio with Vernon taking the hot seat on BBC Radio 2.
"The adventure, let it begin – let's do this!," he told listeners as he played his first song, U2's Beautiful Day.
Vernon, who has filled in for Zoe Ball, Steve Wright, Rylan Clark and Dermot O’Leary for years, stressed that he wants the show to have “real energy” and shared advice he received from fellow Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills.
"He said ‘Just do your thing, don’t change’. That eased my anxiety. As soon as you start trying to create a character, you get bogged down in bulls**t," Vernon said.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast from his new studio after being told of nine million listenings, he said: "Absolutely no pressure at all then!
"Fingers crossed people will stay with us. I've been itching to get started."
He showed off his huge Radio 2 good luck cake, complete with icing headphones.
Ahead of his BBC Radio 2 show debut, Vernon told the i Weekend newspaper he is "apprehensive" about starting the role.
And in a chat with the Mirror, he compared filling Ken's shoes to "replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United ".
He went on: "Ken has had that relationship for 31 years and now I’ve been given the keys to the ship to sail, hopefully into the horizon. Nothing’s going to change because Radio 2’s all about the music and having it on in the background, especially this slot, 9.30 till 12."
But one thing Vernon, who is married to Strictly host Tess Daley, will really miss with his new job is dropping off their daughter Amber, 13, at school.
Their other daughter, Phoebe, is 18 and drives to sixth form.
Vernon said: "I’m a big school run man. I love it. So yeah, I’m going to miss the morning one."
It comes after Ken said he should have taken the plunge and quit long before his departure was announced.
Much-loved Ken was a guest on Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Weekend and he told the host: "The new job has started and I'm really enjoying it
"If I look back, I think I stayed too long there (the BBC). That's the over-riding feeling I have.
"Maybe I should have done this sooner, as it does refresh and re-energise you."
The show will run from 9.30am to 12pm every weekday, featuring the daily music quiz Ten To The Top, Tracks Of My Years, the Record and Album Of The Week, and performances from the Radio 2 Piano Room.
