BBC radio suffers slump across all stations while rivals land strongest ratings
BBC radio has suffered a slump in listening figures across all stations while commercial rivals landed their strongest ratings.
Radio 2 saw a year-on-year drop of 8.5 per cent — although the fall for the first quarter of 2024 was just 0.4 per cent, latest Rajar figures state.
Its Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is slightly up to 6.62 million but well down on 7.26m a year before.
Greg James’s Radio 1 Show fell from 3.92m to 3.7m over the first three months of the year.
Heart’s Breakfast Show with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston rose to 4.2m from 3.99m across the same period.
Greg James’s rival Radio 1 Show appears to be struggling - slipping from 3.92m to 3.7m.
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Capital Breakfast now boasts 2.55m listeners while overall figures rose by 1.5 per cent to 6.24m.
The figures include Roman Kemp’s final show as he handed over to Jordan North on April 8.
Meanwhile, the Virgin Radio UK network, which includes The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK has reached and 1.9m listeners, with listening hours across the network of 11.3m per week.
In a further blow to BBC bosses, Radio 2 legend Ken Bruce has caused Greatest Hits Radio to soar following his departure from the BBC last year.
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The station increased its audience by 50.3% year-on-year to 7.69m.
Greatest Hits rise to the top has continued into 2024 - enjoying a 13.8% uplift since 2023.