The Archers made headlines in 2006 with its controversial storylines

It is the highest number recorded since industry body Rajar began monitoring the nation's listening habits in 1992.

Increased use of the internet, digital television and mobile phones is thought to have contributed towards the rise.

However, slight falls in audiences for such Radio 4 staples as The Archers and Desert Island Discs have been recorded.

Quarterly Rajar figures show The Archers' weekly audience is 4.4 million - 169,000 down on the previous quarter and 197,000 less than this time last year.

Desert Island Discs has also registered a shortfall, with 2.54 million tuning in compared with 2.69 million 12 months ago.

According to Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer, though, "this quarter's figures are within the usual range".

'Happy with performance'

"We expect to see these small fluctuations in listening figures over the course of a year," he said.

He also highlighted the online success of The Archers, which currently receives one million "on-demand" listens each month.

Wogan's show attracts 7.98 million listeners each week to Radio 2

"We're very happy with the performance of the shows," he concluded.

Radio 2 remains the nation's favourite station with an audience of 13.27 million.

Terry Wogan attracts 7.98 million listeners each week for his breakfast show, while Steve Wright's afternoon programme pulls in 6.51 million.

On Radio 1, breakfast presenter Chris Moyles is heard by 6.82 million people each week.