Press Releases

• 9.53 million tune in to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
• Chris Moyles sets new record on Radio 1
• Radio 1 and Radio 2 draw biggest ever audiences
• Digital-only networks 6 Music, Radio 7 and 1Xtra post record figures
• Record combined reach for 5 Live and Sports Extra

Chris Evans drew a record 9.53 million listeners per week to the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show last quarter (4 January 2010 to 28 March 2010), according to figures published today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd).

In his first quarter since taking over from Sir Terry Wogan, Chris attracted the biggest audience recorded for any radio show under current methodology (since 1999). His performance helped lift Radio 2 to a new high of 14.57 million weekly listeners – up from 13.46m last year and 13.47m last quarter – and a share of 17.2% – from 15.9% last year and 16.5% last quarter.

In a strong period for all radio listening, all BBC Radio had a weekly reach of 34.88m (from 33.81m last year and 33.26m last quarter) and a share of 56.5% (from 56.3% last year and 55.2% last quarter).

Tim Davie, Director BBC Audio & Music, said: "I'm delighted to see Radio 2's listeners have taken to Chris in such a positive way. He is one of the best broadcasters of his generation and has earned his popularity. This quarter's figures are also great news for the industry as all radio listening has grown, and for BBC Radio, where our efforts to produce ambitious, high quality programming have resulted in healthy listening figures."

BBC Radio 1 reported a record high of 11.74 million listeners per week in the quarter, compared to 10.76m last quarter and 11.07m last year. Its share – at 9.5% – is down on last quarter (9.8%) and last year (10.3%). The network also attracted its biggest reach of 15-24 year olds for eight years. The Chris Moyles Show now has a record 7.88 million listeners every week – up from 7.24m last quarter and the previous high of 7.7m last year.

BBC Radio 3 has a weekly reach of 2.03 million listeners – up from last year's 1.99m and last quarter's 1.87m. The network's share is 1.2% (up from 1.1% both last year and last quarter).

BBC Radio 4's reach is 10.03m, up from last year (9.98m) and last quarter (9.84m). Share is 12.2%, down slightly from 12.5% last quarter and last year.

BBC Radio 5 Live – this week named Station of the Year at the Sony Radio Academy Awards – posted a record combined reach with sister station 5 Live Sports Extra of 6.56 million listeners – compared to 6.32m last year and 6.19m last quarter. Share for Radio 5 Live (inc. Sports Extra) is 4.7% – from 4.6% last quarter and 4.8% last year.

In digital-only services, two BBC networks topped a million listeners for the first time. BBC 6 Music's audience grew to a record 1.02 million listeners – up on last quarter's 695,000 and last year's 681,000, while BBC Radio 7 also drew its biggest ever audience with a weekly reach of 1.05 million – up both on last quarter (931,000) and last year (984,000). In addition, BBC 1Xtra posted a record 663,000 weekly listeners – up on last quarter's 531,000 and last year's 616,000. The BBC Asian Network's weekly reach is 357,000 listeners, from 360,000 last quarter and 405,00 last year.

Notes to Editors

BBC Radio Publicity