BBC flagship radio breakfast shows have gained listeners according to the latest Rajar audience measurement figures for October to December 2025. Scott Mills on Radio 2, Greg James on Radio 1, and programmes on Radio 3 and Five Live all saw their audiences grow, while Radio 4's Today programme experienced a slight decline.
Scott Mills attracted 6.47 million average weekly listeners to the Radio 2 breakfast show. This represents an increase from 6.16 million in the previous three months. His predecessor Zoe Ball had 6.83 million listeners in the same period a year earlier.
Greg James drew 3.87 million listeners to Radio 1's breakfast show, up from 3.82 million in the previous quarter. However, his audience remains below the 4.10 million he attracted a year earlier.
Radio 3's breakfast programme, hosted by Tom McKinney, reached 840,000 listeners. This marks a 22% increase from the previous quarter and a 2% rise year on year.
Five Live's breakfast show saw even stronger growth, attracting 1.48 million listeners – up 16% from the previous quarter and 5% year on year.
The Radio 4 Today programme saw its audience fall to 5.47 million, down slightly from 5.49 million in the previous quarter and 5% lower than a year earlier.
Radio 2 remains UK's most popular
Radio 2 continues to hold its position as the UK's most listened to single radio station, despite seeing its overall weekly audience drop to 12.71 million. This represents a decline from 12.79 million in the previous quarter and 13.65 million a year earlier. The station has lost nearly two million listeners since autumn 2021, when Rajar resumed reporting after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: "In a quarter where Sara Cox ran five marathons in five days, with the listeners getting behind her to raise an astonishing £12 million for Children In Need, I'm thrilled that Radio 2 continues to be the UK's most listened to single radio station. Vernon Kay continues to be the most listened to show on UK radio, growing to 6.7 million listeners each week. Many thanks go to the Radio 2 listeners, who are tuning in for just over 11 hours each week, a four-year record."
Mixed performance across BBC stations
Radio 3's overall audience grew 6% to 1.91 million weekly listeners in the latest quarter. Radio 4's total audience increased 1% to 8.92 million.
Radio 1's overall audience fell 3% on the quarter, while Five Live dropped 2%.
Among commercial stations, Greatest Hits saw a sharp 20% year-on-year decline to 5.91 million weekly listeners – its lowest figure since April to June 2023.
Times Radio attracted 542,000 listeners, down 4% on the previous quarter and 10% on the year.
GB News reached 672,000 listeners, down 2% on the quarter but up 44% year on year.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
