A record 50 million people in UK listening to radio as BBC Radio 1 and BBC 5 Live

August 1, 2024 – The RAJAR figures for Q2 2024 continue to highlight how audiences value BBC Radio with 32m people tuning in each week for live output across the stations, with a share of 42.6%. The biggest population increase in 75 years now sees a record 50.8 million people in the UK listening to radio.

There was a boost for Radio 1 and Greg James’ Breakfast Show, which remains the biggest breakfast show in the UK for young people. The start of the summer of sport also saw listener figures increase for BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 5 Sports Extra, although this period does not include Wimbledon or the final of Men’s Euro 2024.

BBC Radio 2 remains the UK’s favourite radio station with Vernon Kay presenting the UK’s biggest radio show and Zoe Ball presenting the most popular breakfast show.

According to RAJAR, podcast listening is at an all-time high with 12.3 million people in the UK (15+) now listening to podcasts each week, a new record. This reflects evolving listener habits, with an increased appetite for podcasts and on-demand content, as digital audience figures continue to grow.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Michael Mosley’s Just One Thing (Radio 4) was the second most listened to podcast on BBC Sounds this quarter. His poignant final interview on How to Live a Good Life live from the Hay Festival was the top performing episode of the series.

There were some big new speech titles on BBC Sounds, including Miss Me? with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, which has been a hit with younger audiences, plus the return of the hugely popular Radio 4 To Catch A Scorpion (the latest series from the Intrigue strand) which dominated headlines, and History’s Secret Heroes, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.

Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer, says: “I’m delighted to see the strength of the audio landscape with a record number of people listening to radio and podcasts across the UK. Radio 1’s Big Weekend has contributed to the brilliant organic growth of Radio 1 with an uplift for Greg James’ Breakfast show, which continues to be the number one choice for younger listeners in the UK. As we head towards a fantastic summer of sport it is excellent to already see such a big increase for BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra with more world class coverage to come. BBC Radio 4 speech programming continues to dominate on BBC Sounds, showcasing our thriving digital strategy. In addition, we’ve launched new and exciting podcasts for younger audiences including Miss Me? with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver and Famously.”