New figures reveal that BBC’s flagship breakfast radio shows have experienced a surge in audience numbers as 2025 came to a close, highlighting the evolving landscape of UK radio. While programmes like Radio 1’s Greg James and Radio 2’s Scott Mills welcomed increased listenership, Radio 4’s Today programme faced a slight downturn, raising questions about listener preferences in an ever-competitive market.
Rising Stars: Radio 1 and Radio 2
Scott Mills has marked a significant milestone with his Radio 2 breakfast show, attracting an impressive average of 6.47 million listeners in the final quarter of 2025. This figure represents a rise from 6.16 million in the previous quarter and is the highest since Mills took over the show earlier in the year. However, it still trails behind Zoe Ball’s final stint, which secured an average of 6.83 million listeners in the same period the year prior.
Greg James also enjoyed a positive turn as his Radio 1 breakfast show grew its audience to 3.87 million, up from 3.82 million in the preceding quarter. Despite this increase, the numbers still fall short of the 4.1 million listeners recorded a year ago, indicating a complex landscape for youth-oriented programming.
In contrast, both Radio 3 and Five Live exhibited consistent growth. Radio 3, hosted by Tom McKinney, boasted a robust average weekly audience of 840,000—a remarkable 22% increase from the previous quarter. Five Live’s breakfast show also gained traction, rising to 1.48 million listeners, up 16% from the last quarter and 5% year-on-year.
Radio 4’s Decline and the Competition
Despite the positive trends for many BBC stations, Radio 4’s Today programme saw a slight decline, averaging 5.47 million listeners—down from 5.49 million in the previous quarter and a 5% drop from the same time last year. This decrease is particularly notable given the show’s longstanding reputation for delivering hard-hitting news and current affairs.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, expressed satisfaction with the station’s continued dominance as the UK’s most popular radio outlet, even amidst a drop in overall listenership since 2021. “In a quarter where Sara Cox ran five marathons in five days, raising 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,” she stated.
Meanwhile, commercial stations are feeling the pinch, with Greatest Hits Radio experiencing a significant 20% drop in audience numbers, falling from 7.37 million to 5.91 million over the past year. This decline marks the lowest listenership for the station since mid-2023.
The Landscape of Listening
The latest data from Rajar reveals more nuanced shifts within the radio landscape. While Radio 3 and Radio 4 saw overall audience increases, Radios 1 and Five Live experienced slight declines of 3% and 2%, respectively. Additionally, newer news-based stations have also struggled; Times Radio reported an average of 542,000 listeners, a 10% decrease from the previous year, while GB News managed to grow its audience to 672,000—up 44% year-on-year despite a 2% dip from the last quarter.
As the competition for listeners intensifies, the BBC’s commitment to quality programming and engaging content remains a central tenet of its strategy. The challenge for all stations will be to adapt to shifting listener preferences and the growing demand for diverse audio experiences.
Why it Matters
The fluctuations in radio listenership underscore a broader trend within media consumption, where audiences are increasingly selective about their content. As BBC stations strive to engage a diverse audience, the competition will only become fiercer, prompting innovation and evolution in programming. For listeners, this means a richer variety of choices, while for broadcasters, it signals the imperative to remain relevant in a rapidly changing audio landscape.
