Half a million listeners are turning off Radio 2 after older DJs were sacked, the latest figures show

Listeners change off from the highest BBC Radio stations and as an alternative alter to rivals, official figures present.

These embrace “Radio 2 refugees” who’ve deserted the station for business alternate options equivalent to Growth Radio as older DJs are changed by youthful ones.

Radio 2’s breakfast present introduced by Zoe Ballhas misplaced probably the most weekly listeners amongst main BBC channels.

The full fell by 359,000 within the final quarter of 2022 in comparison with the identical interval in 2021.

Nonetheless, with 7.1 million viewers per week, it’s nonetheless probably the most listened to breakfast radio program.

Radio 2’s breakfast present, hosted by Zoe Ball, has misplaced probably the most weekly listeners amongst main BBC broadcasters

Radio 4’s As we speak fell by 282,000 to six.1 million over the identical interval. Radio 5 Stay’s breakfast present additionally misplaced round 200,000, to 1.6 million per week.

Figures launched by analysis group Rajar present that every one main BBC channels have seen listenership fall over the previous 12 months. Radio 2 misplaced simply over half one million listeners – down 3.9 p.c.

It got here as Steve Wright, 68, was changed by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 49, within the afternoon after 23 years.

Paul O’Grady, 67, who was with Radio 2 for 14 years, give up his present months after he was compelled to separate the slot with comic Rob Beckett, 37, whereas Ken Bruce, 71, made his departure final month after turning 31 years in the past on Britain’s hottest radio programme.

He is shifting to Biggest Hits Radio, which has grown its listenership by virtually a 3rd to 4.3 million per week over the previous 12 months.

In the meantime, Growth Radio’s listenership elevated from 242,000 to 531,000.

Radio 3 fell by 6.3 p.c to 1.8 million. Radio 1 fell 4.6 p.c to 7.7 million and Radio 4 fell 3.8 p.c to 1 million.