BBC Radio 2 has misplaced almost 500k listeners in latest months after Zoe Ball’s exit from the breakfast present in December
BBC Radio 2 has seen a big drop in its viewers, shedding almost half one million listeners since introducing its revamped weekday line-up earlier this yr, based on latest figures.
The BBC station had changed its famend breakfast host, Zoe Ball, with Scott Mills after she stepped down from the place resulting from household commitments.
The station had an estimated weekly viewers of 12.62 million throughout April to June of this yr, down from 13.11 million within the earlier three months. It’s the lowest whole for Radio 2 for the reason that present methodology of measuring listeners was launched by analysis physique Rajar in autumn 2021, following a break through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The newest statistics are the primary full set of quarterly knowledge reflecting modifications made to the station’s weekday programming, which took impact on the finish of January 2025. Among the many modifications was Mills stepping in as the brand new breakfast present host, changing Zoe.
Different alterations included Trevor Nelson taking on the afternoon slot and DJ Spoony launching a late-night present from Monday to Thursday.
Zoe offered her remaining breakfast programme on December 20 final yr, after almost six years within the position. Gaby Roslin and Mark Goodier quickly hosted the present all through January till Mills formally took over.
Zoe introduced final November that she can be stepping down as host of the Radio 1 Breakfast present to “deal with household”. The broadcaster shares two youngsters, Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14 together with her ex-husband, Norman Cook dinner, higher referred to as Fatboy Slim.
Saying her choice dwell on air, Zoe mentioned: “After six years of enjoyable occasions alongside you all on the breakfast present, I’ve determined it is time to step away from the early alarm name and begin a brand new chapter.”
She additionally expressed her pleasure about her alternative being Mills, telling listeners: “Scott and I am going method again to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings earlier than me. He is been a detailed buddy for years, and I am past thrilled it is him taking on the Breakfast Present.”
She continued: “Breakfast has at all times been his dream, and what a yr he is had – from racing around the globe to his stunning marriage ceremony to Sam. He is not solely a blooming sensible producer however among the finest in radio. I can not wait to tune in on the varsity run!”
Radio 2’s weekly viewers has dropped by almost two million over the previous three years, falling from 14.53 million in April–June 2022. Regardless of the decline, it’s nonetheless one of the crucial standard radio stations within the UK.
The viewers for the Right this moment programme is down very barely from 5.70 million within the earlier three months, however up from 5.47 million within the equal interval a yr in the past.
This era has seen plenty of veteran DJs disappear from the Radio 2 airwaves, reminiscent of Ken Bruce, who left to affix Biggest Hits in March 2023; Steve Wright, who died in February 2024; and Johnnie Walker, who died in December 2024.
Regardless of the lack of listeners, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, mentioned: “I’m massively proud that in 1 / 4 the place Radio 2 shone a lightweight on Eurovision, celebrated Elaine Paige’s 60 years in showbusiness, launched the RHS Radio 2 Canine Backyard on the Chelsea Flower Present, and offered a VE Day 80 live performance, Radio 2 firmly stays the UK’s most listened to single radio station.”
“Congratulations to Scott Mills, whose Breakfast Present stays the primary breakfast present within the nation, and Vernon Kay, whose weekday mid-morning present continues to be probably the most listened to programme on UK radio, with a weekly viewers of 6.6 million,” she continued.
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