Radio 2's revival as a cool station was confirmed today by audience figures that show the station has overtaken its younger sibling Radio 1 for the first time ever.
The station, which has had a complete image overhaul over the past year with younger DJs like Mark Lamarr and Jonathan Ross and a big marketing push, has reached a new high of 10.9m listeners each week.
The news comes just days after Radio 2 was named station of the year at the Sony Radio Awards.
The station has seen its listenership swell, while its youth-oriented rival Radio 1 has suffered a drop.
Radio 2 notched up an audience high with 10.9m listeners listening in each week, while Radio 1 reached 10.3m - down from 10.7m in three months.
Jim Moir, the controller of Radio 2, said today: "I'm delighted - it confirms that our star presenters, the music we play and the programmes we broadcast are striking the right note with the audience.
"We are providing our listeners with 'the best seat in the house' for the top artists in a very buoyant music scene. And coming so soon after the Sony award these record figures are the icing on the cake."
Radio 2 now draws 14.1% of listeners across the UK, up from 13.3% in the last quarter, according to figures released by industry body Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research).
The station has picked up about 300,000 listeners in the three months. It was already the most listened-to station with people tuning in for longer than any other.
Jenny Abramsky, the BBC's director of radio and music, said: "It's been a great month for Radio 2. Having just won Sony Station of the Year it is now the most listened to and the largest station in the country."
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