Ken Bruce’s new station Greatest Hits Radio gains 800,000 listeners since June while Zoe Ball’s BBC Breakfast Show loses 200,000, figures show

• Greatest Hits Radio has seen growth of 76.9 per cent year on year

Ken Bruce admitted feeling like he had been ‘taken for granted’ when he left his longrunning Radio 2 show earlier this year.

But his former bosses at the BBC will no doubt be kicking themselves, after his new station gained 800,000 weekly listeners since June.

Greatest Hits Radio, which also counts ex-Radio 2 veteran Simon Mayo as a presenter, has seen growth of 76.9 per cent year on year, the biggest across all stations. 

The commercial broadcaster now has 6.5million weekly listeners for all of its shows, compared to 3.7million last year, quarterly data from Rajar shows.

Bruce, 72, who will be awarded an MBE tomorrow, now has a weekly audience of 3.7million listeners since joining the station in April.

Ken Bruce (pictured) admitted feeling like he had been ‘taken for granted’ when he left his longrunning Radio 2 show earlier this year

Greatest Hits Radio, which also counts ex-Radio 2 veteran Simon Mayo (pictured) as a presenter, has seen growth of 76.9 per cent year on year, the biggest across all stations

Meanwhile, Radio 2 has struggled to entice back the million listeners lost following Bruce’s departure. The most noticeable drop is Zoe Ball’s (pictured) Breakfast show

Bruce said: ‘I’m delighted to hear that Greatest Hits Radio has welcomed more and more listeners. 

‘Much like myself, it’s great to know more people are enjoying the very best music from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as my fellow broadcasters such as Simon Mayo and Jackie Brambles.’

READ MORE:  EXCLUSIVE: Ken Bruce reveals he could barely speak between songs after his second divorce and used radio as his ‘therapy’

Meanwhile, Radio 2 has struggled to entice back the million listeners lost following Bruce’s departure. 

The most noticeable drop is Zoe Ball’s Breakfast show.

In the last three months, the BBC station had 13.5million weekly listeners, the same as last quarter, according to Rajar – an audience measurement system for the radio industry. 

But that is a million fewer than the same period last year.

Ms Ball’s Breakfast Show has shed 200,000, down to 6.5million compared to 6.7million three months previously. 

In the same period last year, it was listened to by 7.3million, meaning she has lost 850,000 year on year.

It is still the UK’s most listened-to breakfast show.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We’re delighted The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show continues to be the most listened to breakfast programme, featuring the biggest and best guests.’

Greg James’ Radio 1 breakfast show is also dropping listeners, with 3.9million tuning in over the summer compared to 4.6million at the beginning of the year.

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