The Year in Review: Best radio of 2010

A History of the World in 100 Objects, Radio 4

Neil MacGregor's epic tour around the British Museum was a vindication for Mark Damazer's bold scheduling. Sometimes daunting, but infinitely rewarding, seeing past civilisations wax and wane provided a sense of perspective increasingly missing in our lives. The head of Ramasses II and the stone hand axe are two of the items that linger in the mind.

Jonathan Ross, Radio 2

I'm sure he won't be gone long but I miss Jonathan Ross and so does Radio 2. His show was just what you wanted for a lazy Saturday morning, slick and witty, with upbeat music that was totally untroubled by fashion.

BBC 6 Music

Reprieved by the BBC trust from closure, 6 Music survived the axe and the audience swelled to make it the most listened to BBC digital radio station with an average weekly audience of 1.194 million. Whatever you think about George Lamb, there's always Adam and Joe and the excellent Stuart Maconie.

I, Claudius, Radio 4

The Friday Play has been axed and World Service drama seems certain to go the same way, but impressive highlights of last year's 650 hours included David Hare, a memorable Pinter, and the continuingly excellent dramatisation of John le Carré with Simon Russell Beale. Robert Graves' vivid and grisly saga of the Roman emperors was a great treat to end the year.

The Today Programme, Radio 4

It reached a record audience in election year, but on any old day it's still making headlines. The giggle factor may have risen with Justin Webb and Evan Davis, not to mention Jim Naughtie's slip of the tongue, so perhaps another tough female anchor is the answer, alongside Sarah Montague. Though God forbid the day John Humphrys retires.