Broadcasting: Fresh blow to Radio 1 as listeners desert in droves

BBC Radio 1 - already braced for a drop in popularity following the departure of Chris Evans from his breakfast show - was dealt further bad news yesterday when Radio 2 overtook it in the ratings for the first time in its 30-year history.

The latest figures from the independent audience research body Rajar revealed that, in the three months before Evans' acrimonious exit, Radio 1 lost 569,000 listeners - more than half of whom were captured by Radio 2.

Steve Wright's Saturday Show and Sunday Love Songs are proving particularly popular, which will be satisfying for him given that he was one of a several established personalities who left Radio 1 in a controversial clear-out ordered by station controller Mathew Bannister. The wacky presenter was replaced by Evans on the breakfast show.

t Radio Joint Audience Research; Collier House, 163-169 Brompton Road, London SW3 1PY. Tel: 0171 584 3003