Big audience boost for Classic FM

16 May 2013, 00:01 | Updated: 17 May 2013, 10:53

More than 200,000 new listeners have tuned in to Classic FM in the past three months, according to new radio listening figures published today.

The latest results are out – and the UK's biggest classical music station has now increased its audience to 5.6 million people each week.

More people are enjoying Alan Titchmarsh's Saturday morning programme than ever before, with over 1.1 million listeners tuning in each week - an increase of 132,000 people in the last three months.

Meanwhile, Jamie Crick's mixture of requests, dedications and classical favourites on weekday afternoons has seen 173,000 more listeners, with his show now attracting 2.6 million people every week.

Other Classic FM programmes enjoying a surge in audiences include the late night Smooth Classics, presented by Margherita Taylor during the week and Myleene Klass at the weekend.  David Mellor's two eclectic weekend evening programmes have also proved a big hit, with the audience for his New Releases Show increasing by more than one third over the past year.

Classic FM's Managing Editor Sam Jackson said: "We've strengthened our position as the UK's most popular classical music radio station.  Today's results are a powerful demonstration of the relevance of classical music - and, as the home of classical music in the UK, it's very encouraging to see exciting to see so many new listeners coming to Classic FM."

The figures, published by Rajar, come just days after Classic FM was named UK Radio Brand Of The Year at the Sony Radio Academy Awards, as well as being honoured at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, where the judges praised the station for its "remarkable record in broadening classical music".