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Theakston breaks a few hearts to take breakfast radio crown
Amar Singh, Media Correspondent31 Jan 2008
Heart's Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott are London's most popular commercial breakfast show presenters, according to new figures.
The easy-listening station's duo were ahead of Capital Radio's Johnny Vaughan in second place and Magic's Neil Fox, who slumped to third. Figures from radio audience researchers Rajar show the Heart breakfast show has 915,000 listeners, adding 105,000 listeners in the final three months of last year.
Mark Browning, programme director for Heart 106.2, said: "We're thrilled to bits we're on top in such a close market. Our show is about warmth and the relationship between the two presenters is great. There is no bickering and that seems to have struck a chord with listeners."
According to Rajar, Capital pulls in 864,000 in the standard 6-9am slot. But Capital, which has struggled in the breakfast slot following the departure of Chris Tarrant in 2004, says when their 6.30-10am running time is taken into account, Vaughan, 41, pulled in 937,000 listeners. Capital is reuniting Vaughan with his former Big Breakfast co-host Denise Van Outen, in an attempt to claw back listeners lost to Heart and Magic.
Fox dropped about eight per cent in the final quarter of last year with 821,000 listeners.
Britain's favourite breakfast show host remains Terry Wogan, with 7.73 million listeners tuning in to his Radio 2 show each morning. But Chris Moyles is not far behind with
7.31 million - his biggest audience yet. Moyles commands 811,000 London listeners from 6-9am.
Radio 1 had a total audience of 10.69 million, up from 10.58 million the previous quarter 10.26 million the previous year. Five Live and digital service Five Live Sports Extra had a combined audience of 6.17 million, up more than 500,000.
