Newly-released Rajar figures reveal the BBC digital station's listenership increased by 12.1% year-on-year during Q1 2012 to 1.45 million people, while between quarters its audience rose by 0.8%.

Sister station Radio 2's own audience also grew on the year, albeit more modestly, rising 0.2% to 14.56 million, although over the three months the increase was a more robust 2.1%. This increase was accompanied by breakfast show host Chris Evans taking his numbers back above 9 million with 9.23 million people ...