Rajar, which releases the figures on behalf of commercial radio industry body Radiocentre, estimated that 49.5 million people are now listening to UK radio, equating to 80% of the UK’s adult population.

Commercial radio increased its share of listening time to 48%, up from 47.1% and, at 36.77 million people, just shy of its all-time biggest audience of 36.8 million.

BBC radio share was at 49.9%, which was a dip from 50.9% previously.

Total digital listening represented 64.4% of all radio listening in the third quarter of 2021, mainly accounted for by DAB at 42.5% but also online (including smart speakers) at 16.9%. 

The remaining 5.1% of the audience listened to radio through their television set, Rajar said.

Ian Moss, chief executive of Radiocentre, said: “Radio listening as a whole remains incredibly strong.

“Despite all the competition for people’s time and attention, audiences still keep choosing radio, which is a tribute to the choice and quality available across all platforms.”