This is the UK's favourite radio station - the results might surprise you

There was a clear winner when it came to the sounds people love tuning in to.

Katie Archer
·Contributor
·2 min read
News media applications including those from The Guardian, BBC News, Reuters and CNN are seen in this illustration photo in Warsaw, Poland on 29 August, 2023. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The UK's favourite radio station is...(NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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UK radio fans have named their current favourite station - and it might not be what you were expecting.

A YouGov survey has found listeners have been tuning in to Heart's radio stations in their droves, with the broadcaster the clear winner for the most popular station in the UK during 2023's third quarter.

By contrast, the only BBC radio station to make it into the top 10 was BBC Radio 2, which came in seventh place.

Most popular radio stations in the UK for 3rd quarter, 2023

  • Heart FM - 58%

  • Heart 80s - 53%

  • Capital FM - 51%

  • Heart Radio - 49%

  • Heart Extra - 49%

  • Magic FM - 48%

  • BBC Radio 2 - 48%

  • Smooth Radio - 48%

  • Absolute 80s - 48%

  • Absolute Radio - 44%

Radio presenters Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden at the launch of Heart Radio's 'Make Me a Millionaire' competition, outside the Global Radio studios in Leicester Square, central London. Picture date: Friday May 28, 2021. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden host Heart Radio's breakfast show. (PA Images via Getty Images)

The UK's favourite station was named as Heart FM with 58% of votes, where listeners can hear a presenting line-up that includes Amanda Holden, Jamie Theakston and Ashley Roberts for the breakfast show, an early evening show with JK and Kelly Brook, and weeknights with Dev Griffin.

Heart also took second place for its 80s-themed station with 53% of the vote, with Heart Radio and Heart Extra in fourth and fifth.

The radio company's winning streak was broken only by Capital FM, which took third place on 51% of the vote and includes a breakfast show hosted by Roman Kemp.

Magic FM, BBC Radio 2, Smooth Radio and Absolute 80s all got 48% of the vote share, while Absolute Radio completed the top 10 on 44%.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Roman Kemp attends the Capital Jingle Bell Ball 2022 at The O2 Arena on December 11, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J. Hogan / Getty Images)
Roman Kemp hosts for Capital FM. (Getty Images)

Holden and Theakston have been co-hosting Heart's breakfast show since 2019 and during the Covid pandemic in 2020, Britain's Got Talent judge Holden shared that she was continuing to host the show from home as the country isolated.

She recently took on a five-event challenge with Roberts in aid of Heart’s charity, Global’s Make Some Noise, which involved climbing the Blackpool Tower, competing in a triathlon, generating power in a cycle challenge, joining a military parachute display team, and completing an assault course.

Meanwhile, Capital FM's Kemp fronted a tough watch earlier this month with BBC Three documentary Roman Kemp: The Fight For Young Lives.

He explored his own mental health struggles, as well as speaking about losing his best friend, Global producer Joe Lyons who took his own life in August 2020.