DJ Chris Moyles is in danger of being overtaken in the popularity stakes by John Humphrys, audience figures released today have shown.

BBC Radio 4's high-brow Today Programme pulled in 7.1 million listeners in the last quarter of 2011 — just behind Moyles's Radio 1 breakfast show which had an audience of 7.2 million.

The agenda-setting early morning Today Programme benefited from a leap in audience figures from 6.7 million in the previous quarter, while Moyles had a more modest improvement from 7.1 million in the same period.

Both were well beaten by Radio 2's Chris Evans, whose show had a weekly reach of 8.8 million.

Figures released by radio audience measurement body Rajar showed both Radio 1 and 2 lost listeners compared to the previous quarter.

Radio 1 was down from 11.8 million to 11.6 million, while Radio 2 fell from 14.3 million to 14.2 million.

Radio 3's audience saw a modest rise from 2.05 million to 2.09 million, while Radio 4 increased from 10.5 million to 10.8 million.

Radio Five Live lost listeners with its weekly reach falling from 6.23 million to 6.22 million.

Digital stations 6 Music and 1Xtra both recorded their highest ever audiences with 1.4 million and 1 million people tuning in respectively.

Meanwhile, Swansea stations, Swansea Sound and 96.4 FM The Wave, both saw their audience reach fall from the previous quarter.

Swansea Sound went from 65,000 to 58,000 while The Wave dropped from 151,000 to 137,000.

Fellow Swansea station 102.1 Bay Radio maintained its audience figure at 43,000, while Radio Carmarthenshire also saw a fall, from 40,000 to 38,000.

Real Radio (South Wales) lost listeners, going from 447,000 to 407,000.

The director of BBC audio and music, Tim Davie, said: "Radio is in rude health and these figures illustrate the value listeners place on high quality broadcasting. Radio 4 goes from strength to strength and proves once again that distinctive, intelligent output and broad appeal are not mutually exclusive. 6 Music and 1Xtra are unique stations which are establishing loyal and ever-growing audiences. Their record listening figures are a fitting tribute as they celebrate 10 years on air."

Capital Radio kept the top spot in London with a weekly reach of 2.2 million, beating Magic 105.4 with 2.1 million and Heart 106.2 with 1.9 million.

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