Out with a bang: Terry Wogan ends with 8.1m listeners

Sir Terry Wogan's Radio 2 breakfast show had a record number of listeners before he handed over the reins to Chris Evans.

The 71-year-old - who announced his departue from the programme last year - had an astonishing audience of 8.1 million per week when Wake Up To Wogan came to a close.

The Irishman had fronted the breakfast show for 27 years, building up the biggest morning show audience in Europe.

The statistics put Terry ahead of his biggest radio rival Chris Moyles, who currently brings in 7.24 million.

"Terry is a legendary broadcaster and these figures show his popularity has never been higher," says BBC director Tim Davie.

"I'm now looking forward to tuning in to his new show later this month."

Sir Terry returns with a new 11am Sunday show, Weekend Wogan, on February 14 with guests including Norah Jones and Jamie Cullum.