Sara Cox ’s opening months hosting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show saw audience figures remain stable, according to the latest industry data.

Cox took over as permanent presenter of the show on July 6, replacing Scott Mills , who was sacked by the BBC at the end of March shortly before it emerged the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into the DJ in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

The programme recorded an average weekly listenership of 6.44 million between July and September.

This represents a slight increase from the 6.37 million registered across April to June, when Gary Davies filled in as host.

BBC Radio 2 breakfast show recorded an average weekly listenership of 6.44 million between July and September (BBC)

Figures from research organisation Rajar show the broadcast remains the UK's most popular radio programme for that morning slot.

Kate Philips, BBC chief content officer, said she was “delighted” for Cox and…