Jonathan Ross also has his own television chat show

The DJ and TV host pipped fellow BBC Radio 2 presenter Terry Wogan to the top of the list, which was drawn up by the Radio Times magazine.

The magazine sought the views from a panel of 70 industry experts from the BBC and commercial radio.

BBC colleague Steve Wright said of Ross: "He is one of the wittiest people on radio, and he doesn't follow any of the rules."

TOP TEN MOST POWERFUL RADIO PEOPLE 1. Jonathan Ross (Radio 2) 2. Terry Wogan (Radio 2) 3. John Humphrys (Radio 4) 4. Christian O'Connell (Xfm and Radio Five Live) 5. Eddie Mair (Radio 4) 6. Peter Allen (Radio Five Live) 7. Chris Moyles (Radio 1) 8. Zane Lowe (Radio 1) 9. Jane Garvey (Five Live) 10. Chris Evans Source: Radio Times survey

Wogan, whose breakfast show is has more than 8m listeners, came ahead of Radio 4's Today presenter John Humphrys, who took the third spot.

Ross praised his Radio 2 colleague by saying Wogan had "set the benchmark for others to aspire to".

Other names in the top 10 included Radio 1 breakfast show presenter Chris Moyles in 7th place, and Eddie Mair, presenter of Radio 4's PM programme, in 5th.

Chris Evans came in at 10th place even though he has been heard on the airwaves only twice in recent years

He made a return to radio for the Radio Aid event which saw big name DJs help raise £3m for victims of the Asian tsunami by taking over more than 250 commercials stations for one day.

Evans - who hosted the Radio 1 breakfast show between 1995 and 1997- has also presented occasional shows for Radio 2.

"In a few hours, Evans reminded everyone what we've been missing since he was sacked from Virgin four years ago," the magazine said.

Radio 4 had 13 of the top 40 names, while Radio 2 had nine and Radio Five Live had eight.