The results of the latest JNLR/TNS survey show Today FM has finally broken RTE's hold on the top 10 most popular radio programmes. Better still for the Ray D'Arcy team is the news that their show is one of only two that recorded an increase in listener figures (along with Newstalk's The Right Hook).

Dreaming aside, does Sugar Ray's success mean we can expect more cheeky chappy radio? A huge part of the show's attraction is its team spirit, which often sounds more like teen spirit. Sometimes serious, often hilarious, the show offers a strong mix of that contradiction in terms for radio . . . visual gags such as last week's 'rock, paper scissors' contest . . . and is equally at home with idle banter about anything from storing wine to cracked nipples. "It's all part of creating a 'one big family' atmosphere, " explains D'Arcy. "Basically we're just four friends who are sitting around chatting about whatever interests the listeners. We don't script anything and we don't set out to shock or talk at the listener. It's just real."

Like it or loathe it, the show's magic combination includes one part agony aunt, one part bored uncle and equal measures of naughty schoolboy and little princess. But thanks to contributions from copresenters Jenny Kelly, Mairead Farrell and producer Will Hanafin, it couldn't be further from Gerry Ryan or Ryan Tubridy. And while it's tone is irreverent, part of the show's success has been its ability to champion serious issues without getting all highbrow.

Not that there haven't been question marks: who can forget Ray cursing live on radio or the sex toys in studio? Still, it's one of the few radio shows where you're just as likely to hear the presenter asking, "Am I boring you?" and that's what I call real.