Closer, although taking over its sister title Heat with an average net circulation of 548,594, still managed to see circulation fall 10.7 per cent year-on-year.

Following the launch of several multi-platform offerings including Heatworld.com and Heat Radio, the former Emap title Heat slumped 11 per cent year-on-year to 533,034.

Marcus Rich, group managing director of Bauer Advertising and Bauer London Lifestyle Magazines, said: “We are very happy with the Closer’s and Heat’s ABC which is linked to the investment in brand extensions such Heatworld.com and Heat Radio.

“We’ve got very loyal readers and have invested in that loyalty by engaging with our customers of a more intimate and daily basis. This success will trigger further investment.”

IPC’s Now continued to fall 4.8 per cent period-on-period to 470,290, while Woman, recently rebranded with a glossy cover, rose .04 per cent period-on-period to 371,351.

Northern and Shell’s Star went against the grain and rose 20.3 per cent period-on-period and 13.4 per cent year-on-year to 305.806. However, this still left it more than 250,000 behind the leading celebrity titles.

New! also crept up 5.1 per cent period-on-period to 464,727.

Meanwhile, News Magazine's only paid-for title Love it! suffered a 8.3 per cent drop period-on-period to 367,199, taking a 10 per cent drop year-on-year, two year's after its launch.

Overall the sector posted a 0.4 per cent decline period-on-period to 9,104,332, indicating it is feeling the strain from the saturated market.

To visit the ABCs site and download our PDF containing the top-line results as well as analysis click here