Everyone has got an opinion, which is why every top 5 list you look at will vary. So here are the podcasters we think are currently at the top of their game in the UK...
1. CARIAD LLOYD
Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
Actress, sketch writer, stand-up comedian and TV panellist Cariad Lloyd never expected the reception she’s received for Griefcast – her podcast made up of interviews with comedians about the death of their loved ones and the subsequent grief that followed. The taboo subject has been close to the comedian’s heart for more than 20 years, following the sudden death of her father when she was just 15. However, despite her fascination with it, she didn’t think other people would be as interested: “I thought no one would listen to it,” says Cariad, who began the podcast in 2016 by uploading conversations she’d recorded with friends over the years. It turns out that, actually, many people did listen to the moving interviews, and they loved the winning formula of deep sadness, wise advice, poignant moments and unexpected hilarity. As did the judges at this year’s British Podcast Awards, who awarded Griefcast the Best Entertainment, Best Interview and Podcast of the Year 2018 gongs.
See Cariad talking at PODCAST DAY 2017
2. BBC SCOTLAND
Once Upon A Time in Zombieville
Want to get the younger members of the family off their iPads without them groaning too much? Then check out Once Upon A Time in Zombieville. Aimed at nine to 12-year-olds, this award-winning sci-fi adventure has eight spine-tingling 10-minute episodes about the adventures of schoolboys Jamie and Sam as they battle zombies. After working their way through the gripping series, the kid’s will be begging you to download more podcasts.
3. JAMIE MORTON, JAMES COOPER, ALICE LEVINE
My Dad Wrote a Porno (Acast)
Is there any podcast fan out there that hasn’t listened to My Dad Wrote a Porno? Bet when Jamie Morton started reading out chapters from his father’s (pen name Rocky Flintstone) erotic novella Belinda Blinked with his two best mates back in 2015, he had no idea that it would end up with over 100 million downloads. Now on its fourth series, this cult offering is still gathering fans apace.
Discover the story behind My Dad Wrote a Porno
4. HELEN ZALTZMAN
Answer Me This! and The Allusionist
Back in 2009, Helen began the weekly, comedy, question-answering podcast Answer Me This! with her long-time collaborator and Oxford University buddy Olly Mann, which led to the pair of them being the first podcasters to be given their own national radio show on BBC Radio Five Live. Six years later, Helen launched a linguistics podcast called The Allusionist, focussing on the intricacies and eccentricities of the English language. It was names iTunes UK’s best new podcast of 2015 and its popularity hasn’t waned since – at the 2018 British Podcast Awards, The Allusionist was named Smartest Podcast and Zaltzman was awarded the title of Podcast Champion.
Watch Helen Zaltzman’s TED talk on The evolution of the written word across time
5. MARK KERMODE & SIMON MAYO
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
Film critic Mark Kermode and radio presenter Simon Mayo first broadcast together more than 20 years ago on Radio 1. Clearly it’s a partnership that has not only worked but has also endured, as this year the pair were named winners of the Listeners’ Choice Award 2018 at the British Podcast Awards for their podcast Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review. Having been a successful radio show, it was launched as a podcast in 2009, and its format contains a countdown of the top 10 films that week, a conversation with an actor or director and then, the fans’ favourite, a ‘rant’ about the latest releases where Kermode says what he really thinks.
You can also find Kermode and Mayo’s film reviews here
AND BECAUSE WE COULDN'T RESIST....TWO PODCASTS FROM AMERICAN STILL MAKING THE CHARTS
Across the Pond
Serial (This American Life)
While there’s plenty of home-grown talent for UK listeners to enjoy, there’s a US podcast that makes many of the top 10 lists of podcasts that people regularly download this side of the pond. Developed by the American radio programme This American Life, Serial is an investigative journalism podcast hosted and produced by journalist Sarah Koenig. Narrating a nonfiction story over a number of episodes, it ranked number one on the iTunes chart before its debut and stayed there for weeks. As of September 2018, episodes of seasons one and two have been downloaded over 340 million times, which is an ongoing world record. Season 3, exploring courthouse cases around Cleveland, Ohio, debuted in September 2018.
Chart Topper
The Joe Rogan Experience (Joe Rogan)
With more than 1,000 episodes since its launch way back in December 2009, it’s incredible that Stateside import The Joe Rogan Experience is, at the end of October 2018, topping the iTunes chart. Hosted by American comedian, actor, sports commentator and TV host Joe Rogan, it takes the form of long-form conversations with guests ranging from MMA fighters to musicians. Recent guests have included British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury, pro surfer Kelly Slater and controversial actress and comedian Roseanne Barr.
This list was compiled by Radiodays Europe – let us know if you don’t agree! PODCAST DAY by Radiodays Europe is being held on 13 June 2019 at Kings Place in London.