25 Best UK Current Affairs Podcasts

1. The News Agents

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Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall three of the UK's top journalists host an award-winning daily news podcast: The News Agents. They're not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed. Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say 'Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents' The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast...MORE Ranking #2 in Apple Charts (GB)
Hosts Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, Lewis Goodall
Producer/Network The News Agents
Email ****@gmail.com
Location United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 5.4K Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. Westminster Hour

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The big political stories with lively discussion and expert comment and analysis from politicians and journalists, 10pm every Sunday on BBC Radio 4.
Ranking #2 in Apple Charts (GB)
Host Benjamin Wright
Producer/Network BBC Radio 4
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 3.9/5Apple Reviews 297Facebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 50 min Format Long form Since Dec 2020 Get Email Contact

3. Any Questions? and Any Answers?

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Alex Forsyth presents topical debate in which guests from politics, business, science, arts and the media answer questions from members of the public. Anita Anand presents listeners' responses to the issues raised.MORE Ranking #3 in Apple Charts (GB)
Hosts Alex Forsyth, Anita Anand
Producer/Network BBC Radio 4
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.1/5Apple Reviews 439Facebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 46 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

4. Newscast

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The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's big stories so you're never out of your depth. Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond. Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast'. It works on most smart speakers. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer...MORE Ranking #4 in Apple Charts (GB)
Hosts Adam Fleming, Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg, Paddy O Connell
Producer/Network BBC
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.5/5Apple Reviews 6.9KFacebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 39 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

5. The Week in Westminster

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Radio 4's weekly assessment of developments at Westminster
Ranking #5 in Apple Charts (GB)
Producer/Network BBC Radio 4
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.2/5Apple Reviews 302Facebook 1.9MTwitter 489.6KInstagram 491.9K Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Since Nov 2009 Get Email Contact

6. Today in Focus

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Today in Focus brings you closer to the Guardian's journalism. Our award-winning morning edition hosted by Helen Pidd, Nosheen Iqbal and Annie Kelly combines on-the-ground reporting, insightful analysis and personal testimony from the people at the heart of the stories that matter, to give you a deeper understanding of the world we live in. And to make sense of a rapidly-changing news cycle, our new evening edition 'The Latest' hosted by Lucy Hough, brings you up to speed on the big news story of the day in just 10 minutes. Available on YouTube and all podcast platforms.MORE Ranking #6 in Spotify Charts (GB)
Hosts Helen Pidd, Michael Safi
Producer/Network The Guardian
Email ****@theguardian.com
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 6.8KFacebook 9.4MTwitter 10.3M Avg Length 21 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

7. Americast

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Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC's North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC's disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media...MORE Ranking #6 in Apple Charts (GB)
Hosts Sarah Smith, Anthony u2018The Zurchu2019 Zurcher, Justin Webb, Marianna Spring
Producer/Network BBC
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 3.1KFacebook 1.9MTwitter 489.6KInstagram 491.9K Avg Length 31 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

8. The Story

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One remarkable story, told in depth, daily. Manveen Rana and Luke Jones bring you the flagship podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.MORE Ranking #19 in Apple Charts (GB)
Hosts Manveen Rana, Luke Jones, William Hague
Producer/Network The Times
Email ****@thetimes.co.uk
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 1.6K Avg Length 30 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

9. Times news briefing

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The latest headlines and analysis from Britain's most trusted newspaper - now delivered to you three times a day. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.MORE Ranking #32 in Spotify Charts (GB)
Producer/Network The Times
Email ****@news.co.uk
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 56Facebook 1.1MTwitter 1.7MInstagram 1.7M Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

10. James O'Brien - The Whole Show

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Listen to James O'Brien's phone-in show, which will make you think - and possibly change your outlook on the big stories.
Ranking #44 in Spotify Charts (GB)
Host James OBrien
Producer/Network LBC
Email ****@gmail.com
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 977Facebook 60.6KTwitter 1.1MInstagram 142 Avg Length 148 min Format Extended Get Email Contact

11. Best of Nolan

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Stephen Nolan's no nonsense approach to confronting the biggest issues of the day: an unmissable mixture of news, phone ins and entertainment. From BBC Radio Ulster
Host Stephen Nolan
Producer/Network BBC Radio Ulster
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 3.6/5Apple Reviews 211Facebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 79 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

12. Iain Dale All Talk

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Award-winning LBC radio presenter, writer and 'For the Many' podcast co-host, Iain Dale brings his acclaimed, incisive insight on current affairs as he speaks with high profile media and political figures.MORE Host Iain Dale
Producer/Network LBC
Email ****@iaindale.com
Location Tonbridge, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 464Facebook 1.4MTwitter 265.6KInstagram 22.7K Avg Length 63 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

13. File on 4 Investigates

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News-making original journalism documentary series, investigating stories at home and abroad.
Host Jo Glanville
Producer/Network BBC Radio 4
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 249Facebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 38 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

14. Talkback

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Highlights from Talkback. William Crawley and guests discuss the news headlines, chat to the people making them and ask you, the audience, what you think? From BBC Radio Ulster
Host William Crawley
Producer/Network BBC Radio Ulster
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 82Facebook 114.5KTwitter 49.2KInstagram 5.3K Avg Length 33 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

15. Cross Question with Iain Dale

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Iain Dale is joined by a panel of senior politicians and commentators to answer listener questions on the biggest stories of the week. Debate, in-depth discussion and laughs all guaranteed!
Host Iain Dale
Producer/Network LBC
Email ****@iaindale.com
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 267Facebook 1.4MTwitter 705.6KInstagram 708K Avg Length 53 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

16. The Rundown by PoliticsHome

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Our weekly podcast from Politics Home discussing all the ups and downs in Westminster. Please subscribe and share - and keep up with all the latest news on PoliticsHome.com. Got a question for the team? ****@politicshome.com.MORE Host Alain Tolhurst
Producer/Network PoliticsHome
Email ****@politicshome.com
Location City of Westminster, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4/5Apple Reviews 109Facebook 7.2KTwitter 115.1K Avg Length 37 min Format Medium form Since Jan 2020 Get Email Contact

17. The Foreign Desk

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​Presented by ​Andrew Mueller, Monocle's flagship global-affairs show features​ expert guests ​and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for 'Best Current Affairs' show and the 'Spotlight Award' in the 2022 British Podcast Awards. MORE Host Andrew Mueller
Producer/Network Monocle Radio
Email ****@andrewmueller.net
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.5/5Apple Reviews 524 Avg Length 23 min Format Medium form Since Mar 2016 Get Email Contact

18. The Media Show

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Social media, anti-social media, breaking news, faking news: this is the programme about a revolution in media.
Hosts Katie Razzall, Ros Atkins
Producer/Network BBC Radio 4
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.4/5Apple Reviews 522Facebook 1.9MTwitter 489.6KInstagram 6.6K Avg Length 42 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

19. What in the World

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Helping you make sense of what's happening in your world. Big stories, small stories and everything in between. Understand more, feel better. Five days a week, Monday to Friday.
Hosts Adam Chowdhury, Hannah Gelbart, Megan Lawton, William Lee Adams
Producer/Network BBC World Service
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 132Facebook 9.2MTwitter 585.7KInstagram 563.4K Avg Length 11 min Format Short form Get Email Contact

20. The Edition

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The Spectator's flagship podcast featuring discussions and debates on the best features from the week's edition. Presented by Lara Prendergast and William Moore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.MORE Hosts Lara Prendergast, William Moore
Producer/Network The Spectator
Email ****@spectator.co.uk
Location London, England, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.3/5Apple Reviews 292Facebook 193KTwitter 269.5KInstagram 936 Avg Length 43 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

21. Podlitical

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Politics chat with the latest goings on at Holyrood and Westminster through the eyes of BBC Scotland journalists.
Hosts Nick Eardley, Lynsey Bews, Rajdeep Sandhu, Philip Sim, Lucy Whyte
Producer/Network BBC Radio Scotland
Email ****@bbc.co.uk
Location Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 169Facebook 10.5MTwitter 2.4MInstagram 6.6M Avg Length 29 min Format Medium form Since Sep 2018 Get Email Contact

22. The Daily Briefing

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A roundup of the day's most important news stories from around the world, from TLDR News. But we don't just tell you what's happening, we explain it: making complex topics simple to understand. Listen to the Daily Briefing for your global news bulletin every weekday.Pre-order the next edition of Too Long, TLDR's print magazine, here: https://toolong.news/dailyMORE Producer/Network TLDR News
Email ****@tldrnews.co.uk
Location United Kingdom
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 181 Avg Length 9 min Format Bite size Video Podcast YouTube
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