Published: 10:35 am, 23 December 2025
Updated: 02:39 pm, 23 December 2025
BBC Sounds celebrates another record-breaking year with over 2.5 billion plays of radio, music and podcasts between January and November 2025 – an increase of 8% compared with the same period last year.
There was a total of 2.8 billion audio plays from across the BBC, including BBC Sport, BBC News, BBC Bitesize, and visualised podcasts on iPlayer.
Podcast listening continues to surge on with a 15% increase in plays on BBC Sounds compared with 2024, cementing BBC Sounds as the ultimate destination for world class audio.
From comedy and drama to sport, history, news and current affairs, BBC Sounds offers something for every listener, wherever they are. To celebrate, we’ve revealed the Top 10 most popular podcasts of 2025 and curated a Best of 2025 collection, now available on BBC Sounds.
Top 10 Podcasts on BBC Sounds in 2025
(Based on BBC Sounds plays between January and November 2025)
Newscast – The BBC’s daily news podcast delivering expert analysis and insight.
Americast – The latest perspectives on US politics and culture.
Sherlock Holmes Short Stories – Classic mysteries narrated by Hugh Bonneville.
Uncanny – Danny Robins investigates real-life paranormal encounters.
Elis James and John Robins – Twice-weekly laughs and top-quality #content.
Short History Of… – Incredible moments and remarkable people from history.
Limelight – Must-listen drama serials, including CIA thriller Central Intelligence.
You’re Dead to Me – Greg Jenner and guests learn and laugh about the past.
The History Podcast – History in close-up, told by those who were there.
What’s Up Docs? – Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken help us take better care of ourselves.
Jonathan Wall, Director, BBC Sounds says: “Hitting 2.5 billion plays this year is a great milestone and it’s fantastic to see BBC Sounds continuing to grow via our big events, our great stations and streams, and our investment in podcasts. It was also brilliant to see so many award wins throughout the year, especially for some of the creators from our Audio Lab new talent programme.
With podcast listening up 15% and a record weekly audience of 5.1 million during The Ashes, it is clear people are coming to us for trusted news, brilliant sport, and world-class storytelling. We’re excited to keep innovating so BBC Sounds remains the number one destination for audio that informs, entertains and connects listeners everywhere.”
Mohit Bakaya, Controller, BBC Radio 4 and Director, Speech Audio says: “This year’s listening is a powerful reminder of the range and impact of BBC speech audio, from Radio 4 favourites across comedy, drama and history to our world‑class journalism. We’ve increased podcast plays again on BBC Sounds this year, testament to the extraordinary talent and consistently compelling storytelling across our speech portfolio. From the bold narratives of the new History Podcast series, to the popularity and visual innovation of The Traitors: Uncloaked, our programmes continue to resonate with audiences in powerful and unexpected ways.
I’m particularly proud that audiences are embracing ambitious investigative series like Shadow World, alongside the programmes that make the BBC’s speech output a daily habit for millions of listeners.”
Top titles on BBC Sounds by genre
(Includes podcasts and on-demand radio programmes)
Comedy
Friday Night Comedy on BBC Radio 4 kept audiences laughing, with a roster of shows skewering the week’s events including the ever-popular The News Quiz and the increasingly popular The Naked Week. Strong Message Here saw Armando Iannucci and guests decode the baffling world of political language, while Mark Steel’s in Town delivered bespoke stand-up sets from towns across the UK. Long-running favourites I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue and Just a Minute also remained firm fixtures for listeners of all ages.
Drama and audiobooks
Ahead of its 75th anniversary in 2026, The Archers remained the nation’s most popular audio drama, and topped the chart for listeners under 35 as well. Audiences also embraced Drama on 4, including High Cockalorum (starring the reunited cast of The League of Gentlemen) and When Maggie Met Larry (starring Derek Jacobi and Frances Barber). The Limelight drama strand continued to captivate audiences: Limelight: Central Intelligence (starring Kim Cattrall and Ed Harris) accounted for nearly half of the top 10 most listened-to episodes across all programmes on BBC Sounds this year.
Audiobooks also resonated strongly, with Whodunnits keeping listeners in suspense. In her 250th anniversary year, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remained as popular as ever, while original fiction such as The Jura Affair by William Boyd also proved a hit.
Sport
Sport fans turned to BBC Sounds for expert analysis and live reaction throughout the year. Rugby Union Weekly and Football Daily delivered essential updates and insight, while Test Match Special remained the ultimate companion for cricket lovers. 5 Live Sport continued to provide comprehensive coverage of the biggest sporting moments.
Entertainment
Desert Island Discs was the top entertainment title on BBC Sounds in 2025, with a range of household names including Stephen Mangan, whose episode was the most listened to this year. Award‑winning duo Elis James and John Robins continued to entertain listeners of all ages. Audiences also gravitated towards companion podcasts The Traitors: Uncloaked and The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, hosted by comedian Ed Gamble, delivered record numbers for younger listeners on BBC Sounds.
Uncanny continues to be tremendously popular, with highlights this year including the live Halloween countdown, plus This Cultural Life offered insights into leading figures across the arts, film and theatre, with guests including Jennifer Lawrence, Eric Idle and Alison Balsom.
History
The most popular history programme for listeners of all ages was the enduring In Our Time. As Melvyn Bragg announced his departure from the programme, new presenter Misha Glenny will take over in 2026 to continue exploring the history of ideas.
The History Podcast, Radio 4’s home for story‑driven history documentaries, featured David Dimbleby’s series Invisible Hands, along with House at Number 48 and The Fort.
You’re Dead to Me remained popular with listeners of all ages and continued to be a hit with younger listeners, alongside new addition Dead Funny History from the team behind the hit BBC Radio 4 podcast.
Investigative journalism
BBC Sounds delivered some of the year’s most ground‑breaking investigative reporting, with Shadow World series one of the most popular. Standout stories included The Smuggler, where Annabel Deas follows the story of “Nick”, a former British soldier turned people smuggler, The Grave Robbers which saw Sue Mitchell’s investigation lead to the Government taking down its Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates, and Anatomy of a Cancellation, which examined a complex and controversial story that rocked the publishing world. Narrated by Hannah Mossman Moore and Pulitzer‑nominated journalist Carole Cadwalladr, the 10‑part series Stalked tracked a real‑time unfolding investigation into how modern technology was used to infiltrate Hannah’s life.
News and current affairs
Newscast and Americast led the news and current affairs category on BBC Sounds, offering in‑depth analysis and expert insight across a busy year. This year also saw the launch of Radical with Amol Rajan, where the Today presenter talks to radicals, pioneers and innovators from all over the world, from populism and climate change, to economics and AI. Meanwhile, Today, PM and The World Tonight covered the major breaking stories at home and across the globe.
Science, maths and consumer
New this year, the incredibly popular What’s Up Docs? has doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken sieve through the science to share what works as they go on a mission to help us take better care of ourselves. Sliced Bread continues to attract listeners as host Greg Foot investigates whether the latest trends and fads are genuinely beneficial or simply marketing hype. Curious Cases engaged listeners of all ages with presenters Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackling all kinds of conundrums with the power of science, while More or Less continued to explain – and sometimes debunk – the numbers used in political debate, the news and everyday life.
Music
Audiences immersed themselves in compelling music documentaries this year. Eras: Bob Marley and Eras: Queen explored the lives and legacies of two of the most influential artists of all time, while Music Uncovered, David Bowie: Changeling, hosted by Kate Moss, explored David Bowie’s artistic evolution between 1970-1975. The Rise and Fall of Sex Pistols and The Rise and Fall of Indie Sleaze captured the cultural revolutions that shaped British music, and Pop Top 10 with Scott Mills and Rylan delivered a joyful countdown of the biggest hits.
Music Mixes
BBC Sounds’ curated mixes continued to soundtrack listeners every mood. The Sleeping Forecast and Mindful Mix offered calm and focus, while Radio 1 Dance Anthems kept energy levels high. Nostalgia proved popular with Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco brought feel-good vibes to homes across the UK.
True Crime
True crime remained one of the most compelling genres for listeners. Gangster explored the rise and fall of Britain’s most notorious criminals, while Assume Nothing and Murder They Wrote uncovered shocking real-life cases. Crime Next Door brought stories closer to home, and Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley examined historical murder cases through a fresh lens.
Acquisitions
Acquired titles continued to be popular as they found new audiences on BBC Sounds. Sherlock Holmes Short Stories introduced new audiences to classic detective tales, while A Short History Of and The Rest Is History offered fascinating journeys through the past. Real Survival Stories shared extraordinary accounts of resilience, and Real Dictators examined the lives of history’s most infamous leaders.
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