The best podcasts of 2026 so far showcase surreal genius from Harry Hill, trailblazing women, and a passionate ode to an incredible New York rapper. These are the top listens from the last six months.
The Harry Hill Show
Comedy great Harry Hill’s daft new series leaves guests like Adam Hills confused but delighted. The show features a puppet with a giant tongue that licks guests, a viral star called Simon from Morley’s department store in Bexleyheath, and Sarah the AI bot who gives celebrity profiles and dispenses chocolate bars. The surreal format is even better in video, a rare compliment for a podcast.
Off Duty
This true-crime Guardian series drops bombshell after bombshell as it recounts the murder of police officer Clifton Lewis and the conviction of Alex Villa. In 2011, Lewis was moonlighting as a mini-mart security guard when two men shot him. Villa was jailed despite denying guilt. Investigative journalist Melissa Segura examines the 12-year legal odyssey as Villa fights to clear his name, exposing cracks in the criminal justice system. The series delves into misconduct allegations, confessions made and recanted, and what Segura calls “a system determined to keep [Villa] there at all costs.”
Sisters of Defiance
From Radio 4 Woman’s Hour host Anita Rani, this spirited interview series celebrates rebellious women. Rani chats with guests like Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri, and feminist icon Gisèle Pelicot. The opening episode with Meera Syal sets a high bar, covering empty-nest homes, divorce in south Asian communities, and the triumph of Syal’s sitcom Goodness Gracious Me.
A History of the United States in 100 Objects
This North American offshoot of A History of the World in 100 Objects, from BBC Studios and SiriusXM, features Roman Mars of 99% Invisible exploring modern minutiae. Coins and forgotten civil war documents reveal rich backstories, telling the tale of US shames and triumphs. Historians like Jill Lepore provide depth, while podcasters including Dan Taberski and Latif Nasser make it a star-studded affair.
The Book Club
Dominic Sandbrook and producer Tabitha Syrett host this intergenerational book club podcast, welcoming both new novels and classics. They’ve discussed everything from Wuthering Heights to A Court of Thorns and Roses, Mrs Dalloway, and Normal People. It’s the kind of club bookworms dream of joining.
Love and Radio: Blood Memory
This intimate 10-episode series introduces Michael Thompson, a convicted murderer and former Aryan Brotherhood leader who renounced the gang. Is he a misunderstood soul reformed by necessity, or a pathological liar? Built on years of interviews, it feels like a psychiatrist’s couch session with a man of contrasts, doubling as a study of prison life.
Foundling
Reporter Lucy Greenwell revisits a childhood memory of a newborn found on a country lane in Suffolk. Decades later, she tracks down the baby, now adult Jess, uncovering secrets, lies, and abandonments. The series is full of twists and jaw-dropping reveals, handled with tact and sensitivity.
Serial: The Idiot
New York Times columnist M Gessen always suspected their cousin Allen was a “pompous ass.” When Allen is charged with ordering a hit on his ex-wife, Gessen investigates a dark world of abduction and deceit. This true-crime series avoids cliches, taking a subtle, introspective approach to family dynamics and troubling history.
Get Birding With Sean Bean
Sean Bean, known for his Game of Thrones role, hosts an adorable birdwatching podcast. He enthuses about his wildlife garden and offers lyrical descriptions of nature. Expert and celebrity interviews, including Johnny Vaughan and Will Young, add humor, but Bean’s warmth makes it utterly lovable and soothing.
MF Doom: Long Island to Leeds
When hip-hop artist MF Doom died in 2020, many were shocked he passed away in a Leeds hospital. Host Adam Batty and DJ Afrodeutsche explore how the masked New Yorker ended up in West Yorkshire. With guests like super-fan Romesh Ranganathan, this is a passionate ode to a pioneering artist and a quest to uncover his unique life trajectory.
