Political Podcast Awards 2025: Full Winners List & Highlights

The highly anticipated Political Podcast Awards 2025 took place last night at St John’s, Smith Square, Westminster, celebrating the finest talents in political audio journalism. Hosted by renowned broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth, the star-studded event recognized the most impactful, engaging, and innovative political podcasts of the year.

Leading the accolades was The Rest Is Politics, presented by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, which was crowned Political Podcast of the Year. The awards saw a mix of industry veterans and rising stars take the spotlight, highlighting the evolving landscape of political discourse in the digital age.

Contents hide

1 Major Winners of the Night

1.1 Podcast of the Year

1.2 Best Newcomer

1.3 Comedy Moment of the Year

1.4 International Podcast of the Year

1.5 Interview of the Year

1.6 Most Original Format

1.7 Presenter of the Year

1.8 Producer of the Year

1.9 Rising Star Award

1.10 Scoop of the Year

1.11 The People’s Choice Award (Sponsored by YouTube)

2 Behind the Scenes: The Judging Process

3 The Future of Political Podcasting

3.1 Key Takeaways from the Event

4 Final Thoughts

Major Winners of the Night

Podcast of the Year

🏆 Winner: The Rest Is Politics – Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart (Goal Hanger)

The judges acknowledged the podcast’s tremendous impact on UK political podcasting, citing its ability to engage listeners across the spectrum.
With a massive audience base, the show has successfully redefined the way politics is discussed in the podcasting world.

Best Newcomer

🏆 Winner: Electoral Dysfunction (Sky News) – Beth Rigby, Harriet Harman, Jess Phillips & Ruth Davidson

The panel commended the show for its refreshing and accessible take on political affairs, making it a standout among new entrants.
The show’s unique blend of analysis, humor, and insight has made it a must-listen for political enthusiasts.

Comedy Moment of the Year

🏆 Winner: Electoral Dysfunction – Sky News Team

The judges celebrated a memorable moment when Jess Phillips hilariously called out Boris Johnson for forgetting to bring ID to the Polling Station, a rule introduced by his own government.
The segment was praised for its sharp political wit and engaging commentary.

International Podcast of the Year

🏆 Winner: The Rachman Review (Financial Times)

Hosted by Gideon Rachman, the podcast was recognized for its in-depth, long-form interviews that provide a global perspective on politics.
Judges emphasized the importance of serious political discussions in an age of fast news cycles.

Interview of the Year

🏆 Winner: Political Currency – George Osborne & Ed Balls Interview with Michael Gove

Judges praised this hard-hitting and insightful interview, which provided a unique perspective on the Leave campaign.
The former political heavyweights delivered a compelling exchange that captivated listeners.

Most Original Format

🏆 Winner: The Simple Politics Podcast (Stripped Media)

The podcast was recognized for bringing politics to a broader audience in an accessible and engaging manner.
Judges highlighted the show’s “rough and ready” approach to simplifying complex issues.

Presenter of the Year

🏆 Winners: Jack Blanchard & Sam Coates – Politics at Jack and Sam’s (Politico & Sky News)

The judges commended their ability to deliver daily bite-sized political insights, making their show a must-listen morning briefing.
Their style was described as engaging, informative, and perfectly timed for busy audiences.

Producer of the Year

🏆 Winner: Andrew Alexander – How to Win An Election (The Times)

Judges highlighted his exceptional creativity and ability to craft compelling content.

Rising Star Award

🏆 Winner: Sascha O’Sullivan – Westminster Insider (Politico)

Recognized for her engaging storytelling and natural broadcasting ability, judges believe Sascha has a bright future in political journalism.

Scoop of the Year

🏆 Winner: The News Agents – Paul Marshall Story

This in-depth investigation into hedge fund millionaire Paul Marshall’s social media activity was deemed a true podcast scoop.
The story, presented by Lewis Goodall, showcased top-tier investigative journalism.

The People’s Choice Award (Sponsored by YouTube)

🏆 Winner: Political Currency

Thousands of listeners cast their votes, with Political Currency emerging as the favorite political podcast of the year.

Behind the Scenes: The Judging Process

An independent panel of experts was tasked with selecting the winners. The panel was chaired by Anne Alexander, Head of Politics at Good Morning Britain, and included influential figures such as:

Anas Sarwar MSP – Leader of Scottish Labour
Caroline Nokes MP – Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
Mete Coban – Deputy Mayor of London
Lord Ed Vaizey – Former Minister
Claire Reynolds – Downing Street Political Director
Baroness Anne Jenkin – Founder of Women2Win
Robert Colvile – Director of CPS & Sunday Times Columnist

The non-public categories were judged based on content originality, audience engagement, impact, and journalistic excellence.

The Future of Political Podcasting

Key Takeaways from the Event

✔ Growing Popularity: Political podcasts are more influential than ever, with audiences craving in-depth analysis and candid discussions. ✔ Innovative Formats: Newcomers and veterans alike are experimenting with creative ways to make politics engaging. ✔ High Competition: With quality content on the rise, securing an award in future editions will become even more challenging.

Founder of the Political Podcast Awards, Katie Perrior, emphasized:

“The strength of this year’s entries shows that despite challenges in the media landscape, quality content and sharp analysis will always stand out.”

Final Thoughts

The Political Podcast Awards 2025 have once again highlighted the power of political journalism in the digital era. With a blend of humor, investigative depth, and fresh perspectives, this year’s winners have set the standard for excellence in political podcasting.

As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear—the demand for insightful political discourse is stronger than ever.