The Guardian’s Today in Focus has won the gold award for the best news and current affairs podcast at the British Podcast awards, while the rising star award went to Chanté Joseph, who hosts the organisation’s pop culture production.
“This award is absolutely deserved,” said the Guardian’s editor-in-chief Katharine Viner. “Since its creation in 2018, Today in Focus has stood out from the crowd with its deeply researched journalism rooted in the work of the Guardian’s global network of reporters; its superb production and sound design; and fantastic hosts in Nosheen Iqbal and Michael Safi.
“Pop Culture is one of the Guardian’s fastest-growing podcasts, so I’m delighted that Chanté Joseph’s effervescent presenting style and enthusiasm for the zeitgeist have been recognised by others in the podcast world. This is a great day for Guardian podcasts.”
Today in Focus was also given the silver award in the best daily podcast category, finishing second to The News Agents, which is co-hosted by the journalists Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.
The news and current affairs award was accepted by Today in Focus presenters Iqbal and Safi, with the latter saying: “There’s so much competition in this space and everyone in our team tries their guts out. We know this show is really good and to get some recognition of that is very rewarding for us and for everyone who works on the show.”
The judges said Today in Focus’s longevity – the show is nearly five years old – was an “astonishing achievement for a daily podcast that manages to delve into such detail on the big topics of the moment”.
They added: “This entry had a great opening line – ‘A couple of weeks ago, I went to meet a bank robber.’ A nice treatment on the international conspiracy story, too, and a heartfelt thanks from the dignity in dying guest speaks to compassionate guest booking.” The judges said they “found this acknowledgement of the journalist very moving”.
The panel said Joseph had had an “immediate impact” on the industry since starting in 2022. “She’s covered a subject that’s often presented quite frivolously from interesting angles – like exploring how ADHD is portrayed in pop culture and the history of racism in mainstream British comedy shows. Throughout it all, she’s willing to share her own insights and be vulnerable in order to connect with her audience.
“Chanté is a wonderfully engaging host. Her wit and pop culture literacy is some of the best in this category, and in amongst vibrant, poppy production, her charisma stands out.”
The awards were held at Outernet London on Thursday night, hosted by the comedians Zoe Lyons and Stephen Bailey. Prizes were handed out at the ceremony by the reality TV personalities Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo, as well as the television presenter Miquita Oliver, all of whom also make podcasts.
Partygate: the Inside Story for ITV News, about Covid lockdown-breaching partying in Downing Street, won the spotlight award.
The news title Tortoise was recognised for its podcast series Pig Iron, winning the gold award for best documentary podcast. The gold award for best history podcast was given to Sounds of Black Britain by the Black Curriculum.
A Positive Life: HIV from Terrence Higgins to Today, which explores stories of HIV in the UK over the last 40 years, won podcast of the year and the gold award for the best factual podcast.
The award was presented to the production team by Martyn Butler and Richard Angell, co-founder and chief executive respectively of the Terrence Higgins Trust.
My Therapist Ghosted Me, which is hosted by the Irish media personality and model Vogue Williams and comedian Joanne McNally, won the podcast champion award, while My Dad Wrote a Porno, about three friends who read erotica written by one of their fathers, won the hall of fame award.
In the listeners’ choice category, the true crime podcast RedHanded came out on top, Persevering: Grief As Told By Young People, Let’s Talk About Loss came home with the best specialist podcast. The gold award for best new podcast was won by 28ish Days Later, which looks at the menstrual cycle with the journalist India Rakusen.
The gold award for the best entertainment podcast was won by the Elis James and John Robins podcast for BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
Other categories included best kids’ podcast, best parenting podcast, best sex and relationships podcast, best sports podcast, best true crime podcast and best Welsh-language podcast. There were also awards given out for subjects including climate, business, fiction and wellbeing.
