It\u2019s a special edition of this newsletter, as we are announcing all of the winners of the British Podcast Awards 2021<\/strong><\/a>! The awards, which are powered by Amazon Music, were given at a special ceremony in Brockwell Park in London yesterday afternoon. The winners, which are listed below, were chosen by an esteemed panel of independent experts from across the audio industry. The exception is the Listeners\u2019 Choice, supported by BBC Sounds, which was chosen by the readers of this newsletter (as well as the podcasting listening public).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to listen to any of these podcasts, all you need to do is click on the podcast name. Scroll to the bottom to see which podcast is awarded the coveted Podcast of the Year<\/strong> award. Previous winners have included Brown Girls Do It Too<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Have You Heard George\u2019s Podcast<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>and Griefcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with \u2026 The Listeners Choice, supported by BBC Sounds – <\/strong>RedHanded<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The true crime podcast hosted by Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala came runners up in this category during the British Podcast Awards 2020. This year they came up top! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: Sh**ged Married Annoyed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: Football Weekly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Moment of the Year (supported by Acast) – <\/strong>Where is George Gibney?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this powerful and important podcast series, reporter Mark Hogan tracked down the disgraced former Irish Olympic coach George Gibney, who disappeared from public view after he was accused of child sexual abuse. The judges said that the series \u201chighlights the power of podcasting beyond the medium\u201d and that \u201cit had an impact in educating a wider audience and seeking justice for survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Ways to Change the World (interview with Amrou Al-Khadi)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Who Shat On The Floor At My Wedding?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Arts & Culture Podcast (supported by Create Podcast) – <\/strong>Real Dictators<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Narrated by the actor Paul McGann, this documentary series explores the lives of authoritarian and despotic leaders throughout history, as well as today. \u201cThis podcast had us hooked,\u201d said our judges. They praised the balance of facts and expert opinion and said that the podcast provides listeners with a front seat to history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Shade Podcast<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>The Secret Life of Songs<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Branded Content (supported by Acast Creative) – <\/strong>Gardening with the RHS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This gardening podcast by the Royal Horticultural Society features advice and interviews with horticultural experts. The experts said that this podcast equally engages new and established gardeners and that it contained \u201can assortment of beautifully told, diverse, relatable and heartfelt stories. It is a deserving winner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Grilling with Simon Rimmer<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Table Manners with Jessie Ware<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Business Podcast (supported by Wondery) – <\/strong>Doing It For The Kids<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast presented by Frankie Tortora and Steve Folland features advice and interviews for parents, who also happen to be freelancers. The judges said that it was \u201ca funny, intelligent, interactive podcast series that totally understands its target audience.\u201d They added that the podcast was particularly valuable during a lockdown year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>The Diary Of A CEO by Steven Bartlett<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>We Built This City: Greater Manchester<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Comedy Podcast (supported by Stitcher) – <\/strong>Kurupt FM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This Audible series features the stars of the BBC show People Just Do Something <\/em>attempting to make their own podcast, parodying the whole medium in the process. The judges said that it was \u201ca show whose effortless humour in its characters provided serious laugh-out-loud comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>SeanceCast<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Poppy Hillstead Has Entered The Chat<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Current Affairs Podcast – <\/strong>Your Broccoli Weekly<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The weekly news review programme hosted by journalist Diyora Shadijanova and created by the small audio production company Broccoli was awarded the top prize, beating many current affair shows created by larger providers. The judges praised the stories covered and the perspectives given. \u201cThe fact that a small team has been able to pull something off to this standard is really impressive,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>The Intelligence<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Interconnected Voices<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Daily Podcast (supported by Spotify) – <\/strong>The Intelligence<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The podcast by the weekly newspaper The Economist<\/em> mixes captivating storytelling and immersive sound to cover an important issue in only twenty minutes. The judges said that this mixture \u201cadds depth to the reporting heard.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>The Santa Daily<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Anthems<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Documentary Podcast – <\/strong>VENT Documentaries<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This partnership between VICE UK and the London Borough of Brent consists of young people being given microphones and asked to report on the stories that matter to them. The judges were impressed that it amplified voices and perspectives usually ignored by more mainstream outlets. \u201cThe host displays incisive journalistic skills which disarm the interviewees and enlighten the listeners,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>My Mother\u2019s Murder<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>The Secrets In Us<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Entertainment Podcast (supported by Amazon Music) – <\/strong>Stars In Your Ears<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n An interview podcast hosted by Spitting Image<\/em> impressionist Jess Robinson, came out top in a fiercely competitive category. A lot was down to the host Robinson herself. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the host spends every second on this podcast having fun with a total commitment of creativity, energy and ambition to the podcast from all involved,\u201d they said. \u201cIt was topped off with outstanding production values that exemplify what is possible in the very best entertainment podcasts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent episodes include interviews with Alex Horne<\/a> and Sophie Duker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>A Gay and a NonGay<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Family Podcast – <\/strong>Maddie\u2019s Sound Explorers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast features Maddie Moate exploring the sounds many of us hear every day (from the sound of rain<\/a> to cats purring<\/a>), followed by interviews with an expert who deals with that sound every day. And at the end of each episode Maddie creates a song featuring the sound. The judges were seriously impressed: \u201cThe show demonstrates incredible editing, fabulous soundscape, an artful touch that created a beautiful, crazy symphony for the ears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>History Story Time<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>World Wise Web<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Fiction Podcast – <\/strong>This Thing of Darkness<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This tense fictional BBC Radio 4 drama series explores a victim\u2019s family coming to terms with a murder, as well as the perpetrators who committed the crime. Its emphasis is how the impact of a crime can be life changing and life lasting. \u201cAlthough it’s a hard listen, it’s a powerful and disturbing podcast that speaks to the complexity and contradiction of human existence and relationships,\u201d the judges said. \u201cIt is an illuminating and worthwhile listen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Cassie and Corey<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Lem N Ginge: The Princess of Kakos<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best International Podcast (supported by Podfront UK) – <\/strong>Revisionist History<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This American podcast features the author and thinker Malcolm Gladwell revisiting a period of history that he thinks has been misunderstood. \u201cRevisionist History is storytelling at its finest,\u201d said our judges. \u201cEvery line earns its place and all the speakers remind us that we are all connected through our past, revealed through each unfolding narrative.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Bunga Bunga<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>How’s Work? with Esther Perel<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Interview Podcast (supported by Podbible) – <\/strong>Dead Honest<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast by George Vestey features interviews with those who deal with the dead and dying, from chaplains who support train drivers<\/a> on our railways, to police divers<\/a> who recover bodies from seas. The judges said that in a fiercely competitive category, this series stood out because of its sensitivity and care given. \u201cThe interviews were so varied, so authentic, and tackled very dark subjects that most of us hope we will never have to face. The host was never afraid to ask difficult questions with genuine interest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Masala Podcast<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Today in Focus<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Lockdown Podcast (supported by Amazon Music) – <\/strong>Stolen Goodbyes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Presented by journalist Karen Rice, this series documents the pain and loss of losing someone to covid, through conversations with a relative or friend of someone who has. The judges said that it was a touching and heartfelt production that gave a voice to the statistics of lives lost you often see listed in news headlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>BBC Your Work, Your Money<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Mandemic<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best New Podcast (supported by Audible) – <\/strong>Field Recordings<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast features uninterrupted nature recordings from all over the UK. The judges said that the podcast was highly unique and \u201carrived at exactly the right time, transporting listeners and immersing them in outdoor sounds just as they were confined to their homes.\u201d They also praised the production and atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Prison Bag<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Growing up with Gal-Dem<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Radio Podcast (supported by DTS AutoStage) – <\/strong>The Skewer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast cannot be described easily. In its most simplest form, it is a surreal take on the week\u2019s news from a rich re-editing of the week\u2019s news by the comedian Jon Holmes. The judges described it as \u201ca breathtaking, stop-what-you\u2019re-doing show that\u2019s equal parts hilarious and nightmarish, contemporaneous and timeless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Homeschool History<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Danny Wallace’s Important Broadcast<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Sex & Relationships Podcast – <\/strong>Tough Talks from Hits Radio Pride<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This podcast by the commercial broadcaster Hits Radio Pride features members from the LGBTQ+ community talking about a tough conversation they have had with someone else in their past, touching on themes of gender, sexuality and identity. The judges praised its emotional and human connection. They also said that the series \u201cexemplified creativity through a fresh format.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Masala Podcast<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Brown Girls Do It Too<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Smartest Podcast (supported by Podfollow) – <\/strong>VENT Documentaries<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A second win for the podcast partnership between London Borough of Brent and VICE UK. \u201cAs well as being original, compelling and creatively produced, this podcast has empowered a group of young people with the skills and confidence needed to become the next generation of audio producers,\u201d the judges said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silver: <\/em>Peter 2.0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bronze: <\/em>Maddie\u2019s Sound Explorers<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n