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Artwork for Breaking the News

Breaking the News

BBC Radio Scotland
Donald Trump
Scotland
Keir Starmer
Labour Party
Rachel Reeves
Glasgow
Ukraine
World Cup
Scottish National Party
Joe Biden
Edinburgh International Festival
Inheritance Tax
Comedy
Australia
Scottish Politics
Kamala Harris
UK Politics
US Presidential Election
Nicola Sturgeon
Scottish Conservative Party

Topical comedy panel show takes a satirical view of the week's headlines.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes21Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsComedyNews Commentary

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Artwork for Breaking the News

Latest Episodes

Des Clarke hosts a special Commonwealth Games edition of Breaking the News, covering Team Scotland’s success, how visiting athletes are getting on in Glasgow, celebrating the volunteers and more.

Lead Writer: Gregor Paton

Additional material: Decl... more

Des and the teams break up the week's news, including: The first week of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Anas Sarwar standing down as Scottish Labour leader, research into our music habits, the us of therapy-speak in everyday conversation, Scottish ... more

Des and the teams break up the week's news, including: The upcoming World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Sir Keir Starmer's last week as prime minister, the proposed Scottish Rock and Roll hall of fame, research into how much we speak, Christ... more

Jay Lafferty hosts Scotland's award-winning satirical news quiz.

This week Jay and the teams break up the week's news, including: Nigel Farage’s resignation announcement, Nigel Farage’s announcement that he’s standing, concerns about FIFA’s integrit... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Gail Porter
Broadcaster and presenter
Episode: Ashley Storrie, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Alice Fraser and Gareth Waugh
Paul Foote
Comedian
Episode: Ashley Storrie, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Alice Fraser and Gareth Waugh
Marjolein Robertson
Panelist and comedian discussing economic issues
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Neil Delamere
Comedian and panelist on economic discussions
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Ignacio Lopez
Comedian providing humorous insights on economic impact
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Jamie MacDonald
Blind comedian and panelist discussing memoirs
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Duncan Murray
Lesser-known brother of Andy Murray, sharing thoughts on careers
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Felicity Ward
Comedian providing travel advice
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast
Josie Long
Comedian discussing small talk
Episode: Best of Unbroadcast

Host

Des Clarke
Host of a topical current-events panel show; long-running presenter known for sharp, playful banter.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Brilliant until today

    I love this podcast, great writing, great host, generally excellent guests with topical humour.

    I’d never previously heard of Kemah Bob, thanks to the show for alerting me to her, I could have made a horrendous mistake and bought a ticket to see her at the Edinburgh festival going in blind as I often do to find new comedians.

    There was absolutely nothing funny about her, she attempted a joke about Scottish island names which fell flat and was not close to even being humorous and then I thought ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Roger Over
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Its great

    Have listened to breaking the news for years. And never miss a episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oaks White
    Ireland4 months ago
  • Very funny

    A very fast-paced, witty news quiz that is consistently funny. Those of us who are not Scottish may, occasionally, struggle with accents or miss some of the jokes relating to Scottish politics and pop culture, but the accents get easier to follow with time, and even when topics relate specifically to Scotland, the jokes transcend the specificity. After all, corrupt or bungling politicians are everywhere, as are pompous, self-absorbed celebrities. Moreover, much of the program is about internati... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mikeyvama
    United States7 months ago
  • Always Excellent

    Absolutely Brilliant!

    Des is a fantastic host and always brings the best out of the panel.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MonicaR-K
    Ireland9 months ago
  • Brilliant

    Absolutely brilliant and a great way to keep up with what’s (in general) happening in a country I would otherwise have no link with.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Waz THE wonderful
    Belgium2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the mix of Scottish and international topics.
Listeners praise the show's fast pace and witty banter.
Criticism centers on occasional jokes missing the mark or accent-heavy jokes that some find hard to follow.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#240
United Kingdom/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#144
Italy/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#135
Belgium/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#229
Singapore/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#236
New Zealand/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival Special: Susie McCabe, Ignacio Lopez, Susan Riddell and Liam Withnail
Q: What are your own self-imposed spending rules?
I've deleted all the food apps from my phone because I go crazy when I'm hungry while shopping.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival Special: Susie McCabe, Ignacio Lopez, Susan Riddell and Liam Withnail
Q: What did you make of this so-called mishap?
It's concerning that important military discussions occur on easily accessible apps.
Chris Forbes, Tiff Stevenson, Chris Thorburn and Josie Long
Q: What do you think about this tactic? Is this the best way to deal with gulls?
It makes sense to bring in a larger bird like a falcon to scare away gulls; a clever solution to a gull problem.
Chris Forbes, Tiff Stevenson, Chris Thorburn and Josie Long
Q: What did you make of the diplomatic situation around Ukraine?
It's disgusting and deplorable; a lot was made of what President Trump didn't wear to the White House.
Susan Riddell, Marc Jennings, Diona Doherty and Liam Withnail
Q: Are you surprised the university has had to offer this guidance?
Liam expressed no surprise, sharing his own background as part of the working class and experiences at Edinburgh.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking the News

What is Breaking the News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced satirical panel show that dissects the week's headlines with a rotating quartet of comedians and a steady host. Episodes balance UK politics, international diplomacy, and media scandals with sharp banter, running gags, and audience interaction. The format blends topical analysis with quick-fire games, making political and cultural moments approachable and entertaining for a broad audience, often highlighting how public figures are perceived and how humor frames current events. Notably, the show maintains a distinctly Scottish lens while also engaging global topics, which can appeal to listeners who enjoy witty takes on both local and international news.

A standout aspect is the accessibility and energy: a mix of familiar recur... more

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How many listeners does Breaking the News get?

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What are the audience demographics for Breaking the News?

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How many subscribers and views does Breaking the News have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Breaking the News has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Breaking the News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Breaking the News:

1. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
2. Comedy of the Week
3. What The F Is Going On? with Mark Steel
4. The Bugle
5. Strong Message Here

How many episodes of Breaking the News are there?

Breaking the News launched 9 years ago and published 21 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Breaking the News?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Breaking the News?

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What guests have appeared on Breaking the News?

Recent guests on Breaking the News include:

1. Gail Porter
2. Paul Foote
3. Marjolein Robertson
4. Neil Delamere
5. Ignacio Lopez
6. Jamie MacDonald
7. Duncan Murray
8. Felicity Ward

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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