Rephonic
Artwork for Best of the Spectator

Best of the Spectator

The Spectator
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Donald Trump
Iran
Conservative Party
British Politics
United States
Venezuela
Brexit
BBC
Immigration
United Kingdom
Church Of England
Boris Johnson
Nigel Farage
Peter Mandelson
UK Politics
Reform UK
London
China

Home to the Spectator's best podcasts on everything from politics to religion, literature to food and drink, and more. A new podcast every day from writers worth listening to.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2620Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryDaily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes

This week: Keir Starmer’s leadership is in crisis. As pressure builds on the Prime Minister, Michael and Madeline ask whether Starmer can survive the rebellion now gathering pace in his own party.

They discuss the runners and riders who could replac... more

Freddy Gray is joined by Josef Palermo, who formerly worked for the Kennedy Center to discuss the historical building and whether its cultural and ethos has been ruined by the Trump administration.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in... more

This week: Lisa Haseldine on Britain's failing maternity services, Roya Nikkah writes the diary and Lionel Shriver on gerrymandering in America.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Q&A: how do you mount a Labour leadership coup? As the results of the local elections roll in and speculation builds about Starmer’s future, Michael and Maddie discuss the mechanics of leadership bids, the dangers facing Angela Rayner ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Coffee House Shots
Coffee House ShotsThe Spectator
Americano
AmericanoThe Spectator
The Edition
The EditionThe Spectator
Quite right!
Quite right!The Spectator
The spiked podcast
The spiked podcastThe spiked podcast

Recent Guests

Nick Timothy
Political commentator and former advisor
Conservative Party
Episode: LIVE: Conservatives vs Reform debate
Claire Coutinho
Conservative MP
Conservative Party
Episode: LIVE: Conservatives vs Reform debate
Danny Kruger
Conservative MP
Conservative Party
Episode: LIVE: Conservatives vs Reform debate
Matt Goodwin
Academic and commentator
Episode: LIVE: Conservatives vs Reform debate
Isabel Hardman
Assistant Editor and moderator
The Spectator
Episode: LIVE: Conservatives vs Reform debate
Martin Vander Weyer
Writer on politics and business
Spectator Magazine
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Martin Vander Weyer, Freddy Gray & Arabella Byrne
Zack Polanski
Leader of the Green Party guest
Green Party
Episode: Reality check: why Polanski is wrong about drug legalisation
Misha Auslin
Author of a book about the Declaration of Independence
Author/Scholar
Episode: Americano: how the Declaration of Independence made America
Sophia Smith-Galer
Author of How to Kill a Language, Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Author
Episode: The Book Club: How to Kill a Language

Hosts

Freddie Gray
Host of Americano Show; leads interviews and analysis on current affairs
Madeleine Grant
Host of Quite Right and contributor on political commentary

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Disappointed

    Alarmed to hear an interview with antisemitic cartoonist - who was unchallenged when referring to Israel’s defensive war against 8 terrorist armies as “genocide”. Libellous insanity. Saco was touted as some kind of objective journalist. Expect a much higher standard from the Spectator.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JJAADF
    Australiaa month ago
  • Not everyone translates from the written to the spoken word

    If you have a journalist who can read aloud properly, great. If not please get someone to read their copy for them . The review of Wuthering Heights which would have been entertaining was spoilt by the Robitic and at times inaccurate delivery, which made it hard to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sjblondon
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A gang bang queen!

    No longer a serious magazine

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cwycu
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Americani

    Superb interview with Victor Davis Hansen reviewing the current Donald Trump presidency. Freddie Gray is knowledgeable, speaks and thinks clearly and conducts the best interviews.

    Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cliffography
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise balanced debates and high-profile guests.
Overall, episodes are described as insightful and well-produced, with strong interview moments.
Some episodes criticized for perceived bias or rhetoric.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Americano: Iran vs USA – how this could end
Q: What do you think is the best-case scenario for Iran and the region in a post-conflict setting?
The guest argues that the best outcome would be a reopening of navigation freedoms, regional calm, and a form of governance in Iran that avoids an existential clash with neighbors, while recognizing that a grand bargain will still need to balance the interests of regional powers and domestic Iranian factions.
Americano: Iran vs USA – how this could end
Q: Tell me a bit about the repression that's been going on since January.
The host asks about the repression following the January protests; the guest explains that the regime has intensified crackdowns, with casualty figures varying but indicating a harsh crackdown and a shrinking space for dissent as the war widened, while the government uses messaging to frame dissent as aligned with those under attack, thereby chilling popular expression.
The Book Club: The Once and Future Riot
Q: How do you balance quotes and visuals to keep the integrity of journalism while using a medium that is inherently subjective?
Quotes have to be verbatim and I use brackets and ellipses to preserve truth while letting the images carry the descriptive load, ensuring the reader understands it's a mediated account and not a single authoritative voice.
The Book Club: The Once and Future Riot
Q: What drew you to this particular story, and why did you choose to present it through a cartoon narrative?
I wanted to talk to people about what happened, compare their stories to the actual facts, and use comics to reveal the textures of life on the ground, including the politics and the social dynamics that ordinary reporting might miss.
Reality Check: how the leasehold mafia screwed a generation of homeowners
Q: Harry, thank you for joining Reality Check. What is the core problem with the current leasehold system as you see it?
The core problem is that offshore and vested interests turned leaseholds into a money-making machine marked by ground rents and escalating charges, while the actual ownership and control over the buildings remains with the freeholders who wield unequal power over leaseholders.

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 Best of the Spectator

What is Best of the Spectator about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-moving, conversation-driven show that blends politics, culture, and literature with sharp, sometimes provocative perspectives. Episodes frequently pair high-profile journalists and commentators with expert guests to dissect current events, policy, and cultural trends through aSpectator lens. Frequent strengths include lively panel dynamics, deep dives into history or architecture, and bold takes on Brexit-era politics, foreign policy, and identity politics. A notable hallmark is the blend of long-form interviews, live debates, and themed roundups that invite listeners to weigh nuanced positions from a traditionally conservative-leaning editorial voice. This combination makes it appealing to listeners who enjoy concise, opinionated an... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Best of the Spectator?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Best of the Spectator. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Best of the Spectator and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Best of the Spectator get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Best of the Spectator, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Best of the Spectator?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Best of the Spectator, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Best of the Spectator have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Best of the Spectator 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 Best of the Spectator?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Best of the Spectator:

1. Coffee House Shots
2. Americano
3. The Edition
4. Quite right!
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of Best of the Spectator are there?

Best of the Spectator launched 12 years ago and published 2620 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 Best of the Spectator?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Best of the Spectator?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Best of the Spectator from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Best of the Spectator?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Best of the Spectator. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Best of the Spectator?

Recent guests on Best of the Spectator include:

1. Nick Timothy
2. Claire Coutinho
3. Danny Kruger
4. Matt Goodwin
5. Isabel Hardman
6. Martin Vander Weyer
7. Zack Polanski
8. Misha Auslin

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days