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Best of the Spectator

The Spectator
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
Iran
United States
Andy Burnham
Donald Trump
Conservative Party
Church Of England
Nigel Farage
Artificial Intelligence
Reform UK
United Kingdom
Catholic Church
UK Politics
Manchester
Immigration
Democratic Party
The Spectator
Britain
Brexit

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2744Founded13 years ago
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News CommentaryDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes

William Moore is joined by The Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons, The Spectator's commissioning editor and writer at large Tali Fraser, and the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party Alex Burghart MP.

This week: has Labour stopped just s... more

Arthur Laffer, the economist, former adviser to Ronald Reagan and architect of the Laffer Curve, goes head-to-head with journalist and left-wing author Aaron Bastani over one question: should Britain introduce a wealth tax?

Chaired by The Spectator’... more

In this week’s Book Club podcast, Sam Leith is joined by bestselling novelist Hannah Richell to discuss her new memoir, An Ocean and a Day.

When Hannah’s husband died in a surfing accident, her life in Australia was shattered. Suddenly, she was a si... more

Michael Gove is joined by Reform UK MP Danny Kruger to discuss the party’s plans for government and why he believes Britain is in a ‘revolutionary moment’.

Kruger sets out how Reform would overhaul Whitehall, including replacing the Cabinet Secretar... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Patrick Galbraith
The Telegraph's environment correspondent
The Telegraph
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Noa Hoffman, Robert Hardman, Patrick Galbraith, & Matthew Reisz
Matthew Reisz
Author and commentator on Paula Rego's work
Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Noa Hoffman, Robert Hardman, Patrick Galbraith, & Matthew Reisz
Francis Fukuyama
Public intellectual, author of The End of History and The Last Man
Stanford University (as inferred from public profile)
Episode: Quite right!: Francis Fukuyama interview
Vanessa Feltz
Broadcaster and writer reading her reflections
Self
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Simon Sebag Montefiore, Vanessa Feltz, Sophia Money-Coutts & Angus Colwell
Margaret Mitchell
Spectator writer who authored a piece on nun girl summers
The Spectator
Episode: Holy Smoke: are you having a 'nun girl summer'?
Mimi Yates
Journalist for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
Episode: Holy Smoke: are you having a 'nun girl summer'?
Al Carns
Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Selly Oak; former Veterans Minister
Labour Party
Episode: Coffee House Shots: why I quit government | Al Carns
Francis Foster
Author, comedian, and co-host of the Trigonometry podcast
Independent / Trigonometry
Episode: The Edition: how the blob broke teaching | with Francis Foster
James Johnson
Co-founder of JL Partners
Episode: Americano: Just how bad are polls for the Republicans?

Host

Noa Hoffman
Host of several Spectator programs; experienced interviewer with a political and cultural focus

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Etiquette

    Tim, please don’t interrupt you guests when they are speaking.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AnotherWorker
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • 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
    Australia5 months 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 Kingdom7 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • A gang bang queen!

    No longer a serious magazine

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cwycu
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, commentary is valued for intellect and provocative takes, with occasional criticisms of balance.
Some episodes polarize audiences due to controversial guests or questioning style.
Listeners appreciate rigorous guest selection and strong host interview skills.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Holy Smoke: why Quentin Letts fears for the parish church
Q: Do you think parishes could reclaim some local freedom of maneuver?
There is skepticism about central funds and new structures, with a belief that local autonomy should be preserved against overbearing central bureaucracy.
Holy Smoke: why Quentin Letts fears for the parish church
Q: If you were suddenly the chair of a major parish, are there drastic and simple measures you could take to remedy matters?
Yes, redirect significant funds toward hiring and supporting more priests, reduce emphasis on safeguarding-heavy bureaucratic procedures, and empower local clergy with more actual resources rather than centralized oversight.
Holy Smoke: why Quentin Letts fears for the parish church
Q: So you don't adopt the sort of traditional Anglican, ecclesiastical, pastoral voice?
He explains he remains himself but strives to be restrained and non-individual in delivery, avoiding sermons and absolution, while using non-traditional formats like local history talks to inform and engage.
The Book Club: Simon Sebag Montefiore – The Cauldron
Q: How do you balance the enormous scope with a through-line for readers?
I combine a lucid narrative with a strong cast of historical figures—leaders and rebels alike—to create a readable map of events, using both broad trends and vivid individual portraits to keep the reader oriented across centuries and continents.
The Book Club: Simon Sebag Montefiore – The Cauldron
Q: What was the starting point for your scope in the book, and why 1900 as a hinge?
The geographic tightness and the need to anchor a moving target: 1900 marks a meaningful, different world from the Ottoman era and enables tracing the lines from empire to modern nation-states, while showing how external powers and regional dynamics interacted at that turning point.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Best of the Spectator

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

Across recent episodes, the show combines political analysis, cultural critique, and global affairs through a panel of writers, journalists, and academics. Topics frequently center on UK politics, governance, public policy, and international affairs, often pairing sharp, opinionated takes with data-driven or historical context. Recurring strengths include thoughtful guest perspectives from the Spectator ecosystem, a willingness to tackle contentious issues, and a cadence that blends news commentary with long-form discussion. The format tends to feature high-profile guests, behind-the-scenes policy debates, and cultural discourse, making it a go-to for listeners who want articulate, sometimes provocative viewpoints on current events and long... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Best of the Spectator?

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1. Coffee House Shots
2. Quite right!
3. Americano
4. The Edition
5. Planet Normal

How many episodes of Best of the Spectator are there?

Best of the Spectator launched 13 years ago and published 2744 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Best of the Spectator?

Recent guests on Best of the Spectator include:

1. Patrick Galbraith
2. Matthew Reisz
3. Francis Fukuyama
4. Vanessa Feltz
5. Margaret Mitchell
6. Mimi Yates
7. Al Carns
8. Francis Foster

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