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Best of the Spectator

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

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2787Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes

Who was the real Sherlock Holmes? In this episode Sam Leith is joined by medical historian and author Lindsey Fitzharris to discuss her new book, Sleuth Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes.

Fitzharris tells the extraordinary story of Joseph ... more

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons, writer Louis Sarkozy and broadcaster Sir Loyd Grossman.

This week: is France heading for revolution? As protests and unrest grip the country, Lo... more

Andy Burnham’s first Budget as Prime Minister is approaching – but higher borrowing costs have already made the sums more difficult. Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane joins Michael Simmons to warn that Britain has little room left t... more

France is burning. Over the weekend, students protesting about school conditions were joined by rural voters angry at fuel prices and a violent hard-left fringe. Michael and Maddie ask whether Britain should be worried. Do the same fault lines run th... more

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Recent Guests

Christopher Caldwell
Spectator columnist and author of The Age of Entitlement
The Spectator
Episode: Americano: Trump’s decade of power – what went wrong?
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Writer and former Conservative politician
The Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lara Brown, Matthew Parris & William Atkinson
Lara Brown
The Spectator's commissioning editor
The Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lara Brown, Matthew Parris & William Atkinson
Matthew Parris
Political columnist
The Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lara Brown, Matthew Parris & William Atkinson
William Atkinson
Writer
The Spectator
Episode: Spectator Out Loud: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Lara Brown, Matthew Parris & William Atkinson
Ed Condon
Editor of The Pillar
The Pillar
Episode: Holy Smoke: Should we worry about Pope Leo?
Camilla Cavendish
Financial Times columnist and author of Generation Maybe.
Financial Times
Episode: The Edition: Are we failing the next generation?
Gloria De Piero
Broadcaster and former Labour MP.
Episode: The Edition: Are we failing the next generation?
Fraser Nelson
Journalist at The Times and former editor of The Spectator
The Times
Episode: Reality Check: Fraser Nelson exposes Britain's welfare pipeline

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
  • SPECTATOR OUT LOUD

    6 September 2020

    This has been one of my favourite Spectator programs in the past. Noa Hoffman however has an unfortunate abrasive, metallic voice which is inclined to shout in a somewhat screechy manner and has spoilt the Spectator podcast listening experience. Please find a new presenter with a more refined, softer less offensive style.

    Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cliffography
    Australia2 months ago
  • Etiquette

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    AnotherWorker
    United Kingdom4 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
    Australia6 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 Kingdom8 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    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.

Quite right! LIVE: Nick Timothy on Islamist extremism
Q: What lessons from that episode and indeed from your time at the Home Office, have you drawn about the approach that the state should take to Islamist extremism, and the broader approach that the state should take towards community integration?
Timothy says the state should distinguish extremist ideology from Muslims who accept Britain's laws, institutions and pluralistic norms. He argues that government and media have allowed extremists to define normative Islam and that the state should act firmly against those who reject that civic settlement.
Quite right! LIVE: Nick Timothy on Islamist extremism
Q: The prison release scheme, the early release scheme which the government is responsible for, actually, to be fair to the government, it's the Tories' fault, isn't it? It's the fault of, I don't know, previous justice secretaries, whoever they were, for not investing in the prison estate and for allowing this situation to arrive.
Timothy says successive governments failed to build enough prison capacity. He argues prison prevents repeat offenders from harming the public and proposes 50,000 new places, modernised facilities and more freedom for prison governors.
Book Club: Shaun Bythell – Return of the Bookseller Diarist
Q: How did publishing bookseller diarist affect the job? Did it bring more people to the bookshop?
Bythell says readers travel to the shop after reading his books, benefiting both the shop and the town. He also describes the pressure of waiting for reader responses and the unexpected personal meaning his books had for some readers.
Book Club: Shaun Bythell – Return of the Bookseller Diarist
Q: Is that actually what you're like or is that just what being a bookseller makes you like?
Bythell says decades of bookselling can make people grumpy, but his diaries emphasize rude customers because their stories are more entertaining; most of his customers are pleasant.
Quite right!: Simon Schama Interview
Q: How do you respond to the specific charge that Israel stands in the dock accused of a genocide in Gaza?
Schama says the International Court of Justice had not ruled that genocide occurred, and argues that historical comparisons and evidence matter. He distinguishes genocide from possible war crimes and says alleged abuses should be investigated.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

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

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

How many episodes of Best of the Spectator are there?

Best of the Spectator launched 13 years ago and published 2787 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. Christopher Caldwell
2. Jacob Rees-Mogg
3. Lara Brown
4. Matthew Parris
5. William Atkinson
6. Ed Condon
7. Camilla Cavendish
8. Gloria De Piero

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