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Best of the Spectator

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes2806Founded13 years ago
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Latest Episodes

For this week’s Edition, William Moore is joined by the Spectator’s policy correspondent John Power, political correspondent Noa Hoffman and the political editor of GB News Christopher Hope.

This week: is Labour taking a dangerous gamble with asylum... more

On this week’s Book Club, Sam Leith is joined by journalist, comedy writer and novelist David Quantick to discuss his new book, The Hyena – a fictional autobiography of Deborah Parkinson, an overlooked surrealist painter whose extraordinary life take... more

Michael Gove and Lara Brown discuss the downfall of Russell Brand, and ask why the BBC and figures on the Left were so willing to embrace him. What does his rise and fall tell us about the institutions that gave him a platform, and their pursuit of y... more

Inheritance tax is one of Britain's most unpopular taxes – but why, when so few people actually pay it? Michael Simmons is joined by tax expert Dan Neidle, founder of Tax Policy Associates, to explore why the tax hits the middle classes while the sup... more

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Recent Guests

Claire Ainsley
Political strategist, consultant to the Progressive Policy Institute and author of Control
Progressive Policy Institute
Episode: Coffee House Shots: 'We need to get real' – Claire Ainsley on Starmer, Burnham and Labour’s future
Tim Stanley
The Telegraph sketchwriter and political columnist
The Telegraph
Episode: The Edition: can the American right recover? | with Tim Stanley
Marina Litvinenko
Widow of former Russian FSB agent Alexander Litvinenko and author of A Life in Fragments
Episode: Book Club: Marina Litvinenko – A Life in Fragments
John Fund
National Review columnist and frequent contributor to The Spectator
National Review
Episode: Americano: John Fund – Can we really trust the midterm polls?
Michael Simmons
Economics editor at The Spectator
The Spectator
Episode: The Edition: How the middle classes pay for the state – but increasingly don’t use it | with Simon Jenkins & Genevieve Gaunt
Simon Jenkins
Journalist and author of The Village in Britain
Episode: The Edition: How the middle classes pay for the state – but increasingly don’t use it | with Simon Jenkins & Genevieve Gaunt
Genevieve Gaunt
Actress and Spectator book reviewer
The Spectator
Episode: The Edition: How the middle classes pay for the state – but increasingly don’t use it | with Simon Jenkins & Genevieve Gaunt
David Miles
Office for Budget Responsibility representative discussing the budget forecast
Office for Budget Responsibility
Episode: Coffee House Shots: The OBR's verdict on Healey
Douglas Murray
British author and political commentator
Episode: Quite right!: Douglas Murray interview | Part two

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 Kingdom5 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
    Australia7 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 Kingdom9 months ago
  • Common & run-of-the-mill

    Conventional takes with little distinguished insight. Disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom10 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.

Americano: John Fund – Can we really trust the midterm polls?
Q: Where do you think they're going to have the most success hurting Donald Trump on the corruption stories?
Fund expects scrutiny to focus first on family members, saying voters may be especially concerned if relatives appear to be benefiting financially or acting unethically, and that cabinet officials' families may also attract attention.
Americano: John Fund – Can we really trust the midterm polls?
Q: Would you say that's a fair summation of where we are?
Fund puts the Democrats' odds of taking the House at about 90 percent and the Senate at a lower level, citing the greater inaccuracy of state polling and differences in who responds to polls.
Book Club: Marina Litvinenko – A Life in Fragments
Q: What are you hoping to achieve with this book? Does it keep Sasha's memory alive or is it pushing another step forward to changing the way people think about Russia?
Marina hopes the book will preserve Alexander's memory and show that Russians can want change, with the hope of making Russia a friendly and happy place again.
Book Club: Marina Litvinenko – A Life in Fragments
Q: Can you start just by telling us a bit about how that photograph came about, why it was taken, when it was released, and with what purpose?
Marina says she did not want the photograph taken because she hoped Alexander would recover, but he insisted. It was released after his death and came to be seen as an iconic image.
Coffee House Shots: 'We need to get real' – Claire Ainsley on Starmer, Burnham and Labour’s future
Q: How does rejoining the EU in any way forward your argument that the country needs to hold on to and strengthen sovereignty?
Ainsley says the question should be whether EU membership serves the country's goals, rather than treating joining or leaving as a goal in itself. She is open to rejoining but considers it unrealistic at present, and warns that the debate could distract from developing a long-term economic strategy and addressing AI, security and opportunity.

Audience Metrics

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

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

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

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Best of the Spectator launched 13 years ago and published 2806 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. Claire Ainsley
2. Tim Stanley
3. Marina Litvinenko
4. John Fund
5. Michael Simmons
6. Simon Jenkins
7. Genevieve Gaunt
8. David Miles

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