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Artwork for The Food Programme

The Food Programme

BBC Radio 4
Nutrition
Climate Change
Obesity
Food Waste
Cooking
Social Media
Food Culture
Food Safety
Public Health
Coffee
BBC Food and Farming Awards
Food
Ultra-Processed Foods
United Kingdom
Food Security
Bradford
Biodiversity
Mental Health
Japan
Rum

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes850Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FoodArts

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Artwork for The Food Programme

Latest Episodes

With Halloween upon us, this episode of the Food Programme explores the unique connection between Food and Magic. Jaega Wise visits "Kitchen Witch” Rachel Patterson to find out how she uses everyday ingredients in her spells, and witnesses some food ... more

Sheila Dillon reveals the winners of this year's BBC Food and Farming Awards from Northern Ireland. She and this year's head judge Paula McIntyre meet some of the best food and drink producers in the country at the ceremony at Titanic Belfast. Just w... more

Regenerative farming is being championed by some as the future of British agriculture. As part of Radio 4's Farming Tomorrow season, Leyla Kazim asks - does regenerative farming change the nutritional value of what we eat? "Regenerative" farmers say ... more

Typically British, a comforting ritual and a calorific onslaught - the Sunday Roast is part of the weekly routine for many. Jimi Famurewa assesses the combination of meat, potatoes, sides and all-important gravy to examine why we keep coming back for... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Paula McIntyre
Cook, author, television personality and broadcaster; head judge of the awards
Episode: The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Jade Greenhalgh
Food creator who shares affordable, family-friendly cooking recipes
Episode: The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Bronagh O'Kane
Farmer and organizer of a farmer peer-learning network
Episode: The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Michael Morpurgo
Children's author and former children's laureate; co-founder of Farms for City Children
Farms for City Children
Episode: The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Claire Morpurgo
Co-founder of Farms for City Children
Farms for City Children
Episode: The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Ian Wilkinson
Founder of FarmEd, a regenerative farming research and education farm
FarmEd
Episode: Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
Rob Ward
Farmer and agri-tech CEO
Vitagri
Episode: Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
Grace Kangara
Soil scientist researching how farming practices affect crop nutrition
Rothamsted Research
Episode: Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
Lucy Williamson
Nutritionist, author and former farm vet
Episode: Regenerative Farming and Nutrition

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Wonderful

    I love the food programme. The subjects are so varied and there is something for everyone, whether you are interested in the characters in the food world, the politics of it or how it all works.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fussy frederika
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Periodic Table of Food

    One of the most interesting and important podcast I’ve heard in a long while

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arthur Shufflehouse
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Wow!

    Michael Crawford, just listened, fascinating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ALittleChaotic
    United Statesa year ago
  • Bad Case of Pseudo-Science

    The Brain Gut Connection episode was a classic example of Myth-Making Journalism masquerading as science. I’m sure many listeners would be misled, as intended, by the jump from saying “there’s a link” between gut biodiversity and mental health to the assumption that it’s a causal link, and hence that increasing gut biodiversity will improve mental health. Classic journalistic misrepresentation in a desperate search for a story…

    Then we cut to the researcher who carried out a study to explore thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ArgyEll
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • These so-called MPs provided nothing that is new, and give little hope for the future health of the nation! Nice try, but...

    Podcast Addict
    1
    mobfizz
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many describe the reporting as informative, well researched, engaging and a source of continued learning.
Some criticize episodes for overstating scientific evidence or giving too little weight to balance and nuance.
Production feedback is mixed: some enjoy the presentation, while others find background music distracting or prefer different presenters.
Listeners value the mix of expert analysis and personal stories from people involved in food.
Listeners praise the wide range of food topics, from cooking and history to food politics and production.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#54
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#158
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Q: Why did you want to create networks like that?
After taking on the farm, Bronagh O'Kane missed interaction and the chance to exchange ideas, so she set out to build networks for farmers.
The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026
Q: How do you explain how the land and that taste are connected?
The sheep's breed, their ability to graze steep land broadly, and the time allowed for them to grow and finish all contribute to the meat's taste.
Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
Q: Can you explain that link a little and why the way that we farm might affect the quality of the food that ends up on our plates?
Lucy Williamson says research links soil and growing practices with plant antioxidants, which can support gut microbes. She also describes emerging evidence that diverse grazing pastures may affect dairy's anti-inflammatory properties, while stressing that specific links from soil to human health remain unproven.
Regenerative Farming and Nutrition
Q: Can farming regeneratively affect the nutritional quality of what we eat?
Rob Ward says the research he has compiled points to a consistent nutritional benefit from regenerative farming, but results depend on soil biology and are not yet consistent enough to support health claims.
The Sunday Roast
Q: Would you like to know what the perfect Yorkshire pudding should be?
Elaine Lemm describes a pudding with a soft, slightly soggy bottom, browned outside and crisp near the top. She recommends equal quantities of eggs, milk and flour, resting the batter, and cooking it in hot fat in a hot oven.

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 The Food Programme

What is The Food Programme about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Investigative food journalism connecting what people eat with the history, culture, economics and systems behind it. BBC presenters report on location, visit farms, kitchens, markets and food businesses, and speak with researchers, historians, producers, chefs, campaigners and policymakers. The subject matter ranges from traditional dishes and culinary customs to food prices, nutrition, farming methods, supply chains and the effects of climate and policy.

The format shifts between documentary storytelling, expert interviews and discussions that bring personal experience together with wider analysis. Food is treated not just as cooking, but as part of everyday life and a complex global system. This breadth suits curious eaters, home cooks a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Food Programme?

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How many listeners does The Food Programme get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Food Programme have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Food Programme 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 The Food Programme?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Food Programme:

1. The Food Chain
2. Sliced Bread
3. Inside Health
4. Good Food
5. What's Up Docs?

How many episodes of The Food Programme are there?

The Food Programme launched 17 years ago and published 850 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 The Food Programme?

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 The Food Programme?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Food Programme from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Food Programme?

Recent guests on The Food Programme include:

1. Paula McIntyre
2. Jade Greenhalgh
3. Bronagh O'Kane
4. Michael Morpurgo
5. Claire Morpurgo
6. Ian Wilkinson
7. Rob Ward
8. Grace Kangara

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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