The best of the week's comedy on demand

Today is a momentous, historic day that will have every true patriot consuming every moment via the blanket media coverage. We speak, of course, of the British Podcast Awards, which are being handed out tonight.

In honour of that, we hand over the responsibility for selecting this week's comedy on demand picks to the judges of those awards. For this is the list of all the contenders in the best comedy podcast section.

A Gay & A NonGay

Two twentysomething pals shooting the breeze – what could be a more generic idea for a podcast than that? But James Barr and Dan Hudson have won acclaim for the warmth of their on-air relationship, and even their own slogan proclaims: 'They are like a lovely little couple - but they're not.'

Coming in at a tight 15 minutes or so, the episodes are loosely based on sexuality, with each presenter learning about each other's world – for example, this week' edition is ostensibly about gay dads. But the appeal is the sweetness and authenticity of their relationship. Listen here

Babysitting Trevor

In this podcast, pictured above, stand-ups Carl Donnelly and Chris Martin stage a series of interventions to try to get their older colleague, Trevor Crook, to engage more with the real world, taking him out of his comfort zone of 'sitting in his pants watching cricket and occasionally writing provocative comments on websites'. Chortle included.

In the latest episode, the last in the second series, the taciturn Trevor gets something of a reluctant makeover ahead of a photoshoot. Listen here

Beef And Dairy Network Podcast

One of the few podcasts to have been picked up by Radio 4, this is the ultimate in deadpan comedy as Ben Partridge hosts a show for those involved – or just interested – in the production of beef animals and dairy herds with the full gravitas the subject demands.

But who knew there were so many eccentric characters in this most essential of industries? But a huge range of comedy guests, including Kevin Eldon, Greg Davies, Miles Jupp and Josie Long have helped bring this apparently esoteric world to life.

Some of the longer episodes require a bit of investment in the gag, but the shorter ones are an easily accessible delight. Listen here

The Political Party With Matt Forde

Five years in, and this roughly fortnightly podcast is still going strong, with Forde performing stand-up about politics – a world he once worked in – followed by an extended interview.

Previous heavyweight guests have included Tony Blair, Jacob Rees-Mogg, John Bercow, Neil Kinnock, Michael Portillo, John Prescott and Nigel Farage, who hardly gets any media coverage, poor thing. And no doubt the show contributed to Forde landing his own Dave series, which has a broadly similar format.

Guest on the latest episode was Angela Wilson, professor of politics at the University of Manchester. Listen here

This Paranormal Life

In the arena of paranormal podcasts, we have to confess a preference for Ian Boldsworth and Barry Dodd's Parapod, which is soon to be a movie.

But there's plenty to commend in this weekly show, too, as sceptics Rory Powers and Kit Grier investigate a different mystery – from Roswell to the Mary Celeste, and many lesser-known stories – and try to find the truth.

All very X Files, and very absorbing, too, thanks to the pair's detailed research and their playful way they share their passion for the subject. Listen here.

Published: 19 May 2018