Winners of the first Golden Lobe awards announced

Frank Skinner won a ‘legend’ accolade for services to funny audio at a new podcast award ceremony last night.

The comic took the Lobes Legend gong at the Golden Lobes, for his work on his acclaimed Absolute Radio show to his more recent podcasting success after being axed by the channel.

He said: ‘I had no idea this was going to happen, how lovely. Advice to you, young kids – just don’t die, until at least in your late 60s. How exciting and lovely, thank you all." 

The night’s biggest honour, The Big Ears Award for funniest podcast, went to This Paranormal Life, an independently produced show that ‘dives into the strangest supernatural stories with irreverent wit’

The ceremony at London’s Clapham Grand focused only on comedy podcasts.

In other categories, Harry Hill scooped ‘best earworm’ for his family-friendly show Are We There Yet? while the best live show went to Lateral, a panel game trying to get to the bottom of obscure facts hosted by Tom Scott 

The evening was hosted by comedians and viral stars Sam O’Leary and Tom Lawrinson, with Mark Silcox posing as  Steven Barlett and Gary Lineker to hand out some awards.

The awards were organised by the team behind the Cheerful Earful podcast festival. Founder, Giles Gear said: ‘We set out to prove that comedy podcasts - big or small, indie or mainstream - deserve to be celebrated side by side, and last night’s incredible energy proved we’ve done just that.’

Full list of 2025 Golden Lobes Winners 

Big Ears Award (Funniest podcast) 
 Winner: This Paranormal Life 
Highly Commended: Brainwash Me with Poppy Hillstead, Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things 

Best Guest 
Winner:  Josh, a chimney sweep from Bristol, on Joe Marler’s Things People Do 
Highly Commended: Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things, I'm So Not Over It 

Best Scripted Podcast 
Winner: Harford: An Oral History 
Highly Commended: Oz 9 

Best Earworm 
Winner: Harry Hill’s Are We There Yet? 
Highly Commended: 101 Part Time Jobs with Giles Bidder, CheapShow 

Best Artwork 
Winner: Go Home, You’re Drunk! 
Highly Commended: Rural Concerns, Dungeons & Dickheads 

Best Blooper 
Winner: I've Had A Rosé, Let’s Talk About Feelings with Sam Lake 

Best Listener Moment 
 Winner: Single Ladies In Your Area 
Highly Commended: 40ish 

Best Live Show 
Winner: Lateral with Tom Scott 
Highly Commended: The Guilty Feminist, Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith 

Best Social 
 Winner: Thots TV 
Highly Commended: PastMaster: Reshaping History With AI 

Best Tangent 
 Winner: Ghastly Women 

Grower Not a Shower (Recognising shows that have steadily built devoted followings)
CheapShow 

The Listener’s Lobe (Fan favourite) 
 Winner: Legitimate Likes 

Lobes Legend (For services to funny audio) 
Frank Skinner 

Published: 8 May 2025