Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe topple Off Menu

Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe has become the UK’s most listened-to comedy podcast.

Analysis by Edison Research puts the show at No13 in the top shows in the first quarter of 2026, rising one place from the last quarter of 2025. The show 

Confirmation that Widdicombe will be one of the hosts of Strictly Come Dancing from the autumn, with the subsequent rise in his profile, is likely to boost the podcast’s audience further.

The previous top-rated comedy podcast, Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble, fell from No8 last quarter to take No15 now.

Shagged Married Annoyed with Chris and Rosie Ramsey fell from No9 to No19.

The top four shows overall remain the same as at the end of last year, with The Joe Rogan Experience leading over The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Rest Is Politics andThe Rest Is History.

Edison does not publicly release the numbers of listeners to each show, with figures compiled from a sample similar to the way TV ratings are calculated. 

Two BBC news podcasts hit a record high. Newscast breaks into the top five and Americast into the top ten (at No9).  Meanwhile, Zoe Science & Nutrition climbed 86 ranks to enter the top 25 for the first time. 

See the full top 25 chart here.

Published: 27 May 2026