Crossed Wires 2026 concluded in Sheffield with a strong focus on live podcast experiences and new access to recordings for listeners across the UK.
For the first time, live shows including Dig It, Get a Grip, and Uncanny: Cold Cases will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, alongside a selection of BBC Fringe podcasts such as Newscast, Sort Your Life Out Unpacked, Fame Under Fire, Good Bad Billionaire, and Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and What’s Up Docs?.
Blindboy Boatclub brought The Blindboy Podcast to Sheffield City Hall, sharing a short story from his book before a discussion with Professor Carl Chinn MBE about class disparity and the portrayal of working-class experiences in British media.
At The Crucible, Zoe Ball and Jo Wiley marked the one-year anniversary of Dig It with their first live show, joined by comedian Sara Pascoe and gardener Ish Kamran. The show included a game of ‘Dig It or Dump It’ and ended with a 90s rave DJ set. The live Dig It show will also be available on iPlayer.
Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd hosted Weirdos Book Club with Jenny Eclair, discussing Eclair’s memoir and careers in comedy. The event opened with Cariad hoola-hooping and Sara cartwheeling, setting a playful tone for the conversation.
The tenth anniversary of The Magnus Archives was celebrated with creators Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall, who offered insights into the making of their fiction podcast and revisited memorable moments from the past decade.
Matt Forde and Alice Levine presented British Scandal: The Blenheim Palace Toilet Heist, involving audience participation and a mix of sound effects, visual artefacts, and comedic chemistry.
Danny Robins closed the festival with a live performance of Uncanny at the Lyceum Theatre, joined by Evelyn Hollow and Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe to investigate paranormal cold cases. This show will also be available to watch on iPlayer.
BBC Fringe events included Lucy Worsley, Kate Lister, and Clare Corbett discussing infamous women in history on Lady Killers, and Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie reflecting on investigative journalism for Radio 4’s To Catch a Scorpion and To Catch a King.
Emma Freud hosted The Archer’s Live, and Simon Jack with Zing Tsjeng discussed Sir Paul McCartney for Good Billionaire Bad Billionaire. Family shows and street performances rounded out the weekend, with activities for all ages.
The festival wrapped up with audiences entertained and new opportunities for listeners to catch up on live podcast content through BBC iPlayer.
