The BBC is expanding its video podcast output with new titles linked to major programmes and existing podcasts.
These include a new slate of video podcasts across BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds and YouTube, extending well-known brands including Sort Your Life Out, Race Across the World, Pop Top 10 and Uncanny.
The move is to reach younger audiences and respond to changing listening habits. According to a recent BBC Audiences survey, three in five podcast fans watched a podcast in the past week, with most both watching and listening.
New launches include Sort Your Life Out Unpacked with organiser Dilly Carter, and Race Across the World: The Detour, hosted by Scott Mills alongside series four winner Alfie Watts.
Sort Your Life Out Unpacked will feature Carter speaking with celebrity guests as they unpack personal items from their homes and discuss the stories behind them.
Guests include Elizabeth Day, Lorraine Kelly, Fatiha El Ghorri, Kerry Katona, Eddie Kadi and Sophie Ellis Bextor.
Race Across the World: The Detour will follow each episode of the new series of the BBC One show, with Mills and Watts discussing destinations, travel tips and stories from the programme.
BBC Radio 2 podcast Pop Top 10 with Scott Mills and Rylan will also return as a video podcast, available on BBC Sounds, BBC iPlayer and, for the first time, Radio 2’s YouTube channel.
Episodes will rank music and pop culture themes, beginning with a Eurovision special.
The BBC is also expanding its YouTube presence with dedicated channels for existing podcasts including Uncanny and Fame Under Fire with Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty.
A new series, Uncanny Cold Cases, will see Danny Robins investigate historical paranormal stories with experts Evelyn Hollow and Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe.
Jonathan Kanagasooriam, Managing Editor for Podcast Strategy and Video Podcasts at BBC Sounds, said: “Video podcasts mean audio can drive impact across the BBC, in a must watch and listen slate.
“From brand extensions of hit TV shows and podcasts to innovative cross platform formats that reach a new generation of listeners and viewers.”
Beatrice Cooke, Service Executive for BBC iPlayer, added: “BBC iPlayer is the natural home for our biggest TV brands, and video podcasts let us take audiences even deeper into those worlds.”
Sort Your Life Out Unpacked and Uncanny Cold Cases launch on 7 April. Pop Top 10 returns on 29 April.
