Crossed Wires opened with a packed schedule of live podcast recordings and special guests, drawing crowds to Sheffield for its third year.
Greg James and Alice Levine launched their new podcast, Bad Chat, in front of a sold-out audience.
The show featured a surprise appearance by actor Stephen Graham, who joined via voice note and joked about taking the lead in a fictional snooker film discussed on stage.
Stephen said: “Uh yes, sounds great to me, I’ll start practicing. One condition though, I’m the one who gets to sing,” before launching into a rendition of Snooker Loopy by Chas and Dave.
BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers opened the festival with Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and Duncan Wisbey impersonating fellow festival performers.
Sara Cox launched the BBC Fringe schedule with a live Radio 2 Book Club alongside author Lisa Jewell, discussing her latest novel and its inspiration.
Woman’s Hour, hosted by Anita Rani and Nuala McGovern, live-streamed a special edition into their regular broadcast, followed by the first live recording of The Woman’s Hour: Guide to Life.
Jaack Maate’s Happy Hour entertained City Hall with music and audience confessions, while Vicky Pattison and Angela Scanlon’s Get a Grip; Bras Off encouraged donations for charity and explored modern womanhood.
Jemma Sbeg, creator of The Psychology of your 20s, shared her journey from recording in her car to reaching Netflix, addressing internet psychology myths in an interactive show.
Screen Rot’s Jacob Hawley and Jake Farrell, joined by Jack Dean, explored internet oddities with their audience.
Other highlights included Inside the Traitors: Uncloaked with Harriet Tyce and Matty Hyndman, Newscast with Chris Mason and Faisal Islam, and Top Comment with Marianna Spring and Rachel Connolly.
Stand-Up Specials brought together comedians Aurie Styla, Ayo Adenekan, Dan Tiernan, Kyrah Gray, Chris Cantrill and Emer Maguire.
Medical and regional stories were featured in What’s Up Docs with Chris and Xand van Tulleken and Yorkshire Podding with Toby Foster.
The festival’s Centre Stage at Barkers Pool offered free, family-friendly entertainment, live music, and community activities.
With two days remaining, the festival promises more exclusive shows and appearances from names such as Elis James and John Robins, Dig It with Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley, The Blindboy Podcast, British Scandal, Weirdos Book Club, Bold Politics, Uncanny, and more.
The full festival schedule is live at https://crossedwires.live with tickets still available.
