BBC Sounds had its best quarter during the first three months of the year according to the latest data.
There were 342 million plays of all audio and a total of 149 million plays for on-demand radio and podcasts – up from 130 million the previous quarter.
The second series of Grounded With Louis Theroux with its high profile guests was the most played podcast on BBC Sounds. Louis’ candid interviews with Frankie Boyle and FKA Twigs were the most listened to episodes by younger listeners.
The much-anticipated return of That Peter Crouch Podcast led the podcast to feature in the top ten podcasts for all adults, under-35s and had the largest proportion of under-35 listeners. The Battersea Poltergeist, which launched in January, also made the top ten, featuring a mix of documentary style and dramatised storytelling, starring Toby Jones and Dafne Keen.
Meanwhile The YUNGBLUD Podcast attracted the highest proportion of under-35 listeners for the second consecutive quarter, followed by 6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer and the new series of The Gemma Collins Podcast.
Life Hacks Lockdown Wellbeing from Radio 1 also appears in this top ten, showing younger listeners turned to Radio 1’s wellbeing content to help with the challenges they’ve been facing during the pandemic.
Jonathan Wall, Controller of BBC Sounds, says: “This quarter reflects a year since lockdown, and it’s clear firm favourite podcasts, live and on-demand radio and new titles from across BBC radio keep providing entertainment and escapism. People have enjoyed the comforts of music in new shows like Downtime Symphony and Tearjerker, and we’ve seen younger listeners turning to podcasts like Life Hacks Lockdown Wellbeing to help them through the challenges of the pandemic.”
