The best podcasts of 2026 so far

Harry Hill’s surreal new series baffles and delights its guests: a puppet with a giant tongue, a viral star called Simon from Morley’s and Sarah the AI bot that dispenses celebrity profiles and chocolate bars. It’s a show that often feels better in video — a rarity for a podcast.

Off Duty, a seven-part true-crime series, unpicks the murder of Clifton Lewis and the conviction of Alex Villa, tracing a 12-year legal odyssey that exposes alleged misconduct, shifting confessions and a system determined to keep him behind bars. Radio 4 Woman’s Hour host Anita Rani launches Sisters of Defiance, a spirited interview series celebrating boundary-breakers.

Guests include Adjoa Andoh, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Gisèle Pelicot, with an opening conversation with Meera Syal that ranges from empty-nest homes to divorce in south Asian communities.

podcasts, harry hill, puppet, sarah ai, simon morley, off duty, true crime, clifton lewis, alex villa, anita rani