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Case study | Video podcast

CURIOUS CASES: THE BBC VIDEO PODCAST FILMED AT LONDON PODCASTS

In brief

  • The BBC brought Curious Cases, the Radio 4 science show presented by Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain, to London Podcasts in London for its video podcast on BBC iPlayer.
  • The production created a bespoke set in the studio and hired production space for a large team of producers, technical crew and makeup professionals.
  • Series 25 began on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 3 October 2026 with "Identical(ish)", episode 1 of 13; the video episodes run around 27 minutes on iPlayer.
  • Curious Cases is a BBC Studios Production. London Podcasts, a Fitzrovia Post company, has 14 purpose-built studios at Academic House, 24–28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DJ.

The show

Curious Cases is a BBC Radio 4 science programme in which Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain take everyday mysteries sent in by listeners and try to solve them "with the power of science". Listeners can send questions to curiouscases@bbc.co.uk.

The programme began in 2016 as The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry, presented by Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford. Dara Ó Briain replaced Rutherford when the show returned in autumn 2024, and the series has since run as Curious Cases.

Series 25 has 13 episodes. On Radio 4 each episode airs on Saturday at 10:00, with a repeat on Monday at 15:30, and episodes are also available on BBC Sounds. The current series is produced by Lucy Taylor, with Sasha Feachem as executive producer.

The video podcast on iPlayer

Alongside the radio broadcast and audio podcast, Curious Cases is published as a video podcast on BBC iPlayer. The first two Series 25 episodes on iPlayer are:

  • Identical(ish) — first shown 3 October 2026, 27 minutes. Hannah and Dara follow a listener's question about how similar the babies of two sets of identical twins would be, and ask how close nature gets to human cloning.
  • Making Waves — first shown 10 October 2026, 27 minutes. The pair explore Faraday waves, the geometric patterns that can form on the surface of a vibrating liquid, from the lab to the open sea.

iPlayer lists each episode as available for 11 months.

What happened at London Podcasts

London Podcasts states that the BBC brought Curious Cases to its studios for the iPlayer video podcast. The BBC created a bespoke set and hired production space for a large team of producers, technical crew and makeup professionals.

The London Podcasts home page shows programme stills from the "Identical(ish)" episode, credited to BBC iPlayer, with views of the set from several angles:

  • the full studio setup;
  • Hannah Fry's position, with shelving and practical lights;
  • Dara Ó Briain's position, with warm light and depth;
  • a guest angle, with colour and acoustic panels;
  • a reverse angle, with timber and greenery.

That is the point of a bespoke set: one build that gives a different backdrop for every conversation.

Why a production like this needs more than a room

A broadcaster-scale video podcast brings more than two presenters. It brings producers, technical crew, makeup and guests, all working at the same time as the recording. At London Podcasts each studio has a separate control room, a makeup and dressing area, access to meeting rooms and large breakout areas, plus an experienced production support team.

The studio team has a background in professional television, audio and post-production, and the site says it supports teams from Netflix, Disney, BBC Studios, YouTube, Audible, Spotify and Apple, as well as creators, corporates and SMEs.

How to make a similar video podcast at London Podcasts

If you are a brand, creator or production company planning a video podcast, these are the published starting points:

  • Studios: 14 purpose-built recording studios. Four are permanently configured for video podcasts, and camera systems can be moved into other rooms when a production needs a different space, capacity or acoustic environment.
  • Engineer included: every podcast studio booking includes an experienced engineer, working from a separate control room.
  • Video rates: from £230 per hour + VAT, £875 for a half day (up to 4 hours) or £1,650 for a full day (up to 8 hours). One-hour minimum. Evening bookings after 18:00 and weekends carry a 50% surcharge.
  • What a video session includes: multi-camera recording, lighting, microphones, a rough live vision mix made by the engineer as you record, and separate camera recordings and audio files. Standard video bookings include up to three 4K-capable cameras with HD programme recording.
  • Bespoke sets: a bespoke studio or set, branding and unusual production requirements are quoted by the team.
  • Space for the crew: a private meeting room is £50 per hour, £185 half day or £250 full day; the Atrium production room is £150 per hour, £400 half day or £700 full day (all + VAT).
  • Finishing: finished edits, social clips and 4K upgrades are optional extras, quoted separately. Complete production starts from £1,250 + VAT per episode.

Book online at londonpodcasts.co.uk/book, email bookings@londonpodcasts.co.uk or call 020 7209 3474. For same-day sessions, call Monday to Friday, 08:30–18:00. You can also arrange a discovery tour to see the rooms with a producer before you book.

FAQ

Where was the Curious Cases video podcast filmed?
London Podcasts states that the BBC brought Curious Cases to its studios at Academic House, 24–28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DJ for its video podcast on BBC iPlayer, creating a bespoke set there.

Who presents Curious Cases?
Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain. The show began in 2016 as The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry with Adam Rutherford; Dara Ó Briain replaced him when it returned in autumn 2024.

Where can I watch or listen to Curious Cases?
The video podcast is on BBC iPlayer. The show airs on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays at 10:00, with a Monday repeat at 15:30, and is available on BBC Sounds. Series 25 began on 3 October 2026 with "Identical(ish)".

Can I build a bespoke set for my own video podcast at London Podcasts?
Yes. London Podcasts offers space for a bespoke set built around your production; bespoke studios, sets, branding and unusual requirements are quoted by the team. Email bookings@londonpodcasts.co.uk or call 020 7209 3474.

How much does a video podcast session at London Podcasts cost?
From £230 per hour + VAT, £875 for a half day or £1,650 for a full day, excluding VAT, with an engineer included. One-hour minimum; evenings after 18:00 and weekends carry a 50% surcharge.

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