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Trends | Podcast data

VIDEO PODCASTS IN THE UK: WHAT OFCOM'S 2026 DATA SHOWS

In brief

  • Weekly podcast reach in the UK rose to 27% in Q1 2026, up from 23% a year earlier, according to RAJAR figures cited by Ofcom.
  • 27% of podcast listeners say they prefer to watch video podcasts, 39% prefer audio-only and 26% leave the video playing in the background (Ofcom Podcast Survey 2026).
  • Spotify (49%), BBC Sounds (45%) and YouTube (38%) are the services weekly UK listeners use most for podcasts.
  • Video podcasts are moving onto the TV: BBC's The Traitors: Uncloaked averaged 8 million viewers for its finale in Q1 2026, and YouTube says podcast viewing on living-room devices hit 700 million hours in October 2025.

Podcast reach is still growing in the UK

Ofcom's Audio listening in the UK 2026 report, published on 20 May 2026, says 27% of adults aged 15 and over now listen to podcasts each week. That is up from 23% in Q1 2025, based on RAJAR data. Count lighter listeners who tune in at least once a month and the figure rises to 35%.

Ofcom's Media Nations UK 2026 report, published on 29 July 2026, shows the longer-term picture. Using IPA TouchPoints data for Great Britain, monthly podcast listening has more than doubled since 2019, from 18% to 39% of adults. Include people who watch video podcasts and it reaches 43%.

Podcasts are also a key part of the wider speech-audio habit. Media Nations reports that 53% of UK adults listen to speech audio such as podcasts or talk radio each week, and that news and current affairs is the most popular podcast genre, heard by 47% of weekly podcast listeners.

Watch or listen? UK audiences are split

The headline finding of Ofcom's 2026 Podcast Survey is that "listening" no longer covers how people consume podcasts. Over two-thirds (68%) of weekly podcast listeners say they listen to podcasts that also have video.

When asked how they usually consume them:

  • 27% prefer to watch if a video version is available
  • 39% prefer audio-only
  • 26% often play the video version but do not actively watch it
  • 8% have no preference

Ofcom describes this as "increasing acceptance of – or perhaps ambivalence towards – video podcasts". The share with no preference and the share who leave the video on in the background each rose by 3 percentage points year on year.

Where people listen helps explain the split. Half of weekly listeners (49%) usually listen at home while relaxing, which suits video. But 38% listen while walking, 37% while doing housework and 33% while travelling by car, all of which suit audio.

YouTube is now central to UK podcasting

Weekly UK listeners use 2.68 services for podcasts on average. Spotify is the most used (49%), followed by BBC Sounds (45%) and YouTube (38%).

Video matters at the top of the charts too. Ofcom looked at Edison Podcast Metrics UK data for the most-listened-to podcasts of 2025. Across its age-group rankings, every title bar one has a video version on YouTube. The exception is The Archers. Among all adults 15+, The Joe Rogan Experience (10.1% of weekly listeners), The Diary of a CEO (6.2%) and The Rest Is Politics (5.8%) were the top three.

Ofcom also found a trust gap. YouTube podcast users were more likely than average to find podcasts with video more engaging. But 14% of them disagreed that "I trust what I hear in podcasts", compared with 10% across all services.

From podcast to prime time

The clearest 2026 trend is video podcasts crossing over to television. Ofcom found that 56% of weekly podcast listeners consume podcasts linked to TV programmes. Among them:

  • 59% say video podcasts have improved their TV viewing experience
  • 60% would like video podcasts for other programmes
  • 58% have listened to more podcasts as a result

Media Nations shows how big this can be. The BBC's companion series and "visualised podcast" The Traitors: Uncloaked averaged 8 million viewers for its finale, ranking third among the most-watched titles of Q1 2026 (Barb).

The big screen is also growing for YouTube in UK homes. Media Nations reports that average daily viewing of YouTube on a TV set rose from 9 minutes in 2022 to 19 minutes in 2025. That is an increase of 111%.

Globally, YouTube says it has more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content (as of January 2025). It also says viewers watched over 700 million hours of podcasts on living-room devices in October 2025, up from 400 million hours a year earlier. These are YouTube's own figures.

The US picture points the same way

Edison Research's The Infinite Dial 2026 found that 57% of Americans aged 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast. Weekly podcast consumption reached an all-time high of 45%. Edison's Megan Lazovick put it this way: "Video isn't replacing podcast audio. It's expanding the tent."

What this means for podcasters

The data does not say every show must be on camera. More UK listeners still prefer audio-only (39%) than video (27%), and much listening happens on the move. What it does suggest:

  • Plan for both formats. A strong audio mix still matters for the many people listening while walking, driving or doing chores.
  • Be on YouTube. It is one of the three main podcast services in the UK, and almost all of the UK's biggest shows have a video version there.
  • Think about the TV screen. Living-room viewing is growing, so framing, lighting and picture quality count.
  • Build trust. Ofcom's findings suggest audiences on video-first platforms can be more sceptical, so clear sourcing and credible presentation help.

Recording video and audio podcasts in London

London Podcasts, a Fitzrovia Post company, has 14 purpose-built recording studios, including four video podcast studios, at Academic House, 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DJ. To book, email bookings@londonpodcasts.co.uk or call 020 7209 3474.

Plan your London podcast production

Compare our Central London video podcast recording and audio podcast studio options, or discuss a corporate podcast production with our team.

See the BBC Curious Cases studio case study and check studio availability.

FAQ

How many people in the UK listen to podcasts?
According to RAJAR figures cited by Ofcom, 27% of UK adults aged 15+ listened to podcasts each week in Q1 2026, up from 23% in Q1 2025. 35% listen at least monthly.

Do UK audiences prefer video or audio podcasts?
Ofcom's Podcast Survey 2026 found 39% of podcast listeners prefer audio-only, 27% prefer to watch when video is available, and 26% play the video in the background without actively watching.

Which apps do UK listeners use most for podcasts?
Spotify is used by 49% of weekly podcast listeners, BBC Sounds by 45% and YouTube by 38%. Listeners use 2.68 services on average.

Are video podcasts appearing on TV?
Yes. Ofcom says video podcasts are converging with television. The BBC's The Traitors: Uncloaked averaged 8 million viewers for its finale in Q1 2026, and YouTube viewing on UK TV sets more than doubled between 2022 and 2025.

How many people watch podcasts on YouTube?
YouTube says it has more than 1 billion monthly active viewers of podcast content worldwide (as of January 2025), with over 700 million hours watched on living-room devices in October 2025.

Sources