Voices That Carved the Way: Five pioneers of UK podcasting

Before podcasting became a fixture of British culture, a handful of creative risk-takers were already pressing record. These were the early adopters, the innovators, the comedians, journalists, and audio obsessives who helped shape the UK’s podcasting identity – long before everyone had a podcast and a Patreon.

From comedy to true crime, DIY setups to studio-backed series, here are five of the most important pioneers in UK podcasting whose influence still echoes in earbuds today.

1. Ricky Gervais – The Ricky Gervais Show

Let’s start with the obvious: you simply can’t talk about the early days of UK podcasting without Ricky Gervais.

Launched in 2005 with co-creators Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, The Ricky Gervais Show was one of the first podcasts to truly go global. It became a record-breaking hit, racking up millions of downloads and even being adapted into an HBO animated series.

But more than that, it proved podcasts could be funny, weird, and wildly successful. Pilkington’s deadpan logic became cult legend, and the show’s format – casual, unscripted, laugh-heavy – set a template for comedy pods that still holds today.

Why it matters: It was the UK’s first real podcasting juggernaut, and arguably kickstarted the entire scene.

2. Helen Zaltzman – Answer Me This! and The Allusionist

Before podcasting was mainstream, Helen Zaltzman was already making it sound smart, strange, and supremely listenable.

Answer Me This!, co-hosted with Olly Mann, debuted in 2007. It was funny, fast-paced, and famously DIY – produced in Zaltzman’s living room long before remote recording was the norm. It won awards, drew in a loyal fanbase, and showed that indie podcasters could punch above their weight.

Later, Zaltzman launched The Allusionist, a beautifully produced podcast about language, which became a cornerstone of the Radiotopia network and cemented her status as one of podcasting’s most innovative voices.

Why it matters: Zaltzman was one of the first UK podcasters to make a living from audio and remains a champion of independent creators.

3. Benjamin Fitton – They Walk Among Us

True crime has become one of podcasting’s biggest genres – and Benjamin Fitton helped give it a distinctly British voice.

Launched in 2016, They Walk Among Us brought a UK-centric approach to true crime: restrained, respectful, and meticulously researched. Unlike many US shows, it avoided sensationalism, focusing instead on lesser-known cases and the quiet horror of everyday tragedies.

The podcast grew from a passion project into a multi-award-winning franchise, with millions of downloads and dedicated fans around the world.

Why it matters: Fitton helped define the tone of UK true crime podcasting and proved that slow, thoughtful storytelling can still grip a massive audience.

4. Deborah Frances-White – The Guilty Feminist

Blending comedy, confession, and activism, The Guilty Feminist broke the mould when it launched in 2016 – and helped usher feminism into the mainstream podcast space.

Hosted by comedian Deborah Frances-White, the show brought live-audience energy to deeply personal and political topics. With its signature format (“I’m a feminist but…”), it gave space for contradiction and complexity – qualities that traditional media often overlooks.

The podcast quickly became a cultural touchstone, leading to sold-out tours, a bestselling book, and spin-offs tackling race, identity, and justice.

Why it matters: Frances-White proved podcasts could be both funny and revolutionary – and helped bring feminist discourse to thousands who might never have picked up a theory book.

5. Greg Jenner – You’re Dead To Me

Greg Jenner is the historical consultant behind Horrible Histories, but in 2019, he brought his sharp wit and deep knowledge to podcasting with You’re Dead To Me.

Combining expert guests with comedians, the show is part history lesson, part comedy club – and a rare example of a BBC podcast that cracked both the top charts and the classroom.

Its success has helped broaden the idea of what an “educational” podcast can be: accessible, entertaining, and endlessly memeable.

Why it matters: Jenner showed that podcasts can teach without preaching – and that history has a home in modern audio.

Final Thoughts

These five figures didn’t just make podcasts – they shaped the UK’s entire podcasting culture. They proved the medium could be funny, fearless, and profoundly human. They gave us permission to speak freely, listen closely, and laugh loudly.

In a world now flooded with pods, their pioneering voices still remind us what podcasting is really about: connection.