Jake Bhardwaj set to bring comedy energy to the 2026 British Podcast Awards
The 2026 British Podcast Awards will celebrate a decade of British podcasting when the ceremony arrives at Indigo at The O2 in London on Thursday 1 October. Comedian and podcaster Jake Bhardwaj will host the milestone event, which will feature more than 200 nominees competing across 29 categories.
Key takeaways
Jake Bhardwaj will host the 2026 British Podcast Awards.
The ceremony takes place on Thursday 1 October at Indigo at The O2, London.
The tenth-anniversary event will recognise nominees across 29 categories.
Awards include Best Interview Podcast, Best Host and Spotify’s Listener’s Choice Award.
For Comedy in Your Eye audiences, the announcement is another reminder of how closely comedy and podcasting now overlap. From intimate live nights at The Camden Eye to major industry ceremonies, comedians are increasingly using conversation, storytelling and audience connection to reach people beyond the traditional stage.
A host with strong podcasting credentials
Bhardwaj brings experience on both sides of the microphone. He co-hosts Joe Marler Will See You Now and The Pub Quiz Pod with comedian Liam Shaw, giving him a natural understanding of the rhythm, spontaneity and quick thinking required to keep a live awards show moving.
He also created Not Another Quiz Night, a late-night variety show that appeared at the Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. His background in producing major comedy programmes, including The Last Leg and Late Night Lycett, adds further live-production experience to his new role.
From television to the live comedy circuit
Bhardwaj has appeared in the BBC One sitcom Ann Droid and currently hosts the pub quiz segment on Joe Lycett’s Channel 4 programme The Lycett Arms. That mix of television, podcasting and live performance makes him a fitting choice for an awards ceremony built around outspoken and creative voices.
His style should also appeal to fans who enjoy professional comedy in relaxed settings. At Comedy in Your Eye, weekly Tuesday and Thursday shows at The Camden Eye offer a welcoming, intimate alternative to larger venues, with high-calibre comedians and the excitement of discovering a top-secret lineup.
A noisy celebration of podcasting
Reacting to the announcement, Bhardwaj described the hosting opportunity as an honour and said he was looking forward to celebrating the people making the podcast industry so creatively vibrant. He also joked that a room full of people who talk for a living was likely to produce a particularly noisy evening.
The ceremony’s tenth anniversary gives the 2026 event extra significance. With categories spanning interviews, presenting and listener favourites, the awards will showcase the range of formats and talent shaping the UK podcast landscape. For London comedy fans, it is another date to put in the diary alongside the city’s regular live opportunities, including Comedy in Your Eye’s affordable, award-winning nights at The Camden Eye.
Comedian and actor, Jake Bhardwaj announced as host of the 2026 British Podcast Awards, London Post.
Jake Bhardwaj to host British Podcast Awards, PodcastingToday.