Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell are joining forces to host brand new Saturday and Sunday episodes of the hit BBC podcast – Newscast. The episodes will bring the BBC’s most listened to podcast to the UK, seven days a week for the first time.
Laura and Paddy will start hosting the weekend episodes on Saturday 2nd September and Sunday 3rd September. The new weekend line up marks Laura’s return to the Newscast family, having been a familiar voice on the show since it started.
The new weekend double act will bring Newscasters a chance to chew over the weekend’s news with two of the BBC’s most respected and best known journalists, with extra insights direct from their popular Sunday morning shows. The pair will head straight to Newscast HQ, from the TV and radio studio, bringing together TV, radio and podcasting for the first time, talking about what it was really like on air, and in the green room.
On Saturdays, the growing audience of Newscasters will hear what it was like prepping for the pair’s two flagship shows – Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, as well as hearing about the biggest stories of the moment. They’ll also answer questions from viewers and listeners, and the new Weekend Newscasters.
Paddy and Laura are two of the BBC’s best known voices, and will bring their experience and wit to the growing community of Newscasters, bringing a special weekend twist to the audience, which has increased by more than thirty percent in the last year.
Expanding to seven days and the signing of Laura and Paddy to Newscast is a big commitment from the BBC for its premier News Podcast, ahead of the next UK General Election. Newscast weekday hosts are Adam Fleming and BBC Political Editor, Chris Mason.
Laura Kuenssberg says: “I’m delighted to be getting back behind the Newscast mic, with a brand new show, and a brand new podcasting partner! Paddy’s broadcasting genius is to make you laugh out loud while you’re learning. I can’t wait to try to make sense together of what just happened in our TV and Radio studios on Sunday mornings. And I’m thrilled to be reunited regularly with the Newscast audience, with their sparky questions and fantastic feedback, especially now we’re on the road to the General Election. Get the coffee on!”
Paddy O’Connell says: “It’s the best BBC decision since Colour TV. Millions choose TV or Radio on Sunday mornings but never before have we joined forces. Only Newscast can make this happen. Laura is the platinum-selling political journalist in the UK. I’m hoping Broadcasting House listeners start a new podcasting habit by listening on a Saturday and Sunday morning. It’s time for Podcasting House.”
Source
BBC Sounds
