2023 has been an amazing year for BBC World Service Podcasts, scooping more awards and launching successful new titles across a range of genres.

There is lots to look forward to in 2024. In January we launch the highly-anticipated Hollywood Exiles hosted by Oona Chaplin; season 2 of the BBC’s investigative podcast World of Secrets, and we will release more Amazing Sport Stories. Also early in 2024, season 3 of Dear Daughter will start and U.Me: The Complete Musical will be released, narrated by Stephen Fry and building on the success of the first instalment in 2021.

The recently launched The Global Story with Katya Adler will continue to provide insight into one big news story each weekday. We’ll have plenty more thought-provoking storytelling from The Documentary and Lives Less Ordinary. The BBC’s biggest podcast, the Global News Podcast, will continue to round up the news with12 episodes a week.

In case you missed these gems, below are some of our favourite podcasts from 2023 – all available on BBC Sounds.

Love, Janessa

The words Love, Janessa are written in white text on a black speech bubble and appear across the face of a woman who is pictured in black and white. The background is orange.
Behind every catfish, there’s a bait. Who is Janessa Brazil? Stolen images of an adult entertainment star are being used to con victims out of thousands of dollars, breaking hearts in the process. She is the unwitting human face of a digital con.

Journalist Hannah Ajala embarks on a quest to find Janessa, in this 7-part true crime series. Who is responsible for these catfishing scams using Janessa’s image?

Hannah Ajala won the silver award for Rising Star at the British Podcast Awards 2023 for her work on Love, Janessa and the podcast has also won an AIB award in the Human Interest Radio/Audio/Podcast category; won Best Limited Series at the Black Podcast Awards; was nominated for a Rose d’Or award in Audio Entertainment category, and was nominated for the Best True Crime podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2023.

Listen to Love, Janessa on BBC Sounds below.

The Lazarus Heist Season 2

Investigators claim a secretive ring of elite North Korean hackers is responsible for the theft of billions of dollars around the globe. Nicknamed the Lazarus Group, The Lazarus Heist season 2 reveals that these hackers are now accused of more bank heists, teaming up with sophisticated dark web criminals. The group’s tactics have been evolving, faster than investigators can keep up. While North Korea is often characterised as a closed, secretive country, The Lazarus Heist season 2 investigates claims that the Lazarus Group has connected with partners in crime around the world. North Korea says it has nothing to do with the cybercrimes, saying the United States is making these allegations to try and tarnish its image. The Lazarus Heist season 2 follows on from the success of season 1, which was nominated for a Peabody award.

It is presented by journalist Jean Lee, who opened the first and only US news bureau in North Korea, and Geoff White, an investigative journalist covering tech and organised crime.

Listen to The Lazarus Heist on BBC Sounds below

Fukushima

Fukushima is a seven-part audio drama series from the BBC World Service, exploring the 2011 nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.

In March 2011, the largest earthquake ever recorded in Japan’s history triggered a tsunami which sent five to ten metre waves into coastal towns and cities, killing thousands. Water barrelled over the seawall protecting the Fukushima nuclear power plant, flooding its basements and cutting power. It led to the world’s most severe nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

The stricken power plant became a ticking timebomb, a threat to life in Japan and beyond. As the energy company and politicians in Tokyo lost control, the reactors became unstable and a “suicide squad” of older workers was sent inside.

Akiko is a journalism student who, 10 years after the disaster, goes in search of the story behind the headlines, of how it unfolded and the consequences for the country.

Fukushima is narrated by twice Golden Globe nominated actress Romola Garai, and stars Togo Igawa, Ami Okumura Jones and Eiji Mihari.

Listen to Fukushima on BBC Sounds below.

Amazing Sport Stories

This podcast is about sport but not as you know it. You don’t need to be obsessed with sport or even a sports fan to find yourself immersed in these stories. Think underdogs, myths and drama.

Amazing Sport Stories is about courage, rulebreakers and expecting the unexpected. We’ve searched the world for these amazing tales, which will be told in a combination of mini-seasons and one-off episodes.

The first mini season, Frozen Out, is presented by Canadian ice hockey legend, double Olympic gold medallist and broadcaster, Cassie Campbell-Pascall. It tells the story of Canadian 12-year-old, Justine Blainey, who wanted to play ice hockey with the boys but when she was told she couldn’t, fought for equality in the sport and even started a legal battle.

Another mini season, The Curse of County Mayo, explores the apparent curse put on an Irish Gaelic football team by a priest for failing to pay their respects at a funeral. Is the curse real and if not, why haven’t they won a final since 1951?

There are stories lined up from Zambia, Iran and the Himalayas, and others that delve into sports stories you may not even know exist.

Listen to Amazing Sport Stories on BBC Sounds below.

What in the World

A new daily news podcast aimed at 16 to 24 year olds, What in the World is available daily Mondays to Fridays. Hosted by Hannah Gelbart, each episode explains global news stories and events for those with curious minds, helping listeners to make sense of what’s happening in the world. It aims to increase listeners’ understanding and knowledge across a range of topics. For example, episodes might ask, “What can we learn from the extreme weather in India?” or “What is happening with migrants in Tunisia?”.

The podcast features BBC journalists from the BBC’s 42 language services around the world as frequent guests, providing a view of the world from where they live, the stories they’re covering and the questions they keep getting asked. Episodes are shaped by the questions the audience are asking, the content they are sharing and will also explore possible solutions. They are easily accessible at 9 to 15 minutes long.

Listen to What in the World on BBC Sounds below.

Discover more Podcasts on BBC Sounds below.