The Prison Radio Association’s Hold or Fold has won Podcast of the Year and Best Factual Podcast at the 2026 British Podcast Awards.
The ceremony took place October 1 at Indigo at The O2 in London, England. Organizers confirmed the results in an October 2 announcement published by Podnews.
The program explores lives affected by gambling. Its recognition puts specialist audio storytelling alongside the larger entertainment, news and celebrity programs competing for podcast audiences.
The award announcement also recognized programs across documentary, comedy, education, news and other categories. Hold or Fold received the overall top honor in addition to its factual-program award.
The RNN question: How does a specialist program build an audience while protecting the people whose difficult experiences make its reporting possible?
For independent producers, the useful follow-up reaches beyond the trophy: funding, participant consent, editing decisions, distribution and support after publication. An award establishes recognition by the judges; it does not by itself establish audience size or financial sustainability.
For local radio and independent podcasters, the result highlights an editorial possibility: build a series around a clearly defined issue and the people who know it firsthand.
Source: British Podcast Awards’ official winners announcement via Podnews.