Pick of the Podcasts: Jools and Jim’s Joyride, We Didn’t Start The Fire, Call of the Wild

Jools And Jim’s Joyride, Apple Podcasts, Spotify

We’re all desperate for a bit of travel now, but you might have to settle for an unlikely duo to help you experience it in some small way.

Surreal comedian Vic Reeves, also known as Jim Moir, has teamed up with BBC2 music host Jools Holland for a new podcast based around travelling.

The series looks at their own experiences as well as those of their celebrity guests, including singer Jessie Ware, actress Sally Phillips and former Formula One world champion Damon Hill.

The pair seemed to hit it off on Jool’s Hootenanny show, where Jim is a regular guest, and last year teamed up after a stint on Celebrity Gogglebox.

Jools said: “This was the beginning of it as one of the people producing it said, ‘You two should do a podcast together…’

“I think we were talking over the bits we were supposed to look at. I don’t think they realised that we were going to take him at his word. And we have.

“It was partly because we realised it wasn’t like hard work, it was enjoyable to do.

“It was just like having chats with friends. Even if it is with some people we don’t know particular well.

“Although most of the people who have been on this are our friends, so you are hearing genuine conversations between people rather than invented ones, I suppose.”

For Vic, the show’s relaxed nature is part of its appeal.

“I think it fits in with the current trend where things are casual,” he said. “There is nothing forced about it. It’s not an interview.”

“We are very interested in characters and we get people who we think might have equal interest in the things that might be quite mundane really.”

Travel? These days, it seems anything but mundane.

We Didn’t Start The Fire, Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Billy Joel didn’t just write an unforgettable smash-hit with his single We Didn’t Start The Fire. He also created the most fascinating, random and original history of the post-war world – all the people, places and events that explain why the world today is as it is.

Each episode sees Katie Puckrik and Tom Fordyce examine a new lyric from this one song. A strange but entirely compelling concept.

Call Of The Wild, Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Care about the fate of the planet? You probably should. Call Of The Wild, the new podcast hosted by Cel Spellman has launched with Sir David Attenborough as the first guest.

Sir David gives his number one tip to turn around the environmental crisis and start repairing our relationship with the natural world, and gives advice to young people who want to avert a climate crisis.