Data Reveals 73% of Podcast Fans Listen to Comedy Shows when Driving

While books are cool and television shows are great, podcasts allow us to absorb knowledge and entertainment without stopping what we’re doing.

The format of podcasts means we can listen to all our favourite topics while exercising, cooking and, of course, driving.

In the UK, 44% of us listen to a podcast while driving – but what genre piques our interest the most?

A recent survey of over 100 drivers conducted by leading online car marketplace cinch found that 73% of podcast fans prefer to listen to comedy shows when driving. The true crime genre came in second (33%), with sports in third place (26%).

Sam Sheehan, motoring and lifestyle editor at cinch, said: “The popularity of podcasts continues to soar. What makes them so valuable is that there’s something for everyone.

“Whether you’re a businessperson driving a BMW 3 Series to a client appointment, or a stay-at-home parent doing the hectic school run in an Audi Q3, there’s bound to be a podcast suited to your tastes.”

Here, cinch explores who’s listening to what, when, and why.

Comedy

The survey revealed that most people enjoy a chuckle as they drive from A to B. Out of the 73% of people who chose comedy as a favoured genre, the most popular shows were:

• Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster (26%)

• Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Parenting Hell (13%)

• NearlyWeds by Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo (13%)

• Elis James and John Robins by Elis James and John Robins (11%)

• Saving Grace by Grace Keeling (7%)

• Sh**ged Married Annoyed by Chris and Rosie Ramsey (7%)

A recent report revealed that the UK is in a national ‘laughter deficit’, meaning comedic podcasts have become even more precious. If you can’t remember the last time you had a good old giggle, hop in your car and load up a podcast.

True Crime

Moving on from the ha-has to the oh-nos, the survey data demonstrates the popularity of true crime podcasts, with the genre receiving 33% of the vote. There’s nothing quite like cruising down the A1 as experts examine a heinous crime and the chilling actions of the people responsible.

In response to the survey, various true crime shows were highlighted by eager listeners, including They Walk Among Us; RedHanded and My Favourite Murder. Each explores a broad range of cases from the baleful to the bizarre.

Sports

26% of survey respondents cited the sports genre as a driving favourite. As of 2021, it was predicted that there were more than 43,000 podcasts in this category alone. Content typically includes sports news, predictions and the analysis of various matches and games.

The High Performance Podcast, which covers not just sport but the world of business and entertainment, was the most popular among those who prefer sports podcasts, followed by Rugby Union Weekly; Football Ramble and 5 Live Boxing.

Music is so last year

Podcasts are the new driving force behind modern entertainment. The length of a podcast will depend on factors such as format, category and depth of information, so they range from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

This means they can be ideal to listen to while driving because you can match the length of an episode with your commute time.

The cinch research revealed that 16 to 30 minutes is the average commute time for 41% of drivers surveyed, with 31 to 45 minutes coming second (28%) and 46 to 60 minutes coming third (16%).

So, there you have it. Did you spot your favourite genre or show in this list? Perhaps this is your sign to put the brakes on your usual tastes and try something different.