# Goalhanger > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Goalhanger > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Goalhanger.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalhanger > Source revision: 1356322289 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British podcast company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Use British English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Goalhanger Podcasts Ltd | logo = Goalhanger_Logo.png | industry = [Media](/source/Mass_media) | founder = [Gary Lineker](/source/Gary_Lineker)
Tony Pastor
Jack Davenport | products = [Podcasts](/source/Podcasts) | location = [Kennington](/source/Kennington), London, England | website = {{URL|https://goalhanger.com}} }} '''Goalhanger Podcasts Ltd'''{{Cite web |date=13 January 2022 |title=Goalhanger Podcasts Ltd overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13846551 |access-date=22 January 2026 |website=[Companies House](/source/Companies_House) |language=en}} is a British podcast production and distribution company. According to the company, its 15 main shows collectively receive more than 75 million full-episode streams per month.{{Cite web |last=Ponsford |first=Dominic |date=2025-10-02 |title=UK's biggest podcast producer Goalhanger is now a video company |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/podcasts/uks-biggest-podcast-producer-goalhanger-is-now-a-video-company/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}} ==History== Goalhanger is a British media company co-founded by sports broadcaster and former professional footballer [Gary Lineker](/source/Gary_Lineker), along with Tony Pastor, former [ITV](/source/ITV_(TV_network)) controller of sport, and Jack Davenport, a former senior journalist at the [BBC](/source/BBC). Originally established as Goalhanger Films, the company initially focused on producing sports documentaries featuring figures such as [Wayne Rooney](/source/Wayne_Rooney).{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2022-06-17 |title=Gary Lineker's Goalhanger To Expand Podcast Output After Signing With WME |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/gary-lineker-goalhanger-expand-podcast-output-wme-1235032991/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} In 2018, the company expanded into podcast production, beginning with ''Behind Closed Doors'', a football-focused series featuring Lineker and broadcaster [Danny Baker](/source/Danny_Baker). In April 2019, it launched ''We Have Ways of Making You Talk'', a podcast centered on [World War II](/source/World_War_II), co-hosted by historian [James Holland](/source/James_Holland_(author)) and comedian [Al Murray](/source/Al_Murray).{{Cite news |title=Inside Gary Lineker's Goalhanger podcast empire as host ends Match of the Day tenure |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/gary-lineker-goalhanger-podcasts-bbc-match-of-the-day-b2645612.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220074254/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/gary-lineker-goalhanger-podcasts-bbc-match-of-the-day-b2645612.html |archive-date=20 December 2024 |access-date=2025-03-18 |work=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent) |language=en-GB |url-status=live }} Following the onset of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) in 2020, Goalhanger increased its focus on podcasting. In November 2020, the company launched ''[The Rest Is History](/source/The_Rest_Is_History_(podcast))'', hosted by historian [Dominic Sandbrook](/source/Dominic_Sandbrook) and author [Tom Holland](/source/Tom_Holland_(author)).{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Robin |date=2024-11-04 |title=Goalhanger: the evolution of a podcast powerhouse |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/magazine/goalhanger-the-evolution-of-a-podcast-powerhouse/5198802.article |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=[Broadcast](/source/Broadcast_(magazine))}} The company has since launched several other podcasts, including ''[The Rest Is Politics](/source/The_Rest_Is_Politics)'' (first published in March 2022), hosted by [Alastair Campbell](/source/Alastair_Campbell) — an advisor to former [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) prime minister [Tony Blair](/source/Tony_Blair) {{mdash}} and [Rory Stewart](/source/Rory_Stewart) {{mdash}} a former [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) MP who held various ministerial portfolios; ''Empire'' (first published in August 2022), presented by [William Dalrymple](/source/William_Dalrymple) and [Anita Anand](/source/Anita_Anand_(journalist)); and ''The Rest Is Football'' (first published in August 2023), co-hosted by Lineker, [Alan Shearer](/source/Alan_Shearer), and [Micah Richards](/source/Micah_Richards). {{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.goalhanger.com/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Goalhanger |language=en}}{{primary source inline|date=September 2025}} During the [2024 United Kingdom general election](/source/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election) campaign, ''The Rest Is Politics'' and ''[Leading](/source/Leading_(podcast))'' recorded over 21.6{{nbsp}}million downloads and full-episode views on YouTube.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-06 |title=Goalhanger Celebrates Record-Breaking Podcast Success |url=https://podnews.net/press-release/goalhanger-numbers |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=podnews.net |language=en}} During the 2024 [UEFA European Championship](/source/UEFA_European_Championship), ''The Rest Is Football'' received a combined total of 19.6{{nbsp}}million downloads and full-episode views on platforms it was published on. Since 2023, the company has introduced a subscription-based model for some shows, providing early access, bonus material, and priority entry to live events - contributing to steady growth in their paying audiences. {{Cite web |title=How Goalhanger used video on Spotify to reach 50 million monthly plays and increase earnings |url=https://creators.spotify.com/resources/case-study/goal-hanger-spotify-partner-program,%20https://creators.spotify.com/resources/case-study/goal-hanger-spotify-partner-program |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=creators.spotify.com |language=en}} An interview with Davenport in 2025 revealed that Goalhanger has over 200,000 paying members.{{Cite web |last=Ponsford |first=Dominic |date=2025-10-02 |title=UK's biggest podcast producer Goalhanger is now a video company |url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/podcasts/uks-biggest-podcast-producer-goalhanger-is-now-a-video-company/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Press Gazette |language=en-US}} In December 2025, [Netflix](/source/Netflix) signed a deal with Goalhanger to carry ''The Rest Is Football'' podcast during the [2026 FIFA World Cup](/source/2026_FIFA_World_Cup).{{Cite web |date=2025-12-03 |title=Gary Lineker takes The Rest is Football podcast to Netflix for 2026 World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14vxr0z3yxo |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In January 2026, [The Chernin Group](/source/TCG_(company)) ([Peter Chernin](/source/Peter_Chernin)’s investment group) took a minority stake in Goalhanger.{{Cite web |last=Goldbart |first=Max |date=2026-01-28 |title=The Chernin Group Takes Minority Stake in Gary Lineker’s ‘The Rest Is…’ Firm Goalhanger |url=https://deadline.com/2026/01/the-chernin-group-minority-stake-goalhanger-gary-lineker-1236699791/ |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} ==Programming== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ ! Title ! Genre ! Hosts ! First released |- | ''We Have Ways of Making You Talk'' | History | [Al Murray](/source/Al_Murray) and [James Holland](/source/James_Holland_(author)) | April 2, 2019 |- | ''[The Rest Is History](/source/The_Rest_Is_History_(podcast))'' | History | [Tom Holland](/source/Tom_Holland_(author)) and [Dominic Sandbrook](/source/Dominic_Sandbrook) | November 2, 2020 |- | ''[The Rest Is Politics](/source/The_Rest_Is_Politics)'' | Politics | [Alastair Campbell](/source/Alastair_Campbell) and [Rory Stewart](/source/Rory_Stewart) | March 2, 2022 |- | ''Battleground'' | History | Patrick Bishop and [Saul David](/source/Saul_David) | April 4, 2022 |- | ''[Empire](/source/Empire_(podcast))'' | History | [William Dalrymple](/source/William_Dalrymple) and [Anita Anand](/source/Anita_Anand_(journalist)) | August 16, 2022 |- | ''[The Rest Is Politics: Leading](/source/Leading_(podcast))'' | Politics | [Alastair Campbell](/source/Alastair_Campbell) and [Rory Stewart](/source/Rory_Stewart) | January 16, 2023 |- | ''The Rest Is Football'' | [Football](/source/Association_football) | [Gary Lineker](/source/Gary_Lineker), [Alan Shearer](/source/Alan_Shearer) and [Micah Richards](/source/Micah_Richards) | August 7, 2023 |- | ''The Rest Is Money'' | Economics | [Steph McGovern](/source/Steph_McGovern) and [Robert Peston](/source/Robert_Peston) | August 30, 2023 |- | ''[Sherlock & Co.](/source/Sherlock_%26_Co.)'' | Scripted podcast | Paul Waggott as [Doctor John Watson](/source/Doctor_John_Watson), Harry Attwell as [Sherlock Holmes](/source/Sherlock_Holmes), and Marta da Silva as [Mariana Ametxazurra](/source/Mrs._Hudson) | October 10, 2023 |- | ''[Football Clichés](/source/Adam_Hurrey)'' | Football | [Adam Hurrey](/source/Adam_Hurrey), Charlie Eccleshare and David Walker | October 17, 2023 |- | ''[The Rest Is Entertainment](/source/The_Rest_Is_Entertainment)'' | Entertainment | [Richard Osman](/source/Richard_Osman) and [Marina Hyde](/source/Marina_Hyde) | November 28, 2023 |- | ''Walking The Dog with Emily Dean'' | Interview series | Emily Dean | December 23, 2023 |- | ''The Rest Is Politics: US'' | Politics | [Anthony Scaramucci](/source/Anthony_Scaramucci) and [Katty Kay](/source/Katty_Kay) | May 24, 2024 |- | ''The Rest Is Classified'' | Intelligence | [David McCloskey](/source/David_McCloskey) and [Gordon Corera](/source/Gordon_Corera) | November 27, 2024 |- | ''Journey Through Time'' | History | [David Olusoga](/source/David_Olusoga) and [Sarah Churchwell](/source/Sarah_Churchwell) | March 20, 2025 |- | ''The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness'' | Football | [Millie Bright](/source/Millie_Bright) and [Rachel Daly](/source/Rachel_Daly) | April 15, 2025 |- | ''The Rest Is Football: LaLiga'' | Football | [Gary Lineker](/source/Gary_Lineker) and Alex Aljoe | August 19, 2025 |- | ''[The Rest Is Science](/source/The_Rest_Is_Science)'' | Science | [Michael Stevens](/source/Michael_Stevens_(YouTuber)) and [Hannah Fry](/source/Hannah_Fry) | November 25, 2025 |- | ''The Book Club'' | Literature | [Dominic Sandbrook](/source/Dominic_Sandbrook) and Tabitha Syrett | February 17, 2026 |} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Goalhanger}} Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Lambeth Category:Entertainment companies of the United Kingdom Category:Kennington Category:British podcasting companies Category:Sports podcasting companies --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Goalhanger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalhanger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalhanger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.