Scotcast is a news and current affairs podcast produced by BBC Scotland. It provides analysis and discussion of Scottish politics, society and major news stories, often featuring BBC journalists, correspondents and guest contributors. It is presented by Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.[1]
History
Scotcast was launched on 13 January 2025 by BBC Scotland as part of a broader refresh of its news and current affairs output.[2][3] The podcast was introduced to expand the BBC’s digital offering in Scotland following the cancellation of The Nine and launch of BBC Reporting Scotland: News at Seven, providing on-demand political coverage alongside traditional television and radio programming.[4] Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, Scotcast aired interviews with the party leaders.[5][6][7]
2026 Scottish Parliament election
Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, Scotcast broadcast a series of interviews with leaders of Scotland’s main political parties, covering issues such as the constitution, the economy and party strategy.[6] In his interview, Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord discussed his recent defection from the Conservative Party, stating that the move had resulted in the loss of personal friendships while positioning himself within Nigel Farage’s party and its approach in Scotland.[8][9] Meanwhile, SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney used the platform to reiterate his support for Scottish independence, and claimed that racism has caused the rise in support for Reform UK in Scotland.[10]
Notable guests
Since the podcast’s launch in 2025, it has had a variety of notable guests including the Scottish party leaders and public figures including singer, Callum Beattie.[11]
Format
Episodes of Scotcast are generally released multiple times per week, depending on the news agenda. The format combines discussion, interviews and analysis, with an emphasis on making complex political issues accessible to a broad audience.
Topics covered include elections, government policy, constitutional issues such as Scottish independence, and major social and economic developments affecting Scotland.
Reception
Following the launch of Scotcast, Alison Rowat of The Herald stated that it was a “hit and miss”, describing its format as “being late to the party”.[12]
See also
References
- ^ “Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver – The NEN – North Edinburgh News”. The NEN – North Edinburgh News. 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ “BBC Scotland launches Scotcast news podcast”. BBC News. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ “BBC Scotland to launch new weekday morning show Radio Scotland Breakfast”. RadioToday. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ Roberts, Lizzie (2024-12-10). “BBC News Scotland adds new show and podcast after The Nine failure”. www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ “Scotcast podcast to interview six party leaders before Holyrood election – PodcastingToday”. podcastingtoday.co.uk. 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ a b “BBC podcast to interview leaders of six political parties including John Swinney”. Glasgow Times. 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ “BBC’s Scotcast to host Holyrood election interviews with party leaders”. ATV Today. 9 March 2026.
- ^ “Malcolm Offord ‘lost friends’ over decision to join Reform UK”. The National. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ “Malcolm Offord: I have lost friends by defecting to Reform UK”. The Scotsman. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ Media, Perspective (2026-03-19). “Rise of Reform partly due to racism, says John Swinney”. Perspective Media. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ “Callum Beattie: ‘The Scotland bus pulled up – that was me till 7am’“. BBC News. 2025-11-21. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ^ “Podcasts should be like eavesdropping on the next table in the pub”. The Herald. 2025-02-10. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
