Ant & Dec Launch Their First Podcast: Local Radio Hosts Weigh In

Ant & Dec's 'Hanging Out' and Why Regional Creators Should Pay Attention

Hook: If you run a regional radio show or a local podcast, you’ve probably felt the pressure: national stars move into podcasting and everyone asks, "Is it too late?" Ant & Dec’s new podcast, Hanging Out, proves the real question is different — how you enter matters more than when.

Quick answer for busy creators

Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out podcast launch in January 2026 is a late-but-strategic move that underscores three trends local hosts must learn from: cross-platform repurposing, the power of celebrity-led long-form conversation, and the value of community-first promotion. Read on for practical steps you can use next week.

What happened: the launch in context

In early 2026 the TV duo Ant & Dec announced Hanging Out as part of their new Belta Box digital channel — a roll-up of short video, classic TV clips and new digital formats that will be distributed across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and podcast platforms. The move follows a late-2025 surge in creators treating podcasts as an integrated slice of a multi-format content strategy rather than a standalone product.

This matters to local radio and podcast hosts because Ant & Dec’s strategy isn't just about starting a podcast — it's about embedding audio into a broader content ecosystem that feeds discovery back to owned platforms, and then monetising via multiple streams.

Voices from the regions: what local hosts are saying

We spoke with three regional voices to get behind-the-scenes reactions and extract lessons:

• Maya Reed, drive-time host at Coastline FM (south-west England):

  'Ant & Dec throwing themselves into podcasting now doesn't intimidate me. It just shows how valuable cross-platform strategy is. If they can take clips from TV, clip them to Reels and push listeners to long-form, we should be doing the reverse — push long-form to local live experiences.'

• Tomás Byrne, presenter and podcaster at Belfast Shore Radio:

  'What they have is attention and a built-in audience. For regional creators, the lesson is focus: pick one show format that serves your community, then repurpose aggressively. Ant & Dec's timing is late but smart — they’re leveraging an existing brand to own a new channel.'

• Harriet Cole, indie podcaster and former local radio presenter, SoundWave Radio (south coast):

  'A celebrity podcast can normalise the format for mainstream audiences here. That helps local creators who want to move listeners from FM to podcast. But we still win on local stories and live events — that’s our competitive edge.'

The strategic playbook behind ‘late but strategic’ moves

Ant & Dec’s launch is an example of a strategic late entry. National names can still enter a mature market successfully by:

1. Owning the audience funnel: using video, clips, and live formats to funnel fans to long-form audio.
2. Leveraging brand equity: converting TV trust into podcast listens quickly with minimal friction.
3. Repurposing content: clipping episodes into snackable social bites that drive discovery.
4. Testing formats fast: short episodes, live Q&As, and interactive formats let them iterate.

How this changes UK entertainment media (and why local creators should care)

By 2026 the UK entertainment ecosystem has more interlocking channels than ever: video short-form, podcasts, live streamed concerts, and AI-personalised newsletters. Ant & Dec’s move signals three shifts:

• Integration over isolation: Podcasts are now one node in a creator’s channel map — not the end product.
• Short-form accelerants: TikTok and Reels clips are primary discovery paths even for long-form audio.
• Event-first monetisation: Live ticketed shows, hybrid events and membership tiers are now mainstream revenue channels.

Actionable lessons for regional creators

If you manage a local radio station, run a community podcast, or are a solo creator, here are practical, step-by-step tactics inspired by this launch that you can apply immediately.

1. Choose one signature format — and own it

Ant & Dec are starting with a simple promise: 'we'll just hang out' — clarity helps. For local creators, this might be a weekly local interview, a community investigation, or a 20-minute drive-time companion. Pick one format and make it recognisable.

• Duration: test 15, 30 and 45-minute episodes and commit to the length that your audience prefers for three months.
• Cadence: weekly is the most sustainable for local shows.

2. Build a cross-platform funnel

Don’t expect listeners to find you on audio alone. Use short-form clips, live streams and email to create a discovery loop.

• Repurpose: produce 3–5 vertical clips per episode (20–90 seconds) optimised for TikTok and Instagram Reels.
• Video-first: record video versions of your shows even if you publish audio only — video becomes social-native content.
• CTA placement: always include a clear subscribe CTA and a local hook (event, hotline, local guest) in every clip.

3. Use modern tooling to level up production

2026 brings mature remote recording and AI editing tools — use them to reduce friction.

• Recording platforms: Riverside.fm and Zencastr for multi-track remote; record local shows with multi-mic setup for live events.
• Editing & transcripts: Descript for quick edits and auto-transcripts; Hindenburg for broadcast-style production.
• Noise & mixing: use AI tools (iZotope RX, Descript Studio Sound) to remove background noise and equalise voices.
• Hosting & analytics: choose hosts such as Acast, Libsyn or Podbean that support dynamic ad insertion and centralised RSS management.

4. Repurpose strategically — not shapelessly

Ant & Dec will cut classic TV and fresh clips. Local creators should focus on moments that tell a short, local story.

• Create two clips per episode: one emotional hook (listener story or reveal) and one informational clip (event details or resources).
• Use timestamps and detailed show notes for SEO — this improves discoverability on Google Podcast Search and YouTube.

5. Community-first audience building

Regional creators have an advantage — place. Convert local loyalty into subscriptions and attendance.

• Local partnerships: partner with venues, festivals and local newspapers to co-promote episodes and live shows.
• Listener involvement: invite listener phone-ins, community updates, and local Q&As to increase shareability.
• Events: experiment with small ticketed live recordings hosted at cafes or theatre bars — these are both revenue and PR. See our field techniques for running short tours in the Field Report: Running a Weeklong Micro‑Event Tour.

6. Monetisation paths that work in 2026

Dynamic ad insertion, membership tiers and hybrid ticketing now drive sustainable income.

• Sponsorships: sell localised ad slots to businesses — dynamic ad platforms let you swap ads by geography.
• Memberships: offer bonus episodes, ad-free feeds, and members-only live chats via Patreon or a hosted membership tool.
• Events & merch: local merch and live shows often yield the highest margin per fan.

Podcast strategy checklist for the next 90 days

Follow this timeline to launch or refresh your local show using lessons from Ant & Dec’s approach.

1. Week 1: Define format, episode length, and publishing schedule. Create branding assets (logo, cover art, short intro music).
2. Week 2: Record 3 pilot episodes with video. Edit to produce both full audio and 3–5 vertical clips per episode.
3. Week 3: Set up hosting (Acast/Libsyn), submit RSS to Apple and Spotify, and create YouTube channel playlists.
4. Week 4–6: Launch with at least three episodes. Run a local promo: partner with a venue or community centre for a launch event.
5. Months 2–3: Iterate based on analytics (listener drop-off, clip performance) and increase local sponsorship outreach.

Advanced strategies: standing out in 2026

Looking beyond basics, here are strategies to grow faster and more sustainably.

Hybrid live formats

Combine pre-recorded episodes with a live monthly show with an in-person audience. Livestream the recording and clip highlights for social. Ant & Dec will likely use this to keep engagement high across channels. See tips from the micro-tour field report for staging and logistics.

AI-assisted customisation

Use AI to auto-generate personalised episode recommendations in newsletters and to produce short, custom clips for listener segments. Early 2026 saw tools that can create personalised audio intros and episode highlights at scale; use them sparingly and transparently. If you want a quick starter kit for shipping small creator tools, check this micro-app starter: Ship a micro-app in a week.

SEO & discoverability

Good show notes and transcripts are now non-negotiable. Google’s improved audio indexing in 2025/26 rewards structured metadata.

• Always publish transcripts and time-stamped show notes.
• Use local keywords — town names, venues, and region-specific topics — in titles and descriptions.
• Optimise YouTube uploads with captions and chapters.

Case study: A regional boost from local events

At Coastline FM, host Maya Reed converted a regular drive-time segment into a weekend podcast. By hosting a monthly live show at a local arts centre and clipping those recordings for social, Coastline increased podcast subscribers by 40% over six months and sold out the venue three times. Her tactic: pair a reliable format with live local experiences and cross-promote with venue mailing lists. That mirrors what Ant & Dec will likely scale nationally.

Risks and how to manage them

Celebrity podcasts attract attention but also competition. For local creators, risks include being drowned out by national names and over-indexing on trends. Manage risk by:

• Double-down on local exclusives: unique interviews, local audio archives, and community panels.
• Invest in quality: good audio & clear publishing routines win loyalty.
• Maintain authenticity: audiences can tell when a show is trying to imitate a celebrity format.

Measuring success: metrics that matter

Beyond downloads, prioritise engagement and monetisable actions.

• Subscriber growth: new feed subscribers per week.
• Retention: average completion rate by episode.
• Clip performance: views and click-throughs from short-form to full episode.
• Local conversion: tickets sold, sponsor leads, and newsletter sign-ups.

Final takeaways: Why Ant & Dec’s timing is a lesson, not a threat

Ant & Dec’s Hanging Out illustrates that a late entry can be highly effective if it is: focused, cross-platform, and community-aware. For regional radio and podcast hosts, the path forward is clear: use your local advantage, adopt modern tools, and build content systems where short-form feeds long-form and live moments feed the channel ecosystem.

'Timing is tactical; strategy is permanent,' says Tomás Byrne. 'Your local edge is lived experience — lean into it.'

Get started: a quick 5-step checklist

1. Define your one-sentence show promise and episode cadence.
2. Record 3 episodes with video, edit for audio and clips.
3. Set up hosting and RSS, submit to Apple/Spotify/YouTube.
4. Publish with transcripts, show notes, and local keywords.
5. Run a live or hybrid event within 60 days to convert listeners to attendees.

Call to action

If you run a local show, start this week: pick your format and record a pilot. Want a practical guide? Subscribe to our weekly Creator Toolkit for templates (launch checklist, clip scripts, sponsor email templates) and join a live workshop next month on converting radio listeners to podcast subscribers. Ant & Dec launched their first podcast in 2026 — there’s still plenty of room for local creators to lead the next wave.

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