By George

At last a podcast that takes the medium to its limit, created by someone who loves listening, understands how it can take the imagination to places visual images alone cannot, and wants to make use of this, not just for fun but with real intent. Have You Heard George’s Podcast? was last week awarded UK Podcast of the Year, and rightly so. I’ve never heard anything quite like it. At times George’s playfulness and gift for exploring the full meaning of the words he uses reminded me of early Tom Stoppard; other episodes were more like a Radio 1Xtra documentary about life on the street or the rise of drill. Each of the eight episodes tackles different themes, from the riots of 2011 to the Grenfell fire via an ideas war inside George’s head. They all play at different lengths so would never fit into a conventional schedule — but they’re never too rambling or self-indulgent. Music is the backbone, but it’s not invasive. The production is sophisticated, easy on the ear.

George himself has a made-for-radio microphone technique, his voice melodic, his manner intimate. To my mind he outdid the first of this year’s The Reith Lectures for making me think differently about current issues, using drama and documentary as well as punchy street poetry to bring them to life. One episode, on knife crime, begins with George sitting in a park watching his nephews at play. What will happen to them? Where will they be in 20 years’ time? Some he reckons might be dead; others involved in drugs. What is the future for young black kids? How will the criminal justice system treat them?

In the final episode he gives free play to his imagination, and to his fears about whether he can keep on making a successful podcast.