The Good, The Bad & The Football has strengthened its position in the football podcast landscape by renewing its hosts and unveiling a new set.
Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness have committed to a further two years with Platform Media, after the show’s debut season saw it reach over 750 million cross-social views and 20 million longform views and listens, totalling 7 million hours consumed across podcast platforms and YouTube in under twelve months.
The new season introduces an expanded line-up of guests from both sport and entertainment, building on appearances in the first year from figures such as Angry Ginge, Niall Horan and Robbie Fowler.
A key change for the new season is the move to a set inspired by a retro working men’s club, reflecting the North West roots of the hosts.
The design features Manchester United memorabilia, pool cues and a darts board, to create a familiar and authentic atmosphere for viewers.
Recent data shows that 70% of the show’s audience now watches via YouTube and Spotify Video, underlining the importance of a strong visual identity.
The new set is intended to create a distinctive environment across full episodes, clips and social content, combining the feel of a traditional club with the energy of football fandom.
The podcast has evolved beyond match analysis, with unscripted banter and disagreements between the hosts proving a major draw for listeners.
The show’s subscriber base on YouTube has reached 180,000, up 44% in the last six months, and it has been shortlisted for ‘Best Sport’ at the British Podcast Awards.
Midnite has extended its sponsorship into the new season, following a World Cup period that saw record engagement for the partnership.
Conor Hewitt, Head of Sport at Platform Media, commented: “The growth we’ve seen from The Good, The Bad & The Football in its first year has been phenomenal, and it’s a testament to Paul, Nicky and Paddy’s chemistry and the show’s honest, fan-first approach.
“Securing them for a further two years, alongside Midnite’s continued backing, sets us up to build on that momentum and keep pushing the show into new territory.”
Paddy McGuinness said: “I always have a proper laugh making this show, and the way fans have taken to it makes it even more brilliant. Roll on the new episodes, and the new studio.”
Paul Scholes added: “We couldn’t have asked for a better first year. The numbers speak for themselves, but what means more is hearing how much fans enjoy the show every week. Excited to keep going and see where the next two years take us.”
Nicky Butt said: “It’s been brilliant to see how far the show has come in a year. New set, new guests, same honest football chat, can’t wait for fans to see what’s next.”
New episodes are available weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms.
