Apple Announces ‘The Rest Is History’ as 2025 Podcast of the Year

Apple is praising the British podcast series The Rest Is History, which is presented by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

The series, which comes from Goalhanger, the firm created by legendary English soccer player Gary Lineker, has been selected the 2025 Show of the Year by Apple Podcasts.

Hysterical, Slow Burn, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Wiser Than Me are the three past recipients of this award, which is granted to podcasts that “demonstrate quality and cultural impact.”

The first UK-based show to win Show of the Year is The Rest Is History.

The podcast has had a successful year; between November 2024 and October 2025, it ranked 17th globally in terms of listeners and tenth in terms of new followers. U.S. monthly listeners increased by 37% over the previous 12 months.

Additionally, Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse is adapting the show for television.

Historical occurrences including the collapse of the Roman Empire, the sinking of the Titanic, and World Wars I and II are all included in the series. Additionally, it recently hosted Disney CEO Bob Iger for a unique series of shows with a Mouse House theme.

Sandbrook said that he believes the success of the podcast comes from the fact that it doesn’t “moralize”. “We don’t judge the past, and we approach it in a spirit of real enthusiasm. We don’t look down on people in the past. We just try to enjoy it, to relish the madness, the bonkers-ness of people,” he added.

Holland added that the award was the “biggest thrill imaginable”. “We’re the first British podcast to win it, so that’s a cause for patriotic pride. I feel particularly delighted that it’s Apple who has recognized us. I couldn’t be more delighted and honored,” he added.

The Rest Of… franchise includes several more titles, such as The Rest Is Football, The Rest Is Entertainment, The Rest Is Money, The Rest Is Classified, and The Rest Is Politics. Lineker co-founded Goalhanger with Tony Pastor.

“This is an incredible moment for Goalhanger and a richly deserved recognition for Tom and Dominic,” said Pastor. “From the very start, we knew The Rest Is History was something special. It is a master class in intelligent, witty, and deeply engaging storytelling that makes history accessible to millions. To be the first UK-based show named Apple Podcasts’ Show of the Year is a fantastic honor, and proof of the huge global appetite for long-form, high-quality content and the brilliant chemistry these two share.”

“The Rest Is History does a phenomenal job in taking a subject as vast as human history and captivating a global audience,” added Oliver Schusser, Apple’s VP of Podcasts, Music, Sports, and Beats. “Tom and Dominic have created something special that represents the very best of what’s possible with podcasting — it’s educational, it’s hilarious, and it has fostered a true sense of community. We’re thrilled to recognize it as the Apple Podcasts 2025 Show of the Year.”