From Dave Chappelle, Graham Norton, Charlie Higson

Dave Chappelle is to launch a new podcast featuring the ‘most influential cultural icons’ in America as guests.

The comedian will co-host The Midnight Miracle with rapper and activist Talib Kwel and Yasiin Bey,  best known by his stage name Mos Def.

Chappelle said: ‘Making a podcast isn’t the obvious next move for me, but it’s the right one. The Midnight Miracle gives you a look into how me and my friends process the world around us, and I think it will change the way listeners think of what a podcast can be.’

The series, recorded at Chappelle’s house in Yellow Springs, Ohio, will feature sketches, impersonations, archive audio clips,  guest interviews and music tracks

Producers Luminary say the paid-for podcast, due to launch on Apple with a few weeks, will be ‘an audio experience listeners have never heard before’.

Graham Norton is to launch a new book club podcast.

In the ten-part  series, to be released from May 13, the comedian and chat-show host will interview authors,  audiobook narrators, and ‘storytelling enthusiasts’.

Guests lined up  include Maxine Peake, Zadie Smith, Denise Mina, Stephen Mangan  and Juliet Stevenson. 

In each episode, Norton will be joined by alternating co-hosts journalist Alex Clark and novelist Sara Collin  to discuss news from the book world.

The show will be available only to Audible subscribers.

Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson has launched a new podcast taken from his Scala Radio show.

In the programme he will be joined by genuine showbiz pals such as Bob Mortimer, Arabella Weir and Vic Reeves to discuss their favourite classical music.

The first two episodes of the eight-part Charlie Higson & Friends, which were released this week, featured Paul Whitehouse.

TV executive turned stand-up Cally Beaton has launched a  new podcast this week, Namaste M*therF*ckers, which combines life lessons, anecdotes and chat about what her guests find funny.

Season one will feature Arthur Smith, Richard Osman, Desiree Burch and more and has launched on Audioboom.

Comedy has been named the most popular genre of podcasts, with 24 per cent of a YouGov list of the UK’s top programmes  defined as comedy, according to analysis by Instant Offices.

Published: 21 Apr 2021