From Susie Dent’s Something Rhymes With Purple to The Travel Diaries: This week’s top podcasts

Something Rhymes With Purple

This show, about the vagaries of English, was crowned best entertainment podcast at this year’s British Podcast Awards. 

Each week lexicographer Susie Dent digs into the origins of words, helped galliantly by Gyles Brandreth. A recent favourite of mine is ‘salvo’, meaning an intentionally bad excuse.

Polonium And The Piano Player

In 2006, two Russian agents assassinated Alexander Litvinenko by spiking his tea with polonium. This podcast tells the lesser-known story of another victim: Derek Conlon, a hotel pianist who was poisoned after drinking from the same cup that Litvinenko used. The four-part series grippingly reveals how Conlon’s life was changed for ever.

Off Menu With Ed Gamble And James Acaster

Comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster interview guests about their dream meal. It’s a bit like Desert Island Discs, but about food and much funnier. 

Comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster (above) interview guests about their dream meal. It’s a bit like Desert Island Discs, but about food and much funnier

Start with the one with Louis Theroux, whose choices are particularly mad – pizza, followed by pork and dahl then a chocolate brownie, with all courses sprinkled in toasted almonds.

The Travel Diaries

Taking a holiday abroad still feels a bit risky, but there is plenty of vicarious travelling to be done through this podcast. Each week, Holly Rubenstein invites a guest to reminisce about their favourite trips. 

The episode with Michael Palin is particularly fun, and will make even seasoned travellers feel inexperienced, as he recalls visiting everywhere from the gulags of Russia to North Korea and Mali.