Starbooked

Limelight is the BBC Radio 4 fiction and drama podcast, publishing serialised drama episodes such as Underground, Central Intelligence and The Courier. The show has 295 episodes on a weekly cadence, with episodes typically running about 28 to 30 minutes. Estimated downloads are roughly 20,000 to 80,000 per episode (estimated), a rate of about $360 to $2,000 per mid-roll read, with one distinctive detail: a 4.5 average Apple rating from 359 ratings.

Why brands sponsor Limelight

BBC Radio 4 fiction serials with a loyal, highly rated audience

  • Weekly serialised drama with 295 episodes and a consistent release schedule
  • Apple Podcasts rating of 4.5 from 359 ratings, with 287 five-star reviews
  • Public broadcaster production quality with episodes around 28 to 30 minutes
Best forbrand awarenesspremium sponsorship of a drama seriescultural and literary brands
Watch forThe BBC does not run commercial sponsorship in this way, so confirm whether any integration is permitted before pitching.

Brand fit report

Content

Topics, IAB taxonomy
Arts & Entertainment85%
Books & Literature15%
Formats
narrative, serialised drama
Tone
dramatic, suspenseful
Language
English
Production
Studio production
Typical length
28 to 30 minutes

Audience

Commercial intent5/100
Comments asking for links, prices or where to buy
Sentiment85/100
Estimated from titles, descriptions and engagement
Est. downloads per episode20k–80k
Estimated, confidence 60%: Apple ratings count of 359 suggests the 200 to 1,000 band (5,000 to 25,000), shifted up one band given the public broadcaster's large catalogue and 295 episodes, combined with high production and weekly cadence.
Audience asks aboutWhen will the next episode of a serial be released?Who is cast in each drama?Which series should I listen to first?
Age
10%18-24
20%25-34
25%35-44
45%45+
Gender
55%women
45%men
Countries
🇬🇧 United Kingdom85%
Other15%
LanguagesEnglish 100%

Commercial

0%of the last 20 episodes had a sponsor
None seenno sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes
Brands seen
None yet
Categories promoted
None yet
Affiliate links
No

No sponsor mentions found in the feed

Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability

Profanitylow
Adultlow
Drugslow
Violencemedium
Politicslow

Family friendly
Recent titles such as Underground and Central Intelligence are fiction serials with no explicit flag; violence in dramatic fiction is possible but not flagged.

We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.

Where to listen

Benchmark score: 87 / 100

Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.

Consistency Latest episode within the usual cadence50 / 50
Activity Episodes in the last 90 days, weekly is full marks30 / 30
Reach Estimated downloads per episode, 20k is full marks20 / 20

Recent episodes

EpisodeDateLength
Underground: Episode 52026-10-1628 min
Underground: Episode 42026-10-0929 min
Underground: Episode 32026-10-0228 min
Underground: Episode 22026-09-2529 min
Underground: Episode 12026-09-1828 min
Underground: Trailer2026-09-142 min

Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 3 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.

The Limelight podcast - for fiction and drama serials you won't want to miss from Radio 4.
Limelight's own show description from the podcast feed

Do you make Limelight? Claim or remove this page.

About Limelight

Limelight is a fiction and drama podcast from BBC Radio 4, publishing serialised dramas such as Underground, Central Intelligence and The Courier. According to the show's RSS feed, the series has 295 episodes released on a weekly cadence, with episodes typically running about 28 to 30 minutes. The show is produced by the BBC and hosted on BBC files infrastructure.

Apple Podcasts lists 359 ratings with an average of 4.5 stars, 287 of them five-star. Listener estimates are based on these ratings and the show's scale, suggesting roughly 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode (estimated), mostly UK-based adults aged 35 and over. No sponsor mentions were found in the feed.

Because the show is a BBC Radio 4 production with no visible sponsorship, brands should confirm any integration rules before booking. Based on the estimate, an ad slot would be worth roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode, suited to drama-adjacent and premium cultural brands.

Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Limelight can edit or remove this page at any time.

Questions about Limelight

How much does Limelight charge for a podcast sponsorship?

Based on an estimated 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll would be roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. Actual availability depends on the BBC's rules for commercial integration, which are not published in the feed.

What is Limelight about?

Limelight is a BBC Radio 4 podcast that publishes fiction and drama serials. Recent series include Underground, Central Intelligence and The Courier, released weekly.

How do I contact Limelight about sponsoring an episode?

The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked, so check whether this listing is boosted before sending an enquiry.

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