This past weekend, podcast festival Crossed Wires absolutely rocked Sheffield city centre with live podcasts and events to please everyone.
More than 20,000 people showed up across the weekend – making it officialy the largest podcast festival in the world.
Amongst the general excitement of some of the country’s favourite shows on the big stage, there were some pretty memorable moments that will be make next year’s festival pretty hard to top.
Crossed Wires catches a Day Fever
Born out of the city itself, it wouldn’t be a Sheffield party without a Day Fever. Brainchild of Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure, DJ John Owen and Jon ‘The Rev’ McClure from South Yorkshire’s own Reverend and the Makers, the event creates a daytime nightclub that’s safe and lets people be in bed before 11 pm.
Sara Cox and Clare Hamilton on the decks at DayFever (Credit: Pedalo Photography)
Sara Cox and Clare Hamilton, from the Teen Commandments podcast, hosted Sunday’s Day Fever in the iconic Sheffield City Hall Ballroom with the Rev coming on for a little boogie too. Crossed Wires isn’t just for intelligent, funny conversations, you know!
Nick Banks solves crime, drinks beer
Fresh off Glastonbury and a sold out nationwide tour, Pulp drummer Nick Banks thought he’d wind down with a nice can of beer from his Aldi bag in on appearance on Drunk Women Solving Crime. The true crime comedy podcast, hosted by Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, invites guests on to test their detective skills with some bottles on the side.
Credit: Emma Thompson Photography
A proud Sheffielder, Banks still lives in the city. From book signings at Division Street’s Bear Tree Records, to even joining tribute band Pulp’d on stage at Fake Festival in Endcliffe Park this May, he’s always out and about the town.
He put his local knowledge to good use by helping solve solve of the clues to the shows 1920s Sheffield mystery – including some tales of his own.
Jarvis Cocker makes history
Carrying on the Pulp pipeline, prodigal son of Sheffield Jarvis Cocker surprised the BBC 6 Fringe attendees on Friday morning by doing something weird, wacky and wonderful (typical Jarvis behaviour).
The 4th of July marked the 100th birthday of the British Shipping Forecast, and what better way to celebrate than for Cocker himself to read it out. Projected onto a screen in the old Cole Brothers building, as part of the fringe, he remarked that, “It might be the best moment of my life.” Again, just to put it in perspective, Pulp just played an insane surprise set at Glasto as well as many other incredible shows.
As historic and iconic as this reading was, the Shipping Forecasts presenters did have some notes, with Viji Alles saying, “He needs to work on his pacing, you need to get the whole show done in 11 minutes.” Maybe Cocker should stick to the stage in the long-term.
Greg James roleplays with Sir Michael Palin
Radio 1 DJ Greg James joined the Crossed Wires team this year, and took his liberty as Creative Director to create the Nobody Expects the Michael Palin Podcast!
Sir Michael Palin and Greg James (Pedalo Photography)
Greg even wrote his own script for a hypothetical protein powder advert break (‘Around the World in 80 Wheys’) featuring the duo, and we won’t lie, Greg was more into it than Sir Michael.
Audiences were also treated to an exclusive script reading of a deleted scene from the end 1979 Python film Life of Brian called the ‘Martyrdom of St Brian’.
The Monty Python legend later joined Greg again for a special Radio 4 Rewinder live show as part of the BBC Sounds fringe fest the next morning.
Help! I proposed to my girlfriend
There were multiple wholesome moments throughout the week, but none can top the marriage proposal during Help I Sexted My Boss. Ettiqute expert William Hanson helped audience member Tristan plan his proposal during the interval, and Tristan got down on one knee to propose to his fiancée Shona in the second half of the show.
A Help I Sexted My Boss engagement (Emma Thompson Photography)
The audience was in bits, Tristan and Shona were in bits, and the co-host of the podcast, Jordan North, ran loops around the stage with excitement. Hanson also overlooked the whole ordeal in a controversial hybrid Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United striped shirt; it was truly a show for everyone.
Mark your calendars: Crossed Wires returns 3rd to 5th July 2026.
Featured images from Pedalo Photography / Emma Thompson Photography
