EXCLUSIVE: The News Agents has parted company with the man who helped make the show one of the most popular podcasts in the UK.
Deadline understands that Dino Sofos‘ production outfit Persephonica is no longer involved in making The News Agents following a behind-the-scenes split on the show owned by UK audio giant Global.
Dubbed the “Prince of podcasts,” Sofos helped lure Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, and Lewis Goodall away from their BBC presenting roles to the world of daily podcasting in 2022.
He was central to The News Agents‘ launch and heavily involved in establishing the podcast, but sources said he has not been involved in the show’s day-to-day running for some time.
The changes became formal this month, with Persephonica no longer the official production partner of The News Agents. The company’s credit has not appeared on episodes this week.
People familiar with the matter said there was a breakdown in relations between Sofos and Global last year. Two sources said Global was unhappy at Persephonica launching rival podcast Political Currency, hosted by former UK politicians Ed Balls and George Osborne.
Persephonica is an independent company and Sofos was always clear about his plans to produce shows beyond The News Agents. Its other podcasts include Dua Lipa: At Your Service and the recently launched Miss Me?, presented by Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver for the BBC.
Global, the company that owns radio stations including LBC and Classic FM, holds the rights to The News Agents brand and has extended it recently with the launch of The Sports Agents. Maitlis and Sopel also present The News Agents – USA.
Sofos worked with Maitlis and Sopel at the BBC, where they launched the popular Americast podcast. Sofos is also credited with creating Newscast for the BBC.
Global revealed in March 2023 that The News Agents had 30M downloads in its first nine months, with Sofos saying that listening figures surpassed “wildest expectations.”
It regularly tops Apple’s podcast charts, dueling with The Rest Is Politics, produced by Goalhanger Podcasts. A study by Edison Research ranked The News Agents as the 14th most popular podcast in the UK during the final three months of 2023.
Global and Persephonica declined to comment.