Unprecedented Growth: The Story of Goalhanger's Success Imagine a company that has grown at an average annual rate of 321% over the past three years, making it the fastest-growing business in Britain. This is the incredible story of Goalhanger, a media production company co-founded by former England footballer Gary Lineker. With £37.9m in sales in 2025, Goalhanger has left its competitors in the dust, and its success can be attributed to its innovative approach to podcast production.
The Power of Podcasts: Goalhanger's podcasts, including The Rest is History, The Rest is Entertainment, and The Rest is Football, have exploded in popularity since the coronavirus pandemic. With over 750 million listeners, these podcasts have become a cultural phenomenon, and the company has capitalized on this success by introducing paid subscriptions and events. In January, Goalhanger announced that it had reached 250,000 paid subscribers, generating approximately £15m in revenue each year.
A New Era of Growth: The company's success has also attracted the attention of investors, with Netflix agreeing to broadcast The Rest is Football during the World Cup in a deal worth £14m. Additionally, The Chernin Group, a Los Angeles-based investment firm, has acquired a minority stake in Goalhanger. This investment has enabled the company to launch its own venture capital arm, which aims to invest in creator-led media businesses.
The Sunday Times Ranking: A Testament to Britain's Thriving Business Scene Goalhanger's success is not an isolated incident, as the Sunday Times list of the 100 fastest-growing private companies reveals. The list includes a diverse range of businesses, from legal claims services to board game manufacturers. On average, these companies have increased their sales by 108% a year over the last three years, with a combined total of £4bn in sales. These businesses employ 13,700 people, with 45 companies based in London and the rest spread across the country.
