Gary Lineker’s media enterprise, Goalhanger, has been named Britain’s fastest-growing company, highlighting a successful transition from traditional punditry to the burgeoning podcast industry.
Research for the annual Sunday Times 100 revealed the production firm generated £37.9 million in sales in 2025. This impressive figure reflects an average annual sales growth of approximately 321% over the last three years, positioning it as the top performer among all companies scrutinised.
Goalhanger was established by the ex-footballer and pundit alongside former television producers Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport, with the trio holding a significant ownership stake. The company is behind some of the UK’s most popular podcast series, including ‘The Rest Is History’, ‘The Rest Is Politics’, and ‘The Rest Is Football’.
The latter, a major sports podcast presented by Lineker with fellow former footballers Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, is slated to become a daily show on Netflix during the 2026 Fifa World Cup. It will provide comprehensive coverage of the tournament, which is set to kick off next week.
The growing success of the business comes after Lineker stepped down as the presenter of Match Of The Day after 26 years in May last year, following criticism of him airing his political opinions on social media.
He recently said he was “not in competition with the BBC” over World Cup coverage, with the broadcaster focusing on live football while he has “a show that people can watch alongside”.
Goalhanger secured investment from The Chernin Group in January, a firm led by media mogul Peter Chernin who is behind the production of blockbuster films including Planet Of The Apes and The Greatest Showman.
Meanwhile, health, wellbeing and fitness brands continued to make strides in the Sunday Times list of 100 fastest-growing private British firms.
Health supplements brands Ancient + Brave and Free Soul were in the top 10 with average annual sales growth over three years of more than 200%.
Other consumer brands include medical cannabis clinic Mamedica, non-alcoholic aperitif maker Mother Root, and meal delivery service Simmer Eats.
Second behind Goalhanger in the rankings was Lucky Egg, a London-based maker of boardgames and party games, which recorded average annual sales growth over three years of almost 300%.
A third of the businesses in the top 100 have female founders, co-founders or chief executives, a record high in the fifth year of the list.
Jon Yeomans, business editor of the Sunday Times, said: “The biggest trend over the last five years is the rise of consumer brands, with food, drink, fashion, and beauty companies now making up nearly half the list.
“Several businesses who have featured in the past, such as Huel and Applied Nutrition, have continued to grow and find huge success, from launching on the stock market to being bought out by global giants.”
