Teacher’s Pet Podcast at No 1 in US, UK, NZ, Canada

The Teacher’s Pet was last night at No 1 on iTunes podcast charts in Australia, the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

The Teacher’s Pet was last night at No 1 on iTunes podcast charts in Australia, the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand, with more than seven million downloads.

Probing the probable murder of Sydney mother Lyn Dawson in 1982, The Australian’s investigative series, by Hedley Thomas and co-producer Slade Gibson, is developing a huge international following as it uncovers new evidence and witnesses in the cold case.

In the US it was ahead of I, Survivor (No 2) and Oprah’s Master Class (No 3). It is being featured as new and noteworthy by Apple Podcasts US after becoming the first Australian podcast to reach No 1 on the US charts.

Rob Loewenthal, chief executive of podcast hosting platform Whooshkaa, said the charts were based on rates of growth.

“It’s the velocity of growth on a daily basis. It’s growing faster than any other podcast in the world,” he said. “Being featured on these charts will further accelerate the growth.”

Meanwhile, a Facebook fan group set up by listeners to exchange theories and opinions on the podcast has attracted more than 1500 members.

The series has caught the attention of Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff, the hosts of the hit US podcast My Favorite Murder, and was discussed on their latest episode. “I’m really obsessed with this podcast right now called Teacher’s Pet that I can’t stop listening to, that’s this investigative journalist’s podcast about this probable murder in Australia in the 80s,” Hardstark said.