Sommar i P1 2025: Sweden’s Most Anticipated Voices, Petra Mede to Maryam Moghaddam

4 min read

Meet the 59 Sommar i P1 hosts of 2025, including Petra Mede, Maryam Moghaddam and Bo Ekman. Discover unforgettable moments from a radio season rich in courage, humour and profound storytelling of Sommarpratare 2025.

What Is Sommar i P1 ?

Since 1959, Sommar i P1 has been a beloved Swedish radio tradition 90-minute episodes broadcast daily from Midsummer’s day (21 June) through mid‑August. Each show is hosted by a Sommarpratare, who shares personal stories and music selections, creating deep, often moving summer listening. Hosting the show is considered a national honour, with the hosts traditionally photographed wearing floral crowns.

The Line-Up: A Diverse Gathering of 59 Voices

The 2025 season launched on 21 June with comedian and TV host Petra Mede, known from Eurovision and Parlamentet. Her talk blends humour with reflections on marriage, therapy and—unexpectedly—aged cheese.

Other notable contributors include:

  • Johan Floderus, EU official recently released from 790 days of imprisonment in Iran
  • Eva Röse, celebrated actor
  • Thomas Stenström, pop artist
  • Ludmila Engquist, Olympic sprint champion
  • Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament
  • Dragomir Mrsic, actor and author

Prominent debutants included renowned author Peter Haber, media profiles such as Cecilia Hagen, Bo Ekman—the business leader turned climatologue—and Margrethe Vestager, former EU Competition Commissioner.

Standout Sommarprat: Voices That Moved and Provoked

Maryam Moghaddam (Swedish‑Iranian director)

Her episode became instant legend—secretly recorded in Tehran and smuggled out of Iran. Critics dubbed it “utterly fearless”: a blend of sharp wit and cultural defiance. Many called her a true hero.

Fatima Jelassi

Jelassi was voted summer’s best voice for her spontaneous, vivid storytelling—pauses, laughter, and repetition woven into raw honesty. Her early life in Tunisia and journey through struggle resonate deeply with listeners.

Lars Svendsen (Norwegian philosopher)

A program dense with philosophical clarity and focus on hope received mixed reviews. Some listeners found it too abstract; others praised its intellectual precision and emotional lift.

Bo Ekman

Strict critic of climate inaction and war, Ekman envisioned isolating world leaders in a “Vatican conclave” until sustainable solutions emerge. Some reviews saw it as preachy; others praised his urgency—suggesting a collaboration with influencer Bianca Ingrosso for greater reach.

Rissa Seidou

A Järva district police officer turned radio storyteller, Seidou spoke of youth, violence, and personal identity. Critics found her show both inspiring and occasionally superficial—yet vital in its social resonance.

Axel Åhman (KAJ singer/comedian)

With low-key humor rooted in Finnish‑Swedish identity, Åhman offered reflections on cultural awkwardness and belonging. Observers generally enjoyed it—calling it warm, witty, and authentic, even if mild.

  • Pitch and performance dominated appraisal—Jelassi ranked highest for vocal dynamism.
  • Intellectual themes fared variably—Svendsen’s philosophical hope resonated with some and alienated others.
  • Presenters with lived experience and social passion—Seidou and Ekman—sparked conversation about empathy and advocacy

Sommarpratare 2025 at a Glance

FeatureInsight
Hosts Count59 Sommarpratare in total
Series Duration21 June – mid‑August 2025
Premiere HostPetra Mede (21 June)
Loudest VoiceFatima Jelassi praised for storytelling and sincerity
Boldest ActMaryam Moghaddam, defying Iranian surveillance risks
Most Thought‑ProvokingBo Ekman on climate, politics & global responsibility
Inspirational PickRissa Seidou: story of policing, youth, and community belonging
Laughs & IdentityAxel Åhman: cross-cultural humor from Finland’s Swedish-speaking core

“Being asked to host Sommar i P1 is like receiving a knighthood in Sweden,” a listener once celebrated. Each year’s lineup reflects shifting public conversations this summer balancing humour with hard truths, fame with courage, and storytelling with activism.

From a Jewish‑Finnish perspective to Tehran’s defiance, Sweden’s airwaves became a stage for empathy, reflection, and brave discourse in 2025.

Sommar i P1 2025 offered something rare: a radio season as wide-ranging as the society it reflected. Through voices like Maryam Moghaddam, Fatima Jelassi, Bo Ekman, and Rissa Seidou, the show affirmed that truth-telling can be funny, political urgency can be personal, and even small-town stories can resound nationally.

As each episode aired at 13:00 daily and on podcast by 07:00, listeners found more than music they discovered courage, identity, and, above all, the enduring power of story.

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