Routes

Hilary Whitehall, wife of Michael and mother to Jack, joins Jenni on this episode of Routes from LNER to talk travel, tours and the family holidays that never quite go to plan. Hilary looks back on decades of family trips, from camping holidays in Devon and the New Forest to touring spa towns and theatres up and down the country with her podcast. She shares the story of flying out to keep Jack com...

Food critic Jay Rayner joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps him focused, the food that keeps him curious, and the places that first taught him to enjoy his own company. From a formative solo backpacking trip in his teenage years to the family holidays that shaped his love of travel, it's a warm look back at the journeys that stuck with him....

Restaurant critic, author and Kitchen Cabinet host Jay Rayner joins Jenni on Routes from LNER as they travel to Newcastle, trading stories about food, trains and life on the road. Jay explains how decades of criss-crossing the country by rail earned him a surprising nickname on set, and looks back on the eccentric childhood holidays that shaped his love of travel. He revisits a legendary summer sp...

Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps her moving, the food that keeps her fuelled, and the mindset that keeps her calm on the road. From a lifelong love affair with one very special destination to the packing habits of a self-confessed "overactive venture scout," it's a warm, wide-ranging chat abou...

Double Olympic gold medallist and nine-time world champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on Routes from LNER to talk about a life built on chasing new challenges. Victoria traces her journey from touring the UK on the back of her dad's tandem to racing across five continents, and reflects on the surprising imposter syndrome that shadowed her right up to becoming world champion. She opens...

Race Across the World winner and self-confessed adventurer Alfie Watts joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, tracks and hacks that fuel his life on the move. Expect a firm stance on the age-old Pringles-versus-Haribo debate, a very specific idea of what his 100th country needs to be, and the truth behind a passport story that isn't quite what it first see...

At just 23, Alfie Watts has visited 96 countries, become the youngest ever winner of BBC's Race Across the World, and driven a tuk-tuk over 3,500 miles from London to Norway's North Cape for charity. He joins Jenni to talk about how travel transformed his life, from a disastrous first flight to Barcelona at 13, to a life-changing trip to Croatia that opened his eyes to how accessible the world cou...

Dr. Amir Khan takes Jenni through his essential travel toolkit in this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER, covering the snacks, tracks and hacks that get him through life on the road. On the food front, Amir shares his love of air-fried chickpeas and reveals his mum's habit of packing enough home-cooked kebabs and samosas to feed the whole train carriage. Musically, he's an unashamed devotee...

From a childhood trip to Pakistan met by fifty excited relatives to a middle-of-the-night bear encounter in the Canadian Rockies, Dr. Amir Khan's life has been shaped by family, adventure and the pull of travel. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the GP and broadcaster joins Jenni on the train to Bradford to talk about growing up as the only boy among six sisters, why Yorkshire will always be ho...

From glaring at a stranger on a bus only to realise the music was coming from her own bag, to travelling with a flask of homemade broth, Andi Oliver joins Jenni Falconer on The Quiet Coach to talk snacks, self-care and the art of staying comfortable on the move. She explains her strong feelings about loudspeaker phone calls in the quiet coach, and why she's perfected a proper travel food routine a...

From childhood summers in Cyprus to a life-changing three-month stay in Antigua at sixteen, chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver has spent her life following food, family and heritage across the globe. In this episode of Routes from LNER, Andi joins Jenni on the train to Edinburgh to talk about growing up between cultures, the touring years that shaped her twenties, and why travel has always been tied...

From packing three suitcases at once for a cruise, a band tour and a Portugal getaway, to letting his wife always face forward on trains, Chesney Hawkes joins Jenni Falconer on The Quiet Coach to talk travel, timing and the occasional case of mistaken identity. He explains why he always heads for the quiet coach, and why punctuality matters so much to him. Chesney also shares the story of his mum'...

From childhood summers on the beaches of the Algarve to chasing the Northern Lights on songwriting trips to Iceland, Chesney Hawkes has spent a lifetime shaped by movement, music and the road. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the singer joins Jenni on the train to Dundee to talk about growing up in a rock 'n' roll household, the whirlwind of pop stardom, and why travel has always fed his creat...

We’re back! Season 3 of Routes with LNER is arriving soon and we’ve saved you a seat. Join Jenni Falconer for another season of incredible guests, who have the travel stories to prove that the journey really is everything. Whether it’s a holiday that went hilariously wrong, a destination that completely changed how they see the world, or a journey they’ll never forget for all the right (and wrong)...

From sunrise hot air balloons over Marrakesh to leaving his Nintendo behind on his very first family holiday, Olympic gold medallist Matty Lee joins Jenni Falconer on The Quiet Coach to share stories from a life shaped by travel, competition and big moments. In this episode of Routes from LNER, Matty reflects on how travel has changed since retiring from diving, from fast-paced trips across Thaila...

Olympic gold medallist diver Matty Lee joins Jenny Falconer on this episode of Routes from LNER, reflecting on a life that’s taken him from local swimming pools in Leeds to the very top of the Olympic podium. Matty shares the journey from discovering diving as a kid, following in his brother’s footsteps, to competing on the world stage alongside athletes he once idolised. He opens up about the rea...

From spending younger years on a remote island in the Bahamas to sneaking sushi onto trains, Jack Savoretti joins Jenni Falconer on The Quiet Coach to share a vivid, funny and unexpectedly reflective look at life on the move. In this episode of Routes from LNER, Jack opens up about his earliest travel memories, including months spent living off-grid with no electricity, crossing moonlit waters by...

From interrailing across Europe with a gang of friends as a teen, to celebrating twenty years in music at the Royal Albert Hall, Jack Savoretti’s life has been shaped by movement, culture and connection. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the singer-songwriter joins Jenni to talk about the journeys that influenced him, his love of train travel, and why Newcastle will always hold a special place...

Host Jenni Falconer welcomes former England rugby international turned DJ James Haskell aboard the Quiet Coach in this episode of Routes from LNER. From the unwritten rules of the quiet carriage to the realities of life spent travelling the world for rugby, James shares stories from the road and reflects on the experiences that have shaped him beyond the pitch. The conversation explores James’s ti...

What happens when a 6ft4 former England rugby star swaps the pitch for the DJ booth and somehow ends up sharing a bath with Madonna? On this episode of Routes from LNER, James Haskell joins Jenni Falconer for a brilliantly unpredictable journey to Edinburgh, packed with sharp humour and seriously good stories. James looks back at life playing international rugby, his years living in France near th...

From secretly filming sketches in the art department to turning up at TV meetings in full character, this week’s Quiet Coach guest has never taken the conventional route. In this episode of Routes from LNER, Jenni Falconer sits down with comedian, actor, artist and podcaster Leigh Francis for a funny, chaotic and surprisingly honest chat about creativity, confidence and carving out a career by bac...

From Leeds beginnings and Bridlington beach trips to Halloween weddings and first overseas adventures, Leigh Francis’s life off-screen is as colourful as the characters he’s created. In this episode of Routes, Leigh joins Jenni to talk about growing up in Yorkshire, the chaotic comedy worlds of Celebrity Juice and Bo’ Selecta, and how his childhood shaped his sense of humour. He reflects on early...

Welcome back to The Quiet Coach, where Siân Welby shares what happens when she’s on the move. From spotting familiar faces on Hollywood boulevards to navigating jet-lagged mornings, Sian talks about how she keeps travel manageable, with Pringles and a stash of Haribo at the ready, a few podcasts queued up for long train journeys, and by finding the perfect seat. She opens up about her favourite tr...

Siân Welby’s route into broadcasting has been shaped by curiosity, instinct and a willingness to say yes before she had everything figured out. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the Capital Breakfast presenter joins Jenni to talk about the journeys, both literal and personal, that have defined her life and career so far. She reflects on growing up with classic British seaside holidays, discover...

From learning lines in the Quiet Coach to racing through stations at the last minute, Sam Heughan reveals what travel really looks like when you’re juggling acting, adventure, and a suitcase stashed in every corner of the world. In this episode of The Quiet Coach, Sam joins Jenni to talk about how he travels, how he works on the move, and why trains are one of his favourite places to think, reflec...