Giles Coren Has No Idea

The final ever episode of 'Giles Coren Has No Idea.' A mix of podcast quiz, listeners good wishes and a star turn from the next generation of podcasters. It has been a joy and a pleasure. Thank you for listening, emailing and subscribing, we are very grateful to every one of you. From Giles, Esther and producer Neil a big thank you and a very Merry Christmas. God Bless us, every one! Hosted on Aca...

Some sad news – the podcast is coming to an end. Giles and Esther, after over two hundred episodes will be ending the podcast next week. The penultimate episode has echoes of the first as masks are making a comeback. With a particularly virulent strain of flu spreading across the nation is it time to bring back masks…opinion is divided. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch is also making something of a...

It is advent which means calendars, Christmas preparation and church services. Esther is making up for her childhood austerity by buying big gaudy chocolate calendars;  Giles is curbing his instinct to over buy and both of them are pondering the true meaning of Christmas. According to recent research couples that drink together stay together…as mismatched drinking habits can be the death knel...

Giles and Esther are trying to work out how best to teach their children to think better about energy  - how and when to use it wisely. But who should teach valuable lessons about the economics of the home - the school or themselves, the parents? And how much do they really understand? So in this bonus edition made in partnership with Smart Energy GB Giles and Esther discu...

Giles and Esther have delayed the recording of the podcast so they can respond to Rachel Reeves much anticipated budget. Turns out they didn’t need to as the whole thing was leaked! With the mansion tax potentially looming large should people consider devaluing their houses? If so, how might one go about doing that…? And if the Chancellor is taxing milk shakes and lattes Giles thinks she should go...

A quick but very loud update on Giles’ snoring. He has recorded himself and it’s been quite a shock. But he has found a new gadget that is aiding him in his quest to return to the marital bed. This week is better than Christmas for Giles as the Ashes begin, he plans on adjusting his body clock and not missing a second…and he’ll be dragging a bleary eyed twelve-year-old along for the ride. Are you...

Giles has been to see a Bob Vylan gig. Bob Vylan are a punk rap duo who hit the headlines when the BBC broadcast their set live from Glastonbury, during which they led a chant of ‘death death to the IDF.’ Performing round the corner at the forum in Kentish Town Giles went to see the gig, the various protest and counter protest groups and to talk to some strangers. If PM Sir Keir Starmer really is...

Giles is still sleeping apart from Esther because of his snoring. But he is not fully reconciled to the new arrangement. The subject hit a nerve as many listeners have been in touch with ideas to improve the situation – from wired jaws, wedge pillows or intriguingly a trip to Newcastle. After Giles composes himself, he considers a few of the options. In more upbeat new Parisians are being offered...

Sixteen percent of UK couples sleep in separate bedrooms. (Giles knows because he asked Grok.) Esther and Giles have now joined that group as Giles’ snoring has finally got too much for Esther. Is this a problem that listeners are familiar with…are their other causes for sleeping separately besides snoring? Government ministers have announced they will investigate the brightness of modern car head...

This week Giles and Esther record the pod in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Giles regales the crowd with tales of his prostate cancer diagnosis, taps up an off-duty doctor for some opinions and wonders what would get Jane Austin cancelled. Esther demonstrates her grasps of veganism, her unwillingness to read out loud and knows what would get her cancelled. Special...

In a listeners special Esther is delighted to have not read the papers as her and Giles dip into the post bag. They get some book recommendations, test opinion on central heating and to reply to some marvellous listeners.   In amongst all that if you’ve ever wondered how many people it takes to publish a book and what do they all do Esther can fill you in. And as always please do get in...

Giles and Esther had a lovely night out at the theatre, but they’re suffering for it now. As the hang overs clear and King Charles requests Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson not to take part in Royal Christmas engagements they wonder which of your relatives would you like to disinvite to Christmas lunch? Perhaps the King should utter “Riddikulus!” a spell cast in Harry Potter when faced with a lurk...

With more people employed in the parking industry then as full time soldiers are they up to the job of giving Putin a ticket? Giles turns to some great war films for inspiration: “Did you issue the parking ticket!?” “Goddam right I did!” The Booker Prize announced its short list this week, with one notable omission and one baffling inclusion – Giles is not happy. After the break is it too early in...

President Donald Trump has been honoured with a second state visit to the UK. He had a stay at Windsor castle, met Esther’s sister and took a trip to Chequers. But what would have given him a more realistic reflection of Great Britain? Join a queue, attend A&E, get stuck in a traffic jam…? In his column last week, Giles incurred the wrath of Times readers…again. He wrote about the inflated gue...

Swings and roundabouts as Giles and Esther return from their summer break. Giles has had an awkward week, but Esther is ready for the release of her debut novel. In the news; why are Beyonce and Jay-Z moving to the Cotswolds, do they want to go shooting and pay ten pounds for a sausage roll? Sticking with Z, Gen Z are embracing the crowded tea rooms of the National Trust with membership for the 18...

It’s the last episode before a summer break. Giles and Esther open the post bag to answer some of your questions. There are love stories, restaurant reviews, far flung listeners, potters, dating advice, film recommendations and more. As always please do get in touch with any comments or questions: noidea@thetimes.com Have a lovely summer – see you in September Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

England’s female football team – the Lionesses - have reached the final of Euro 2025. Giles is intrigued to know who is following their progress. A government initiative to limit public services to UK billionaires prompts an idea…what other mundane day to day activities should billionaires be prohibited from doing? Riding the top deck of a bus? If there is an art to holiday packing, Esther has mas...

Giles has been triggered. The BBC/Banijay investigation into allegations surrounding former Master Chef presenter Greg Wallace has published its findings. The results are enough to sack not only Greg Wallace, but also former co-host John Torode. Rather than sack Mr Torode perhaps the BBC could kindly draft a resignation statement for him, sighting the stress of recent events and challenges to his...

The Salt Path is a worldwide, multimillion bestselling novel which was later turned into a Hollywood film. It was based on a true story…or so everyone thought. Revelations this week cast considerable doubt on the veracity of the first-person tale. Does it change how Esther and Giles feel about the book? Greg Wallace has finally been fired by the BBC but the question is did he take a leaf out of th...

Giles wants to recount his plumbing woes…the Smurfs give him a helping hand to hurry things along. After sifting through the first weeks post from the new podcast email address Giles and Esther assess a very difficult week for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. A week since rap duo 'Bob Vylan' hit the headlines at Glastonbury Giles shares some of the responses to his notebook piece on the subject, n...

Esther and Giles have some exciting news which they share at the start of the episode… On with the pod: Do couples have a better chance of staying together if their political views are aligned? Luckily for Esther and Giles they never discuss politics, they’re far more concerned with being mean and what they’re drinking in the evening. Just as well as Esther keeps her voting habits a closely guarde...

**Please hold. Giles and Esther will be with you shortly….[muzak]…Press 1 for the podcast. Press 2 for immediate death or press 3 to speak to a bot who will return you to the main menu…**   If there really is no sound more joyful than that of children playing, no wonder the world is so miserable. It is a sound in short supply as children have retreated from playing outdoors to stay indoors on...

The airline industry has big plans to improve life for economy passengers. But Giles and Esther have a better solution, just fly business class. And while they’re at it, ditch Gucci shops, treble the size of Pret and provide free bags to those at the back. Last year Giles' bid to join the The Garrick Club was declined so, as ITV news presenter Julie Etchingham withdraws her candidacy to join surel...

It’s a busy day in the Coren house as they prepare to welcome sister podcast ‘Wine Times’ for lunch…and wine. But before that the small matter of Gary Lineker leaving the BBC under a cloud of antisemitism. How does Giles feel about his friend’s departure and recent tweets?   From one complicated subject to another, what is a semicolon and how should one use it? Two published authors migh...

Do the collection of new weight loss drugs offer more than just weight loss? With claims suggesting that they can help lower risks of cancer and improve mood, Giles feels like he is missing out. Is it time for him to tuck in to Mounjaro? Esther is not convinced and if Giles and his peers live to be one hundred and forty, where are all the Gen Z’s going to live? If you’re lucky enough to come by a...