Off Air with Jane & Fi

We said last week that normal scheduling would resume on Monday. Well, we lied... Jane has been called away for the week, so it’s Jane Mulkerrins to the rescue. Stand-in Jane and Fi discuss thanking the team, Lily Allen’s new album, double freezing, and personality tests. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spoti...

Fi is still in quarantine and joins us down a slightly bumpy line. Normal scheduling is due to resume Monday but, in the meantime, Jane and Fi chat the vajazzle of the Saturday night, champagne at midday, and dogs in cones. Plus, crime writer Peter James discusses his new novel 'The Hawk is Dead'. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlis...

Fi is still easing herself back onto solid foods, so she joins from home. She and Jane are preparing to shortly pop off to an awards luncheon — they're so showbiz... Before that, they chat house-wifery wisdom, emergency farmhouse loaves, AI, and luxury pet hotels. Plus, Nancy the greyhound makes a brief surprise appearance! We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. Yo...

Fi is sadly still off, so Jane is holding down the fort. There’s more Cheltenham chat, musings on omelette stations, reflections on sumo wrestlers, and thoughts on sauerkraut. Plus, Amy Wallace, co-writer of Virginia Giuffre's memoir ‘Nobody’s Girl’, discusses the book and the life of Giuffre. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist he...

Happy Monday! Fi's off sick, so Robbie Millen, literary editor of The Times and The Sunday Times, is keeping her seat warm - and he attempts a little poem for the privilege. Jane and Robbie chat unbroken Britain, managing younger colleagues, and Robbie shares his book picks for the week. Robbie's picks were: 'A Far Cry From Kensington' by Muriel Spark, 'Look Closer: How to Get More Out of the Book...

Welcome back to another Friday special! This week's bonus episode features an interview with one of our lovely listeners. Lesley Allen is a ghostwriter and copywriter who got in touch after she heard our interview with Clare Balding. Clare said she had to repeatedly stress in interviews that she had written her own debut novel herself - Lesley gave us her thoughts on the ghostwriting industry... Y...

Jane and Fi are bringing you all the magic of middle England in the Autumn, offering a behind the scenes glimpse at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. They're also joined by geopolitical expert, Tim Marshall, after they cornered him in the green room. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.sp...

Jane and Fi consider the demands they’ll make in the near future... as 80-year-old megastars. They also discuss Big Ben’s government name, Tudor indigestion, and luxury pet hotels. Plus, historical novelist Philippa Gregory discusses her latest book ‘Boleyn Traitor’. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.co...

There's yet another reference to an appendage today – we can only apologise; our minds are in the gutter! After that, Jane and Fi consider whether they would've been accused of being witches, discuss Barry Manilow and his manager Gary, and ask which children's TV theme tunes made your blood run cold. Plus, Professor Alice Roberts discusses her upcoming documentary series, presented alongside Rylan...

Jane has an apology in today's episode... again. Once that's out the way, Jane and Fi discuss being two halves of a pantomime horse, Scottish pronunciations, life drawings, and powdered oat milk. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qIjhtS9sprg864IXC96he?si=uOzz4UYZRc2nFOP8FV_1jg&pi=BGoac...

Jane and Fi have been at a very important breakfast meeting, and they're feeling carb-giddy. In this sophisticated episode, they muse over the art of letter writing, the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Jane's tendency to don evening wear. Plus, crime writer Ann Cleeves discusses her latest Jimmy Perez instalment ‘The Killing Stones’ and the future of Vera Stanhope. We've announced our next book clu...

It’s Wednesday! Tomorrow is Thursday, and then - guess what - Friday! Nearly there… Jane and Fi chat the Frankfurt kitchen, knocking on wood, career changes, and Jane’s Wikipedia page. Plus, national treasure Joanna Lumley reflects on her career and discusses her new book 'My Book of Treasures'. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist...

Do you notice a difference in today’s podcast? Is there a whiff of professionalism about it? No? Never mind then... Jane and Fi are undeterred by management and chat Taylor Swift’s graphic lyricism, life drawing with your daughter, and Stone Age orgies. Plus, writer and broadcaster Elizabeth Day discusses her latest novel ‘One of Us’. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patt...

Welcome to this elevated, culturally charged, aggressively sophisticated podcast. Jane and Fi tackle Frankfurt kitchens, Liverpool Echo obituaries, the ethics of wearing a baseball cap indoors, and the art of putting off boiler servicing - among other highbrow pursuits. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify...

Welcome back to another Friday special! This week's bonus episode features an interview with co-host of the TLS podcast Alex Clark. Alex is a literary journalist and book extraordinaire. She discusses her podcast and imparts her literary wisdom... If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagra...

Happy International Ken Follett Day to all those who celebrate! Jane has dusted off her medieval wench dress (and it was under a thick layer of dust), and there is a musty smell about the studio... Once the excitement dies down, Jane and Fi chat formal letter writing, being tofu-positive and house names. Plus, best-selling author Ken Follett discusses ‘Circle of Days’ - his latest novel tackling o...

It’s Wednesday, and Jane and Fi are very, very busy. We understand that you’re also busy, but do try to keep an eye out for Swiss gags, Greek gags, and yoghurt gags in this episode... you're welcome! Plus, former finance minister of Greece Yanis Varoufakis discusses the British economy and his latest book ‘Raise Your Soul’. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. Yo...

It's a “welcome to autumn” type of day, and the vibes are good! Jane and Fi discuss bike theft, pet obituaries, and the moment you knew it was time to retire - now known as a 'Denise moment'. Plus, foreign correspondent Lyse Doucet reflects on her career and discusses her new book ‘The Finest Hotel in Kabul’. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to...

Happy Ken Follett week to all those who celebrate! Jane and Fi cover Swiss humour, Kamala's narrator skills, lady moon landings, and the male form. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qIjhtS9sprg864IXC96he?si=uOzz4UYZRc2nFOP8FV_1jg&pi=BGoacntaS_uki. If you want to contact the show to ask...

Welcome back to another Friday special! This week's bonus episode features an interview with Nicholas Pearson, editor and friend to Hilary Mantel. It's been three years since the Wolf Hall author and two time Booker prize winner Hilary Mantel died. Now, her friends and colleagues are honouring her memory with a literary prize. The Hilary Mantel prize seeks to support unpublished writers, with...

Down your tools and give this podcast your FULL ATTENTION! Jane and Fi chat real tennis, Bruce Forsyth's ghost, house husbands, and gravestones for pets. Plus, co-founder of ZOE and gut health guru Tim Spector discusses his new book 'Ferment'. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qIjhtS9sprg8...

Jane and Fi are back together, but they've returned to some confusion about who’s who… Once they helpfully clear that up, they ponder minced-sheep airlines, the naming of naval ships, and the countdown to Christmas. Plus, they're joined by Joan Higginbotham, former NASA astronaut, as she reflects on her career and discusses the future of space. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids'...

In this special bonus episode brought to you by Cancer Research UK, Jane and Fi speak to Clara, who was diagnosed with blood cancer as a child. Clara tells us how her experiences in hospital inspired her to become a children's nurse. Get more information at: Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People:  https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/children-and-young-people?utm_source=new...

Happy Thursday from the past... Jamal and Fi travel through time to bring you their musings on vacuum packed sausages, beef-cheese and Be-Ro flapjacks. Plus, Jane M chats to Nigella Lawson, queen of the kitchen, about her partnership with Tourism Australia and the best that Aussie food and wine has to offer. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to...

BIG NEWS. Trump has landed and Jamal and Fi are getting a bit sidetracked... They also chat Bananarama, period pants, and over-sized bath robes. Plus, Tiggy Walker, wife of DJ Johnnie Walker, discusses caring for him before his death and her new book 'Both Sides Now'. We've announced our next book club pick! 'Just Kids' is by Patti Smith. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.c...