Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

We welcome an absolute national treasure to the dream restaurant this week – Bafta-winning actor, Miriam Margolyes OBE! Miriam Margolyes’s memoir ‘This Much Is True’ is published on 16 September. Buy it here . Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram : @offmenuofficial....

Usually it’s the guest that’s shocked by ‘poppadoms or bread’. Not this week, as we welcome to the dream restaurant legendary TV chef Jamie Oliver. Jamie Oliver’s new book ‘Together’ is out now. Buy it here . Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram @jamieoliver Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Follow Off...

The second ever live Off Menu, in front of a sold out crowd at London’s Royal Festival Hall. With very special guest, Hollywood director and Cornetto connoisseur, Edgar Wright! Watch Edgar Wright’s documentary ‘ The Sparks Brothers ’ in cinemas or on demand. Edgar’s new feature film ‘ Last Night in Soho ’ is in cinemas 29 October. Follow Edgar on Twitter and Instagram @edgarwright Recorded by Sout...

Christmas comes early for Ed and James with the gift they’ve been asking for since day one of Off Menu: Ainsley Harriott in the dream restaurant. Ainsley’s new book ‘Good Mood Food’ is published on on 9 September. Buy it here . Follow Ainsley on Twitter and Instagram @ainsleyfoods Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illu...

We welcome comedy hero Bob Mortimer to the dream restaurant this week. Will a campachoochoo be on the menu? Bob Mortimer’s autobiography ‘And Away’ is released on 16 September. Buy it here . Follow Bob on Twitter and Instagram @realbobmortimer Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Follow Off Menu on Twitter...

Last month, the Off Menu boys took to the stage at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London for our first ever live show. Couldn’t be there? Here’s your chance to relive the show. And who better to be our guest for the first live Off Menu than Isy Suttie! Isy Suttie’s book ‘Jane is Trying’ is out now. Buy it here . Isy’s podcast ‘ The Things We Do For Love ’ is available wherever you l...

Superb stand-up comedian Shaparak Khorsandi joins the comedy rock stars of their generation Ed Gamble and James Acaster this week. See Shaparak Khorsandi on tour with ‘It Was the 90s!’. Buy tickets at shappi.co.uk Shaparak’s book ‘Kissing Emma’ is out on 2 Sep. Pre-order it here . Follow Shaparak on Twitter and Instagram @shappikhorsandi Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by...

Actor and writer Asim Chaudhry – aka ‘People Just Do Nothing’s Chabuddy G – has a table booked this week. And there’s a battle of the diet colas. ‘People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan’ is released in cinemas on 18th August. Follow Asim Chaudhry on Twitter @AsimC86 and Instagram @asimc Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (...

Comedian, writer and film director Simon Amstell joins Ed and James in the dream restaurant this week. And James gets so excited he cooks one of the courses. (Plus – we probably need to be clear – in no way do we condone taking illegal substances.) Simon Amstell is on tour with ‘Spirit Hole’ from 8 Sep. Go to simonamstell.com for tickets. Follow Simon Amstell on Twitter @simonamstell and Instagram...

Emily Atack – star of ‘The Inbetweeners’ and ‘The Emily Atack Show’ – is this week’s diner. But, unlike her ‘Inbetweeners’ co-star Joe Thomas, there’s not a buried lamb in sight. The second series of ‘The Emily Atack Show’ on ITV2 kicks off in October., Emily is also on tour from the end of September. Tickets here . Follow Emily Atack on Twitter @ematack and Instagram @emilyatackofficial Recorded...

Finally, the documentary everyone’s been waiting for: Ross Kemp On Food. The Bafta-winning journalist, documentary maker, actor, podcaster and, of course, Eastenders’ Grant Mitchell joins Ed and James for a meal in a dream restaurant. But who’s the toughest? Listen to Ross Kemp’s podcast ‘The Kempcast’ on Apple Podcasts , Acast , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Ross Kemp on Twitt...

It’s time to serve up another series of delicious chat, and who better to kick off series 6 than ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Derry Girls’ star, Nicola Coughlan! But will she get locked out of the dream restaurant? Follow Nicola Coughlan on Twitter and Instagram @nicolacoughlan Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Fo...

Hungry for more episodes? Series 6 starts Wednesday 14 July. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprise! While we’re in the off season, here’s a very special – and very different – bonus episode. Ed and James speak to an actual Ghostbuster and Blues Brother – Dan Aykroyd. Dan kindly agreed to be on the podcast to promote his vodka brand, Crystal Head – and he sure is passionate about it. We’ll be back properly for series 6 in a few weeks, but for now, bon appétit! Crystal Head Vodka was fou...

Dream Restaurant Announcement! Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster – Live Friday 30th July at London’s Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall Tickets go on sale this Friday 25th June at 10am from southbankcentre.co.uk For the first time ever, Ed Gamble and James Acaster invite an audience to the dream restaurant for a very special live edition of their smash-hit podcast, Off Menu.  Since...

It’s the last episode of the series, and who better to wrap up season 5 than lockdown hero, Joe Wicks! But is he going to mug James off on dessert? Joe Wicks’s new book ‘Joe’s Family Food’ is published on 10th June. Buy it here . Listen to Joe’s podcast ‘The Joe Wicks Podcast’ on BBC Sounds . Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy...

New York-based stand-up and former ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ writer Josh Gondelman lives up to his reputation as the nicest man in comedy. Just wait till you hear his dessert… This episode was recorded pre-pandemic in February 2020. Listen to Josh Gondelman’s podcast ‘Make My Day’ on Apple and Spotify . Josh Gondelman’s book ‘Nice Try’ is out now. Buy it here . Follow Josh on Twitter @j...

Grime artist and chef Big Zuu takes a trip around the globe to pick his dream menu. Is he having a nice time, or is that his fake laugh again? The new series of ‘ Big Zuu’s Big Eats ’ is on Dave starting Mon 7 Jun. The ‘Big Zuu’s Big Eats’ cookbook is published 3 Jun. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). F...

This week’s episode takes An Unexpected Journey as BAFTA-winning actor Martin Freeman – star of ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Sherlock’, ‘Black Panther’ and Sky’s ‘Breeders’ – orders his dream meal. But what about that ‘Fargo’ accent, eh? Season 2 of ‘Breeders’ will land as a box set on Sky and be available to watch on Sky One and NOW TV from 27th May. Recorded by Ben Williams and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plo...

Release the beast! Bimini Bon Boulash – the breakout star of this year’s ‘Drag Race UK’ – has a table booked this week. And did she mention she’s vegan? New music from Bimini is coming soon. Pre-order Bimini’s book ‘A Drag Queen’s Guide to Life’ here . Follow Bimini on Twitter and Instagram @biminibabes Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and desig...

Has James spilt the ketchup? Because he’s got red on him. Actor Rafe Spall – star of ‘Hot Fuzz’, ‘Jurassic World’, ‘The Shadow Line’ and Apple TV+’s ‘Trying’ – is in the dream restaurant this week. And it’s going to be a roadblock event. Series 2 of ‘Trying’ is streaming globally on Apple TV+ on May 14. Series 1 is available now. Recorded by Ben Williams and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive . A...

We’re breaking off the next hundred with radio presenter and co-host of MTV’s ‘Catfish UK’, Julie Adenuga! There’s a game that the listeners can get involved with, and Julie and Ed come to blows… ‘Catfish UK’ is on Wednesdays at 9pm, only on MTV . Follow Julie on Twitter and Instagram @JulieAdenuga. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive . Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) a...

One hundred! The hundo! The big 1-0-0! In a milestone episode, Ed and James finally reveal their dream meals. And who better for the genie to transfer his powers to than Off Menu fave and this episode’s special guest host, Claudia Winkleman! A massive thanks to Claudia for being our wish-granter. A HUGE thank you to you, the listeners, for helping us reach 100 episodes – we wouldn't be making the...

Actor and The Strokes fan Domhnall Gleeson – star of ‘Star Wars’, ‘Ex Machina’, ‘Harry Potter’ and brand new Channel 4 sitcom ‘Frank of Ireland’ – is in the dream restaurant for our 99th episode. And Tom Hollander’s sat outside. ‘Frank of Ireland’ airs weekly from Thursday 15th April, 10pm, Channel 4. All eps will also be available to boxset on All 4 . Recorded by and edited by Ben Williams for Pl...

Comic and actor Mary Lynn Rajskub – aka Chloe from ‘24’ and Gail the Snail from ‘It’s Always Sunny…’ – joins us in LA for this week’s meal. And James absolutely stinks. (This episode was recorded in February 2020, pre-pandemic.) Watch Mary Lynn’s new special ‘Mary Lynn Rajskub: Live from the Pandemic’ on Vimeo Follow Mary Lynn on Twitter and Instagram : @MaryLynnRajskub Recorded by and edited by B...