Ep 268: Jessica Hynes

Comedy royalty Robert Popper – ‘Friday Night Dinner’ creator and author of ‘The Timewaster Letters’ – dines with us this week. And he’s brought a list. P.S. Can't remember if there’s any mention of signed chopping boards in this episode, but you ain’t getting one.Robert Popper’s new book ‘The Elsie Drake Letters (aged 104)’ is out now, published by Hachette. Buy it here. Follow Robert on Twitter @robertpopper and Instagram @itsrobertpopper Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome Bafta-winning actor and writer and ‘Spaced’ star Jessica Hynes to the Dream Restaurant this week, and she welcomes us to her restaurant. P.S. Once again, this is a disclaimer to say that no one is receiving a signed chopping board. Yes, we could edit this out, but it is funny. Jessica Hynes stars in ‘The Franchise’ which is available on HBO, Sky and streaming service NOW. Watch it here. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Royal descendent Danny Dyer has a table booked at the Dream Restaurant this week, in what must be the sweariest Off Menu yet.Disclaimer: once again, we will not be sending anyone a signed chopping board.Danny Dyer stars in ‘Rivals’ which is available to stream from Friday 18 Oct on Disney+. Watch it here.Follow Danny on Instagram @officialdannydyer and Twitter @MrDDyerRecorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Fallout’ and ‘Yellowjackets’ star Ella Purnell plays the Off Menu game this week. It’s always the quiet ones… Ella Purnell stars in Sky Original ‘Sweetpea’ which is available on Sky and the streaming service NOW from 10 October. Follow Ella on Instagram @ella_purnell Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rickrolling into the Dream Restaurant this week is British pop royalty, Rick Astley. We Never thought this would happen. Rick Astley’s autobiography ‘Never’ is out on 10th October, published by Pan Macmillan. Pre-order it here.Rick is also on a book tour – follow him on social media for dates and tickets. Follow Rick on Instagram @officialrickastley and Twitter @rickastleyRecorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rukmini Iyer – author of the best-selling ‘Roasting Tin’ cookbooks – is this week’s dream diner. Do we finally get an answer to 'what do I do with the heads?' Rukmini Iyer’s new book ‘The Green Cookbook’ is out now. Buy it here. Follow Rukmini on Instagram and Twitter @missminifer Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After nearly 6 years of Off Menu, we finally welcome friend, stand-up and podcast royalty Josh Widdicombe to the Dream Restaurant. And he‘s got a bone to pick about a previous episode… Trigger warning: this episode contains chat about dieting. Josh Widdicombe is on tour with his new show ‘Not My Cup of Tea’ from September 2025. Tickets are on this sale Friday from joshwiddicombe.comListen to Josh’s podcast ‘Parenting Hell’ wherever you get your podcasts.Follow Josh on Instagram @josh_widdicombeRecorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Heartstopper’ star Joe Locke has a booking this week. We didn’t actually have any tables available, but then Lisa Fox got in touch and we found room.P.S. Under no circumstances is anyone being sent a signed chopping board. This is a joke by two professional comedians for comedic effect.Joe Locke stars in 'Agatha All Along' which is available on Disney+ on 18 September in the US and 19 September in the UK. Watch it here.Series 3 of ‘Heartstopper’ is on Netflix on 3 October. Watch it here.Follow Joe on Instagram @joelocke03Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘EastEnders’ (and ‘Springleaf: The Audio Sitcom’) star Natalie Cassidy is this week’s dream diner. And maybe James is getting a part in the soap opera? Natalie podcast ‘Life with Nat’ is out now, wherever you get your podcasts. Listen here. Follow Natalie on Instagram @natcass1 and Twitter @nat_cassidy Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There ain’t no party like an Off Menu party. S Club’s Rachel Stevens joins us in the Dream Restaurant this week, and we finally find out what the S stands for.Rachel Stevens is working with Activia to promote good gut health. For more info visit rachelstevens.comRachel’s autobiography ‘Finding My Voice’ is out now. Buy it here.Follow Rachel Stevens on Instagram and Twitter @msrachelstevensRecorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.