Ep 252: Jason Mantzoukas

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.

AEW wrestler Will Ospreay is this week’s dining guest, and he’s impressed by Ed (and James’s) wrestling experience. But can he help with James’s kitchen? AEW All In is at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 25th August. Get tickets here. AEW Dynamite/Collision is at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff tonight, Wednesday 21st August. Find any last-minute tickets here. Follow Will on Instagram and Twitter @willospreayRecorded 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.

Ted Lasso’s Jamie Tartt (doo-doo-da-doo-da-doo), Phil Dunster, introduces some new vocabulary to the Dream Restaurant this week. And don’t forget, tune in to Comic Relief. Phil Dunster stars in ‘Oklahoma! in Concert’ at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 19th and 20th August. Get tickets at oklahomaconcert.co.uk Follow Phil on Instagram and Twitter @phildunster 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.

Superb stand-up, writer and podcaster Amy Annette – who, already, is frequently mentioned on Off Menu – is this week’s guest. Remember: always order an extra egg in a ramen. Amy Annette’s debut solo show ‘Thick Skin’ is at the Edinburgh Fringe, Pleasance Courtyard, until the 25th August. Buy tickets here. Listen to Amy’s podcast ‘What Women Want’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Amy on Instagram and Twitter @theamyannetteRecorded 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.

‘Black Ops’ star and BAFTA-nominated actor Hammed Animashaun has a booking this week. But will Colonel Sanders and Mr Kipling be dining with him? Hammed Animashaun is currently starring in ‘Kiss Me Kate’ at the Barbican Theatre in London until 14 September. Get tickets at kissmekatemusical.com Follow Hammed on Instagram @hammedhamzRecorded 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.

‘Derry Girls’ and ‘The Decameron’ star Saoirse-Monica Jackson joins us in the Dream Restaurant this week. And we’re all getting Nike ticks shaved on our heads. Saoirse-Monica Jackson stars in ‘The Decameron’ which launched on Netflix on 25th July. Watch it here. Follow Saoirse-Monica on Instagram @saoirsemonicajacksonRecorded 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.