Fay Ripley

Oh, I had such a lovely time pottering with my dear friend Amy Annette, a marvellous comedian, writer and broadcaster and an all round delight. Amy joined me fresh from the triumph of her Edinburgh show Busy Body, and if you have not yet seen it, do catch it on tour early next year! It's always a delight to see Amy! We discuss Mr Blobby, the rise of misinformation and why the future of streaming may just belong to Angela Lansbury. We also have a go at our very own Tavern Fantasy Play, yes that's right, and enjoy some bouquet building. Did you know you can also watch the podcast on Youtube? Just search for @tomallen.   So put down that episode of Murder, She Wrote, pick up your pruning shears, and join us in the garden for another episode of Pottering.

What a joy it was to be back in the garden for another episode of Pottering, this time with none other than James Acaster. A splendid stand up, author and of course everyone’s favourite genie waiter! It was an absolute delight to spend an afternoon in the sunshine with James. We discuss mindfulness apps, the trials and tribulations of home decorating, and the fascinating world of anime. I also encounter the term 'Catio' and well, what a charmed existence those cats must have! Did you know you can also watch the podcast on Youtube? Just search for @tomallen.   So, as the weather begins to turn a little chilly, let us put the kettle on, retrieve those thick socks from the depths of the drawer, and go Pottering.

It was my absolute pleasure to welcome the radiant Jess Wright into my garden for a spot of Pottering. You may know her best from her hugely successful tenure on The Only Way Is Essex or perhaps from her many glamorous ventures in fashion, beauty and the world of television! On a delightfully sunny day amongst the hydrangeas, we discussed being a part of the dawn of reality television, dream podcast guests and the lads and their lawnmowers! Jess was charmingly generous, and insisted on saying some very lovely things about me, she even brought me chrysanthemums, so future guests take note! Did you know you can watch the podcast on Youtube? Come along and count the butterflies! Just search for @tomallen.  Now, slip off those stilettos, grab your Crocs, and come Pottering with us.

Another week, another brilliant guest joining me in the garden, the fabulous Phil Wang! Brilliant comedian, author and old friend of mine, Phil's stand-up specials on Netflix are not to be missed, including his most recent Wang In There Baby, which is an absolute joy. On a very blustery day in the garden, we chat guttering, goose stepping, and of course, as all good podcasts do, serial killers. Phil also takes a tour of my vegetable patch and leaves with a handful of beans, which I think makes him the real winner of the podcast so far. So straighten your epaulettes, sharpen those secateurs, and let's get Pottering! Did you know you can watch the podcast on Youtube? Come along and count the butterflies! Just search for @tomallen. 

On Pottering this week, things take a splendidly spooky turn as we celebrate Halloween in the garden with broadcaster, author and bewitching presence Angela Scanlon! There are pumpkins among the perennials, spirits stirring in the shrubbery, and nachos in a Le Creuset – a terrifying treat indeed! As darkness falls, our hauntingly horticultural conversation covers crystals, carveries and Angela's bumper crop. It's amazing what sipping negronis beneath a full moon can bring to the surface! We also attempt a spot of sage smudging – which I am fairly certain I still do not understand – and discuss Angela's wonderful podcast 'Get A Grip' which is a delight! You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  So switch on your slug torch, wrap up warm, and step into the garden if you dare, for another episode of Pottering. 🧛‍♂️

Ah, what a lovely time we had pottering in the garden with the brilliant Fay Ripley! A wonderful actor, brilliantly talented cookery book writer, and all-round lovely person! The umbrellas were out once more; however, as we filmed earlier in the autumn, it was pleasantly warm, so even in my Crocs I didn’t get 'cold feet'. We chat about the joys of a British garden, the pitfalls of the pizza oven, and of course I show her my Jane Asher dressing-up book, just in time for some Halloween inspiration! Fay also very kindly explores my garden produce and shares a delicious recipe for an out-of-this-world tomato salad, so that’s certainly something to listen out for. You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  So yes, it’s that time again. Pull up a chair, light that citronella candle, and let’s go Pottering. 

This week on Pottering, I had the pleasure of being joined for some 'Alfresco Therapy' by the gloriously funny Nish Kumar! Superbly satirical stand up, you may also know him from Radio 4, his hit podcast Pod Save The UK, or from television (The Mash Report, Taskmaster, Joel and Nish vs The World). On a rather changeable day in the garden, we chat “oh dear thoughts,” men’s culture, and podcasting during the Rapture. We even get harvesting! Remember those carrots Suzi planted last week? Well, time flies in Tom Allen’s veg patch... 🥕🥕🍆 You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  So, pour yourself a refreshing protein shake, dust off those gardening gloves, and come Pottering with us!

It was a delight to welcome my dear friend, the hilarious Suzi Ruffell into the garden for a chat and some light manual labour. You’ll perhaps know her from the brilliant Big Kick Energy podcast, her gloriously funny stand-up, and of course as my co-host on the Like Minded Friends podcast. She’s also written a beautiful and thoughtful book, Are We Having Fun Now?, which we discuss in this episode, it's now a best seller and I highly recommend! We had a wonderful chat about the joy of garden gnomes, community gardening, and our relationship with anxiety. Suzi also bravely investigates my mulch, lends a hand tidying pots, and we even find time to sow some seeds! We filmed this back in March, so the garden looks a little different, do keep your eyes peeled in future episodes to see how those carrots turn out! You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  So, pop on your neckerchief, recline that deckchair, and let’s get Pottering.

What a joy to be back in the garden for another episode of Pottering, this time with the wonderful Jo Brand. I know her very well from our time together on Bake Off: An Extra Slice, but you may perhaps know her as a stand-up legend, the mind behind Getting On, and the author of numerous best-sellers.  In our chat we cover growing up in the countryside, the spookiest of sleepovers, and the toxicity of travel vloggers. We also try our hand at window boxes; very different approaches and very different results. You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  Now, help yourself to a glass of elderflower cordial, dust off your trusty trowel, and join us for a spot of pottering.

On this episode of Pottering I’m joined by my dear friend, the brilliant Kerry Godliman. You’ll know her from After Life, Whitstable Pearl and, oh yes, the brand new Spinal Tap movie OUT NOW! We chat about all sorts of glorious things: our obsession with Gardeners’ World, the splendour of the National Trust Gift Shop, and, of course, Handkerchief Trees. Kerry even shows me how to do a bit of tomato pinching (no, I didn’t know what that meant either, but now we do). You can also watch each episode of Pottering on my YouTube channel. Just search for @tomallen.  So, pour yourself a cup of tea, stick your wellies on and let's go pottering.