Table Talk
Episodes
With Michael Gove
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Surely needing no introduction to Spectator listeners, Michael Gove has been a staple of British politics for almost two decades. As a Christmas treat...
With Tom Gilbey
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Gilbey, the internet’s most charismatic wine expert, sits down with Olivia Potts for Table Talk. Tom is a winemaker, merchant, educator – and ...
With Tanya Gold
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A woman that needs no introduction for regular Spectator readers, Tanya Gold has been the Spectator’s restaurant critic since 2011. On the podcast s...
With Sandrine Zhang Ferron
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sandrine Zhang Ferron is a tech entrepreneur and founder of Vinterior, the online marketplace for antique and vintage furniture. She joins Olivia Pott...
With Stephen Harris
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Harris, a self-taught chef who has run the Michelin-starred restaurant The Sportsman for over 25 years, sits down with Olivia Potts on Table T...
With Gyles Brandreth
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster, writer, actor – and former MP – Gyles Brandreth joins Lara Prendergast on this episode of Table Talk to discuss his memories of food,...
With Andrew Turvil
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Andrew Turvil is the former editor of the Good Food Guide, the AA Restaurant Guide and the Which? Pub Guide. His new book Blood, Sweat and Aspa...
With Raymond Blanc
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a bumper episode, the legend that is Raymond Blanc joins Olivia Potts and Lara Prendergast. The self-taught chef heads up the double Michelin-starr...
With Ben Lippett
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Lippett is a chef and food influencer whose recipes and cooking tips are hugely popular online. His new book How I Cook: A Chef's Guide To Re...
With Brett Graham
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Graham is the man behind the Michelin-starred The Ledbury in Notting Hill, which is celebrating 20 years this year. He’s also the director of ...
With Charlotte Ivers
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte sta...
With Candice Chung
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Candice Chung is a food writer whose work has been featured in many publications, including the Guardian. Her first book, Chinese Parents Don’t Say ...
With Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thomasina Miers is a chef, writer and restaurateur who co-founded Wahaca – the award-winning restaurant group that brought bold, sustainable Mexican...
With Nadine Dorries
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nadine Dorries is one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians from the past two decades. Elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in 2005, she...
With Jun Tanaka
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jun Tanaka is a Japanese-British chef with over 30 years’ experience in some of London’s most famous restaurants, including La Gavroche, Restauran...
With Daria Lavelle, on her breakout novel 'Aftertaste'
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daria Lavelle was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and raised in New York. Her work explores themes of identity and belonging and her short stories have appeare...
With Mary-Ellen McTague
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mary-Ellen McTague is a chef based in Manchester. She is the culinary driving force behind Aunbury, 4244, the Creameries and her newest venture, Pip a...
With Roger Pizey, Head of Pastry at Fortnum and Mason
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Roger Pizey is a baker, chef and one of the most influential pâtissiers in the UK. He started his culinary journey as an apprentice at La Gavroche un...
With Gok Wan
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gok Wan is a renowned stylist and television presenter. Over the years, Gok has transformed the way we think about style and body image with his much-...
With Loyd Grossman
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Loyd Grossman is a man of many talents: from appearing on our screens as the host of MasterChef and Through the Keyhole, to crafting a beloved line o...
With Ash Sarkar
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ash Sarkar is a journalist, academic and political activist known for her commentary on social justice and democratic socialism. She is a senior edito...
With Emma Fox, CEO of Berry Bros & Rudd
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emma Fox is the chief exec of Berry Bros & Rudd, the world's oldest fine wine and spirit merchant. A retail veteran, Emma's broad experience has been ...
With Groove Armada's Andy Cato
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Cato is a musician, record producer and DJ, and is perhaps best known as one half of the Grammy Award-winning electronic music duo Groove Armada....
With Jeremy Chan
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Chan is the head chef and owner of Ikoyi, a West African-inspired restaurant that celebrates British seasonality. He is also the author of a co...
With Julian Baggini, on the 'philosophy of food'
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julian Baggini is a philosopher, journalist and author. He has served as the academic director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and is a member of...
With 'Caviar Queen', Laura King
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Laura King is affectionately known as the 'Caviar Queen' and is widely regarded as the UK's foremost caviar expert. In this special episode of the po...
With Elif Shafak
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Elif Shafak is a novelist, political scientist and essayist. She has published 21 books – 13 of which are novels – and her books have been transla...
With Richard Madeley
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Madeley is a presenter, author and journalist who has been on our screens since the 1980s, most notably presenting This Morning with his wife ...
With Julian Metcalfe, founder of Itsu
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Julian Metcalfe is a British entrepreneur and one of the most influential individuals on the London high street. He revolutionised the grab-and-go lun...
With Terry Wiggins, Parliament Chef
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Terry Wiggins is a chef who led the catering team at Westminster’s Portcullis House. During his time, he served 13 prime ministers and received an M...
With Tim Spector
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Spector is a leading professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and a renowned expert in nutrition, gut health, and the microbio...
With Claire Dinhut
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Claire Dinhut is known to thousands on social media as CondimentClaire. Raised in a European household in Los Angeles, her upbringing and her backgrou...
With Charlie Bigham
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Bigham founded his eponymous ready to cook meals over 25 years ago. Having left a career as a management consultant, his company has gone on t...
With Simon Raymonde
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Musician Simon Raymonde is perhaps best known as part of the Scottish band the Cocteau Twins, but he has found further success as the co-founder of Be...
With Will Beckett
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will Beckett, CEO of Hawksmoor, founded the steakhouse chain with his childhood best friend Huw Gott in 2006. It has since expanded to 13 locations, i...
With Romy Gill
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Romy Gill is a British-Indian chef, food-writer and broadcaster who was awarded an MBE in 2016 for her services to hospitality. She is the author of t...
With Fred Smith
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fred Smith is Head of Beef at Flat Iron. Having trained at several of London's top restaurants, he later became Head of Food at Byron. He then joined ...
With Jess Shadbolt
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jess Shadbolt is part of the celebrated trio behind King and Jupiter restaurants in New York City. Originally from Suffolk, she worked at the River Ca...
With Sir David Hempleman-Adams
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where to begin with Sir David! An English industrialist and explorer, he was the first person to complete the ‘Explorer’s Grand Slam’. This mean...
With Hadley Freeman
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hadley Freeman is a journalist and author. She writes for The Sunday Times, having previously written for The Guardian. Her books include House of Gla...
With Theo Randall
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Theo Randall is a Head Chef, restaurant owner, and food writer. He's currently the Chef Patron of Theo Randall at the InterContinental, and he was fam...
With Tim Hayward
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Hayward is an award-winning food writer, a broadcaster, and proprietor of the bakery Fitzbillies in Cambridge. He writes regularly for the FT Maga...
With Michael Zee
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Zee is an author, cook and the creator of SymmetryBreakfast, which started as an Instagram account, before amassing over 670,000 followers and...
With Joel Golby
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Golby is a journalist who has written for – among others – Vice and the Guardian, where he has a regular column, the watcher, reviewing telev...
With Anna Jones
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Jones is a food writer, food stylist and author. She is known predominately for her focus on vegetarian cooking, and her new book Easy Wins celeb...
With Gennaro Contaldo
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gennaro Contaldo is an Italian chef, cookbook author and television presenter. He is also known as Jamie Oliver's mentor and Antonio Carluccio's trave...
With Alex Jackson
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Jackson is the founder of Sardine and currently head chef at Noble Rot, Soho. His cookbook Frontières: the food of France's borderlands is avail...
With Thomas Robson-Kanu
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas 'Hal' Robson-Kanu is former professional footballer who was part of the Welsh team that reached the semi finals of Euro 2016, thanks largely to...
With Professor Charles Spence
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Charles Spence is an experimental psychologist at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on how an in-depth understanding of the hum...
With Edward Stourton
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Edward Stourton is a broadcaster who has worked as foreign correspondent for the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN. He is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Sunday P...
With Alexandra Collier
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandra Collier is a Melbourne-based writer who has written for theatre, screen and print. She is a MacDowell fellow and a recipient of the RE Ross ...
With Philip Hensher
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Hensher is a novelist and regular contributor to The Spectator’s books pages. His books cover a variety of subjects and often deal with impor...
With Michel Roux Jr
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michel Roux Jr. is an English-French chef and is the chef patron of Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in the UK to received one, two and then three Mi...
With Tara Wigley
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tara Wigley is the in-house writer for the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen, she also has a weekly column in the Guardian and a monthly column in the New York ...
With Celia Walden
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Celia Walden is a journalist, novelist and critic whose most recent novel, The Square, is out now. On the podcast she tells Lara and Liv why lentils...
With Victoria Hislop
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Victoria Hislop is a bestselling author and a lover of all things Mediterranean. Victoria’s first book 'The Island', came out in 2005 and became an ...
With John Nichol
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
John Nichol is a former RAF Tornado navigator who, during the first Gulf War in 1991, was famously shot down, paraded on television and held prisoner ...
With Ewan Venters
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ewan Venters is the former chief executive of Fortnum & Mason and is now the CEO of Artfarm and Hauser & Wirth. Ewan is launching Artfarm’s first Lo...
With Diana Henry
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diana Henry is a critically acclaimed, multi-award winning cook, food writer and author of 12 books including the classic cookbook 'Roast Figs, Sugar ...
With Philip Khoury
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Khoury became the head pastry chef at Harrods in 2018. He made it his mission to pioneer the creation of plant-based desserts, calling it the '...
With Sir Nicholas Mostyn
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Hon. Mr Justice Mostyn was a British high court judge who left the Bench just a few weeks ago. Nick Mostyn enjoyed a long and distinguished career...
With James Dreyfus
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Dreyfus is an actor, best known for his roles in TV sitcoms The Thin Blue Line and Gimme Gimme Gimme. James also appeared in the film Nottinghil...
With Ebru Baybara Demir
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ebru Baybara Demir is a Turkish chef with a big dream; to introduce tourism to Mardin, a municipality in the Kurdish region of Turkey. It was a brave ...
With Jimi Famurewa
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jimi Famurewa is a British-Nigerian journalist, writer, broadcaster and food critic. In 2020 Jimi became chief restaurant critic for the Evening Stand...
With Amy Newsome
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Newsome is a Kew-trained horticulturalist, beekeeper and author of the new book Honey: Recipe's from a beekeepers kitchen. On the podcast, she te...
With Ingrid Newkirk
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ingrid Newkirk is a British-American activist, who founded People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in 1980. She speaks to Lara about her e...
With Eddie Huang
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie is an American author, chef, restauranteur, presenter and former attorney. He has recently brought his famous Taiwanese bao buns over the UK, an...
With Sarah Woods
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Woods is an author and cook, who left her corporate job behind to pursue her real passion after reaching the final of BBC1's Best Home Cook 2020...
With Niki Segnit
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Niki Segnit is the author of the hit cooking books The Flavour Thesaurus and Lateral Cooking. Her new book The Flavour Thesaurus more flavours: Plant-...
With Guy Tullberg
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guy is the managing director of The Tracklements Company, providers of artisan chutneys, relishes and preserves, all made in small batches and to trad...
With Jonathan Ray
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Ray is The Spectator’s drinks editor and formerly wine critic for the Telegraph. He has also written several books on the subject of wine a...
With Fadi Kattan
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fadi Kattan is a Palestinian chef and hotelier who has recently brought a menu inspired by all the different regions of his home country to his new re...
With Eleanor Steafel
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eleanor is a features writer and columnist for the Daily Telegraph where she writes the the regular food column The Art of Friday Night Dinner. Her ne...
With Tom Athron
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Athron is the CEO of luxury brand Fortnum and Mason, a position which he undertook during the pandemic having held senior roles at John Lewis and ...
With Alexander Downer
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alexander Downer is an Australian former politician and diplomat, whose roles have included Leader of the Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs ...
With Harriet Hastings
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Harriet Hastings is the founder of hand-iced biscuit delivery company Biscuiteers which delivers over 2 million biscuits worldwide every year. On the...
With Luke Farrell
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Farrell is a restauranteur and founder of two of London's fieriest new openings, Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar. He has spent the last few ye...
With Amber Guinness
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amber Guinness is a cook, author, journalist and co-founder of The Arniano Painting School. Her first book, A House Party in Tuscany, is out now. On ...
With John-Paul Flintoff
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John-Paul Flintoff is a journalist, writer and artist who has written a number of books including his most recent, Psalms for the City: Original poetr...
With Myleene Klass and Jamie Barber
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Myleene is a singer, presenter and businesswoman, and Jamie is a restauranteur with a number of restaurants to his name. Together they have created th...
With Melissa Thompson
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Thompson is an award-winning food writer and cook who started a supper club, serving Japanese food in her front room in 2014.In September 2022...
With Capri Cafaro
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Capri Cafaro was a member of the Ohio Senate for 10 years before becoming a political commentator. She can often be found on American television news ...
With Ayesha Hazarika
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ayesha Hazarika is a journalist, broadcaster, stand-up comic and former advisor to three Labour leaders. On the podcast, she discusses memories of he...
With Andy Burnham
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Burnham has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. Before this he held prominent positions in Gordon Brown's cabinet, including health...
With Oliver Woodhead
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Oliver Woodhead is founder of L'Entente, the British brasserie in Paris. On the podcast, he tells Lara and Liv about what the French think about a tra...
With Al and Kitty Tait
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Al and Kitty Tait run the Orange Bakery in Watlington, and are the authors of Breadsong: How Baking Changed Our Lives. On the podcast, the father-and-...
With Paul Feig
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Feig is an actor, comedian and acclaimed filmmaker. He has directed films such as Bridesmaids, The Heat and the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters as we...
With Aidan Hartley
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aidan Hartley is a writer and entrepreneur. Born in Kenya, he grew up in Africa and England and has worked as a reporter for Reuters all over the worl...
With Thom Elliott
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thom Elliott is the co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims. On the podcast, Thom tells Lara and Liv about growing up above a pub, learning to make pizza while t...
With Lily Dunn
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lily Dunn is a writer, teacher and lecturer in creative writing and narrative non-fiction at Bath Spa University. And her latest book Sins of my fathe...
With Olia Hercules on #CookForUkraine
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On a slightly different episode of Table Talk, chef and food writer, Olia Hercules joins Olivia Potts for a second time on the podcast to talk about #...
With Nell Hudson
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nell Hudson has starred in Outlander, Victoria and the latest Texas Chainsaw Massacre film. Her debut novel, Just for Today, is out now: it’s about ...
With Nuno Mendes
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Born in Lisbon, Portugal. Nuno Mendes grew up on a farm which inspired a passion and understanding for food. He attended the California Culinary Acade...
With Tommy Banks
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tommy Banks is the youngest ever UK Michelin-starred chef, awarded in 2013 when he was aged 24, and is the owner of the restaurant The Black Swan whic...
With Ameer Kotecha
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ameer Kotecha is a British diplomat, pop-up chef and food writer. His first cookbook the Platinum Jubilee Cookbook, in which he chronicles 70 recipes ...
With Michael Heath
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Heath is a British strip cartoonist and illustrator and has been working nonstop since the 1950s. He has been cartoon editor of The Spectator ...
With Lance Forman
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lance Forman is the owner of H. Forman & Son, Britain's leading salmon smokers and author of Forman's Games. He was elected a Brexit Party MEP for Lo...
With Mitch Tonks
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mitch Tonks is an award-winning restauranteur and chef. He runs the Rockfish restaurant group in Devon and Dorset, and the Seahorse restaurant in Dart...
With Beata Heuman
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Interior designer, Beata Heuman is known for her work based on playful, original designs characterised by Scandinavian attention to detail and longevi...
With Rory Stewart
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former Tory MP, Rory Stewart, has played many roles through out his life. An academic, a diplomat, and a soldier. Rory is currently a senior fellow at...