Podcasts about Waitrose

Nick and Angela welcome a brilliant broadcaster to our very own happy place.  Fearne Cotton is a TV and radio broadcaster and founder of the hugely successful Happy Place universe. Fearne, who grew up in Hillingdon, West London began her career at the age of 15 presenting kids TV show, The Disney Club. She went on to present shows including Diggit, The Saturday Show and The Xtra Factor, and cohosted Top of the Pops with Reggie Yates from 2004. Fearne is a great friend of Nick's and worked alongside him at BBC Radio 1, where she hosted  Live Lounge in the mid-morning slot.  Fearne currently presents Sounds of the 90s on BBC Radio 2, but is arguably best known for her Happy Place podcast, which has just celebrated its seventh birthday. She joins us to chat about the Happy Place Festival, which takes place in London's Gunnersbury Park on 12 and 13 July, and in Cheshire's Tatton Park on 30 and 31 August. The festival is full of inspiring guest talks, podcast recordings, yoga and workshops.  Angela provides plenty of happy plates in this episode, serving Fearne roast cauliflower with dates, spiced chickpeas, preserved lemons & green tahini with chicory salad, which is paired with a glass of No.1 Beaujolais Villages. Before the arrival of the main course, Fearne is handed a fiery lime margarita, which goes down a treat.  It's no surprise that this week feels like good mates catching up as Fearne and Nick share some of their more random tales of pop star interviews. Fearne talks about her approach to veganism (or ‘veganity'), including the time she broke all her own rules for an interview with Ludovico Einaudi. And is this our most considered Fast Food Quiz yet? You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode.Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

#AD We want our homes to smell great all the time, with a scent wardrobe to match every mood. Baylis & Harding's Signature Hand Wash collection lets you do just that: luxurious, affordable, and perfectly crafted to elevate your everyday. We were so happy to partner with Baylis & Harding for this episode, and to talk about our absolute favourites in their Signature collection…Both of us love the Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit Hand Wash, a refreshing citrus blend with mandarin, grapefruit, soft florals and warm amber. We also adore the creamy, indulgent Jojoba, Vanilla & Almond Oil Hand Wash, rich with vanilla and sandalwood, plus the sophisticated Black Pepper & Ginseng Hand Wash, spicy with black pepper, bergamot and cedarwood. Nicola's picks include the fresh and floral Jasmine & Apple Blossom Anti-Bacterial Hand Wash, combining wild jasmine with crisp apple and peach, and the soothing Wild Lavender & Geranium Hand Wash, with eucalyptus, citrus, lavender and cedarwood. Suzy's favourites are the warm, woody Vetiver, Cedar & Lemongrass Anti-Bacterial Hand Wash, blending vetiver, juniper berries and moss, and the vibrant Peony, Lychee & Vanilla Hand Wash, a romantic mix of peony, pear, lily, rose, lychee and vanilla. Each hand wash is £2.25 and available at Waitrose, Amazon, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Ocado. Discover more at @baylisandhardingplc and baylisandharding.com PLUS, in this episode, after our deep dive into scenting our world and moods, we're thrilled to bring you an interview with @richard.e.grant – actor, author, broadcaster and founder of @jackperfume – about how he was ‘led by his nose' all his life, and eventually created his own fragrance house (hugely influenced by his own scent memories). Don't miss it!

Angela and Nick welcome an actor who definitely knows his way around a kitchen. Nick Frost is an actor, comedian and screenwriter and the first (and possibly only) participant in a Dish chop-off! Frost joins us after the release of his new film, How To Train Your Dragon, a live action remake of the hugely popular animated film series, based on Cressida Cowell's books. The movie sees him star as the popular blacksmith Gobber alongside Gerard Butler, Mason Thames and Nico Parker.  You will know Nick Frost from a range of TV and film roles, including the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End) alongside his good pal and long-time collaborator Simon Pegg. Frost also appeared with Pegg in the cult TV comedy Spaced. Other TV and film credits include Attack the Block, Paul, Truth Seekers, Green Wing, The Adventures of Tintin and Fighting With My Family, alongside costar Florence Pugh.  Nick loves life in a kitchen, having worked as a chef before getting into acting. His passion for food is beautifully detailed in his memoir/recipe book, A Slice Of Fried Gold, which is now available in paperback. Having met Angela once before, Frost finally gets to have a full conversation with her (and Nick) over a delicious meal of spicy barbecued lamb with minty tomato & watermelon relish, with Angela marinating the meat overnight for extra flavour. Nick opts for a Fanta, but for wine-lovers our Waitrose experts recommend a glass of PepperBox Shiraz.  At our request, Nick brought his favourite kitchen knife to the record for a demonstration of his chopping skills alongside Angela. Our hosts dig into Nick's passion for great tasting food (and clean surfaces), and get  the lowdown on the world's best pizza, discovered by Nick in Belfast.  You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode.Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

It's all singing, dancing, chatting and eating at Dish this week. Cynthia Erivo is a British actor, singer and songwriter, well known for her phenomenal vocals and performances on stage and screen. She comes to the Dish table to talk about her new album, I Forgive You; a 20-track record which tells her life story in four distinct parts and showcases the full range of her incredible voice. It's released on 6 June, UK.  Erivo, who was born in Stockwell, London but now lives in Los Angeles, made her Broadway debut as Celie in The Color Purple alongside Jennifer Hudson, a role for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. She has also received two Best Actress Oscar nominations for her roles in Harriet (2019) and most recently Wicked! (2024) where she played Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande. Other notable projects include heist thriller Widows the Netflix crime thriller Luther: The Fallen Sun, and the drama Drift. To mark the start of June, Angela served the table a vegan roasted red pepper, aubergine & freekeh salad with additional courgettes (Angela's favourite). As Cynthia doesn't drink, the trio enjoyed a glass of Real Peony Blush Non Alcoholic Sparkling Tea alongside it. For those that do want to match their salad with a glass of wine, the Waitrose experts suggest a glass of Eminence de Bijou.  We begin the episode by getting to know Cynthia's love of vegan food, understanding her garlic allergy and dislike of the onion family (sorry, onion family). Over the salad, we learn more about her new record, including how Ariana Grande helped to make it happen and get a first-class demonstration of just how powerful her voice is. Plus, we finally found a good writer for the End of Show Question! You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Dish welcomes an Irish singer-songwriter and champion of butter!  Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known professionally as CMAT, is a highly engaging and thought provoking musician enjoying a career that goes from strength to strength.  She released her debut album, If My Wife New I'd Be Dead, in 2022 with its follow-up, Crazymad, for Me, arriving a year later and receiving a number of accolades, including a place on the Mercury Prize Shortlist. She arrives at the Dish table ahead of the launch of her new record, Euro-Country, which includes the single Running/Planning out on August 29.  It's a busy summer for CMAT too, as she heads out on tour supporting Sam Fender across a run of dates before festival season, which includes a stop at Glastonbury with our Nick and Angela in the front row. The year then finishes with her album tour starting in October, including her biggest solo shows ever in Brixton and Dublin. Her energetic, fun live performances, with The Very Sexy CMAT Band, are not to be missed!  Angela delivers a Mexican-themed meal starting with guacamole, salsa and corn chips before a serving of Pescado a la Veracruzana – a one-pot wonder of a dish. It's served alongside a Château de Berne Provence Rosé which is one of CMAT's many food and drink passion points.  The trio get along famously, chatting about the brilliance of butter, the similarities between delivering a live music show and service at a restaurant and CMAT's choice to go to New York to make her third record– all finished off with two excellent lookalike observations.  You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode.Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

I'm joined by Lord Mark Price, Founder of WorkL, whose career has spanned the heights of retail leadership as the former Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, to the heart of British politics. He was appointed UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment by David Cameron 8 days before the Brexit referendum was announced.We discuss the current state of play, principles that guided him at Waitrose, the experience of entering government at such a charged moment, and his current passion for transforming workplace happiness through his company, WorkL. Tune in to hear Lord Price's invaluable insights on leadership, navigating seismic change, and the future of work.-----Show Notes | Connect with Lord Mark Price: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-price-4348a7127/---

Introducing Sarah Vachon, the brainchild behind Citizens of Soil - the regenerative olive oil brand championing the farmers' who deserve a seat at the table - cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from small batch producers in Greece and Spain as well as rarer varieties from the likes of Italy, Portugal and Croatia. Full of polyphenols and powerful antioxidants, there's a reason why people in the Mediterranean live for so long.  As one of the most faked products in the world, Citizens of Soil is an advocate for a more sustainable, transparent and ethical model of farming. And for Sarah, it was a chance to put principle into practice having worked at Provenance, the supply chain software company based on blockchain. Founded in 2021, her and her husband Michael made light work of their growth - having started in DTC they are now stocked in prestigious retailers like Waitrose, Selfridges and Ocado. But their story goes far beyond the bottle. At their heart lies a deep commitment to investing in the land, fostering a culture that values soil health and the future of food. In a time of rising prices, Citizens of Soil offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating that a dedication to quality and ethical practices can flourish.  Fresh from a significant £1.8 million investment, they're cultivating not just olives, but a powerful vision inspired by the rich mythology of the land. Tune in to be inspired by their journey and the stories that shape their exceptional brand.  

Felix James, co-founder and head brewer at Small Beer, takes us through his brewing journey from childhood experiments to pioneering the world's first brewery dedicated to beers under 2.8%. His passion for biology and fermentation forms the foundation of a revolutionary approach to creating full-flavoured beer with less alcohol.• Started brewing at age 4 with a home experiment using a milk bottle and bread yeast• Biology degree led to professional brewing, beginning at Budweiser where he learned rigorous quality standards• Met business partner James Grundy at Sipsmith, gaining crucial business experience beyond brewing operations• Spent over 18 months developing recipes before launching Small Beer• Designed custom brewing equipment focused on extracting maximum flavour rather than alcohol• Created the brewing system from scratch, taking personal risk when manufacturers initially questioned the design• Pioneered the "mid-strength" beer category in the UK market• Developed the concept of "coasting" as an alternative to alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks• Small Beer sits below the diuretic limit, reducing dehydration and hangover potential• Available in Waitrose, Ocado, Majestic Wines, and launching in M&S from June 18thSupport the show

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with writer Tony Hargis about her experiences returning to Britain after living in the US for nearly three decades. They discuss her new column 'Brit Buzz', the changing climate in Britain, cultural differences between the UK and the US, and the evolution of language. The conversation also touches on customer service, grocery store culture, dining experiences, and the vibrant theater scene in London. Tony shares her insights on acclimatizing to British life and the surprises she has encountered since her return. Links Brit Buzz Rules, Britannia Book The Repat Report A Brit Back Home Cook! Frozen Meals National Theatre at Home (Subscription) Operation Mincemeat Musical Grayson Perry – Delusions of Grandeur (Book & Exhibition) Takeaways Tony Hargis is returning to Anglotopia with a new column called Brit Buzz. The UK is experiencing unusual weather patterns, including heatwaves. Cultural differences between the US and UK persist, especially in customer service. WhatsApp is widely used in the UK, unlike in the US. Returning to Britain feels like moving to a foreign country for Tony. British food has improved significantly over the years. Grocery store culture in the UK varies greatly, with Waitrose being considered posh. Dining experiences in the UK can be frustrating due to slow service. Theater and cultural events are thriving in London. Tony is open to suggestions for topics in her new column. Sound Bites On Returning to Britain: “I had to think of it as moving to a foreign country—that's how much Britain had changed.” On Her New Column, Brit Buzz: “I want to write about life in Britain as it is today—what's changed, what's mad, and what makes Britain, Britain.” On Culture Shock (Round Two): “I've lived here most of my life, but when I came back, I didn't understand the TV setup or how the bills worked—I had to Google how to use a supermarket trolley!” On Customer Service in the UK vs the US: “In Britain, you could die at your table and no one would notice. In America, they're flipping the table before you've finished dessert!” On British Food Myths: “Everyone thinks British food is terrible—it's not. It's fresh, local, and full of flavor. You just have to get out of London and explore.” On WhatsApp Culture: “Every time you make plans, someone creates a WhatsApp group. I went through mine—there were 27 groups. Half of them extinct!” On Language Differences: “In Britain, it's not Blink 182—it's Blink one-eight-two. I said it the American way and got stared at like I was from Mars.” On the New Chapter of Her Writing Life: “This new column is a way of reconnecting—reporting on the absurd, the charming, and the everyday of modern British life.” On Grocery Store Hierarchies: “You know you're in a posh neighborhood when there's a Waitrose. And yes, I can walk to mine. That's my excuse!” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Toni Hargis and Brit Buzz 02:34 Weather and Climate Changes in Britain 05:12 Reflections on British Culture and Customer Service 09:13 Technology and Communication: WhatsApp in the UK 11:20 Cultural Acclimatization: Toni's Experience 14:18 Cultural References and British Media 17:17 Americanisms in British English 20:05 Grocery Store Culture in Britain 24:33 The Evolution of British Cuisine 25:54 Cost of Living: A Transatlantic Comparison 30:03 Cultural Insights: Understanding British and American Perspectives 35:13 Navigating Transportation: The British Train System 40:38 Catching Up with British Culture: TV and Theatre 46:49 Future Writing: Eccentricities and Reader Engagement 49:04 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4 Video Version

Nick and Angela are joined by an Oscar winner for a vegan feast. Natalie Portman is an award-winning actor, director and activist who has been making films since her first role at the age of 12 in Léon: The Professional. In a highly acclaimed career, she has also starred in Closer, Jackie, Thor, Star Wars (Episodes I, II and III) and the 2010 film Black Swan, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.  She joins us to talk about her exciting new film Fountain of Youth, which is released on Apple TV+ on 23 May, UK. The action-packed movie, directed by Guy Ritchie, took its cast all over the world during production with shooting locations in Bangkok, Vienna, London and Cairo. Natalie is part of a star-studded cast including John Krasinksi, Domnhall Gleeson, Eiza González and Dish favourite Stanley Tucci. Natalie joined us just before a trip back home to Paris and was delighted to be fuelled by an array of vegan plates... and a Paloma cocktail to start. Angela served a vegan version of Waitrose's broccoli tabbouleh with preserved lemon & zaatar houmous and Lebanese baba ganoush. The wine experts at Waitrose suggest pairing the meal with Kaapzicht Granite Ridge Bush Vine Chenin Blanc.  We loved spending time with Natalie and we are sure you will too. She shared her passion for vegan food and told Nick and Angela about life (and food shopping) in Paris. We find out what it's like to star in a Guy Ritchie movie and Natalie revisits the year of her Oscar win.  You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Angela and Nick welcome a music icon and major food lover to the table. Neneh Karlsson, better known as Neneh Cherry, is a singer, songwriter, broadcaster and activist. Cherry arrives at Dish HQ to talk about the paperback release of her memoir A Thousand Threads which recounts her life story through vivid tales of family, art, friendship and food. The book has recently been nominated for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction.  Neneh was born in Stockholm, Sweden before moving to New York and then, when she was 15, to London where she lives now. She first came to public attention in 1988 with her music and the groundbreaking single Buffalo Stance. In a career that has seen her release six albums and collaborate with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Cher and Gorillaz, she has won two BRIT Awards, a MTV Europe Music Award and has a Grammy nomination. As part of a varied and always thought-provoking career, Neneh has also found time to hone her skills as a cook, and presented the TV cooking show Dish It Up with good friend Andi Oliver.  It's a pasta day for Neneh on Dish as Angela serves tagliatelle with peas, courgette & burrata which the Waitrose wine experts suggest is perfectly paired with a glass of Waitrose Blueprint Gavi. This episode sees Angela and Neneh meet for the first time, generating lots of mouth-watering and nostalgic food chat. Neneh shares her favourite food memories including being sent meatballs in the post, her favourite Swedish dish and also reflects on the word-of-mouth success of her book. You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Angela and Nick pull out all the stops for a quick-witted comedian. Dara Ó Briain is an Irish comedian known for his incredible stand-up shows and TV-presenting prowess,  including hosting BBC Two's panel show Mock the Week, which ran for 17 years.  Held in sky-high esteem by the comedy world and its audience, Dara began working in children's TV in 1994 after studying maths and theoretical physics at university. Through the 2000s, he continued to work in TV before  channelling his efforts into stand-up comedy.  He joined us at Dish HQ to talk about his new tour Re:Creation which focuses on the search for his biological father. The tour, which runs across the UK and Ireland, follows a sold-out run of his last show at 173 venues in 20 countries. Dara simply loves performing live.  Off stage, Dara has a run of brilliant TV credits including presenting Stargazing Live, Robot Wars, Mock the Week and Comedy Central's reboot of Blockbusters.  There were some great food options to choose from Dara's list of likes, with Angela deciding on chicken karahi, a recipe by Ravneet Gill. This was accompanied by a glass of Paolo Leo Varietali Primitivo Puglia and, of course, we had to satisfy Dara's sweet tooth with profiteroles adapted from Martha Collison's recipe for the best éclairs.  As expected, Dara was a hugely entertaining guest, lifting the lid on how his stand-up comes together, his time on Mock the Week and the ups and downs of writing with wine.   You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Securing important early listings is a milestone of any new business. And earlier this spring, Red Fin Cider did just that by sealing a listing for both its Fresh Apple and their Meloncherry styles at Waitrose. 44 Waitrose stores now stock Red Fin Cider, a product launched by three industry veterans and friends, Freddie Rouse, Dave Tugwell and Graeme Baldwin, who saw a need for a new and vibrant brand in the category that was both independently craft but also accessible and a real celebration of Somerset apples, delivering a cider that stacks up in the world of craft beer. This follows on from the business quickly establishing itself in the on-trade, already gaining a significant national presence and loyal following since its launch in June 2024, becoming one of the fastest-growing cider brands and drinks brands in the UK. So what better time to revisit our conversation with co-founder Dave Tugwell. In this episode we reflect on how launching a new business is always an exciting time and a challenging one, too. He talks through the company's journey so far. We also discuss the trio launching into a competitive category, its place in the wider world of craft beer and its commitment to showing consumers that cider can, and should be, fun.

Nick and Angela welcome a master of his craft to Dish.  Alex Horne is an English comedian, writer and creator of the award-winning and highly original game show Taskmaster, which he cohosts with Greg Davies.  Horne, born in Chichester, began his comedy career as a student doing routines at open mic nights in Cambridge before appearing at his first Edinburgh Fringe in 2000. It was at the Fringe that Taskmaster came to life, before making its debut on our TV screens in 2009 (first on Dave and now on Channel 4). The show, now in its 19th season, has been broadcast in over 120 countries and recently was turned into a live immersive experience in London.  Alex, who lives in Chesham with his wife and three sons, is also the lead singer of The Horne Section, a ‘six-headed musical comedy band', who have extended their UK and Ireland  tour across the duration of 2025. They can also be seen on TV in the aptly titled The Horne Section TV Show, which returns for its second series later this year.  Nick, Angela and Alex start the episode over a Guinness with a side of Pringles, before enjoying meatballs in tomato sauce, a recipe by the one and only... Angela Hartnett. The perfectly crafted meatballs are served alongside a glass of Primitivo di Manduria Riserva. With so much going on in Alex's life, this episode covers a lot of funny ground, including the origins of Taskmaster, The Horne Section and Alex's skills in the kitchen, while Angela learns something new about Pringles… We are doing a live episode in Sheffield! On Friday 4 July, Dish will be at The Crucible Theatre at Crossed Wires Festival. For our second ever live show, Nick and Angela will be joined by the newly announced and hilariously funny comedian, Lucy Beaumont. Tickets are available now at crossedwires.live. You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Mark Price, former Managing Director of Waitrose, former UK trade minister and author of ‘Happy Economics. Why the happiest workplaces are the most successful'

This week's Dish is packed with laughter as Angela and Nick are joined by a man of many talents. Peter Serafinowicz is an actor, director, comedian and screenwriter who came to Dish armed with one of our longest ever list of food likes and dislikes. Serafinowicz, born in Liverpool, has made a big impression on TV viewers this year with his role as property developer Johannes in Amandaland. He's also the host of the Netflix gameshow Million Dollar Secret, where an undercover millionaire has to hide in plain sight.  Peter's substantial acting and TV credits are equal to his food likes list, with roles on both sides of the Atlantic in Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons, Star Wars, The Tick and, most famously, The Peter Serafinowicz Show, packed full of sketch comedy. He's an excellent impressionist and is starting to spend more time live on stage, touring the UK in 2024 with his character Brian Butterfield.  As ever, Angela hits the mark, serving Peter BLT pasta. The Waitrose wine experts suggest pairing it with Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz, while in this episode, Peter, Nick and Angela enjoy a glass of Equinox Kombucha. The Dish table is all the richer for Peter's humour, as the trio discuss his desire to be a pasta-shape designer, the fussiness of Come Dine with Me contestants and his love of mashed potato, all topped off with a great impression.  Side notes:  We are doing a live episode in Sheffield! On Friday 4 July, Dish will be at The Crucible Theatre at Crossed Wires Festival. Nick and Angela will be joined by a special guest for their second ever live show. Tickets are available now at crossedwires.live. You can watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

Does ultra-processed plant-based food have a role to play in the future of sustainable nutrition? Huge strides have been made in the plant-based sector and benefits continue to be discovered, yet the market is plateauing. With an increasing backlash against ultra-processed foods targeting the sector, plant-based doesn't always carry the allure it once did. Has the opportunity been over-hyped or can new ingredients and technologies inject new life and nutritional value into the market? In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, recorded at our event in Manchester in 2024, an expert panel discusses the potential role the plant-based sector has to play in the shifting the food industry to a more sustainable, more nutritious future. Guests: Indy Kaur, Founder, Plant Futures Professor Alexandra Johnstone, the Rowett Research Institute of Nutrition and Health, the University of Aberdeen Dr Marjolijn Bragt, Programme Manager, Nutrition for Optimal Health, Wageningen Food and Biobased Research Emer Lowry, Partner, Sustainability and Ethics Specialist in Health, Waitrose

About the GuestLord Mark Price is a celebrated figure in the business world, best known for his contributions to enhancing employee engagement and happiness. As the former Managing Director of Waitrose and former Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership. He is now the founder of WorkL, the leading global employee experience platform helping individuals to work happier and organisations to improve commercial performance by prioritising employee happiness.Mark is a member of the House of Lords, and serves as a Non-Executive Director of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. His commitment to ethical business practices includes former chairmanship of The Fairtrade Foundation and Business in the Community, as well as his presidency of the Chartered Management Institute. He was also formerly Minister of State for Trade and Investment under David Cameron. Mark has written a range of business books on his Six Step Methodology, Employee and Customer Happiness, his new book Happy Economics explores the intricate links between employee engagement and economic performance.This Episode CoversThe Importance of Workplace Happiness: Happiness at work is essential for driving productivity and commercial success. Organisations with happy employees benefit from lower staff turnover, reduced sick leave, and improved customer service, all contributing to higher profits.Six Factors of Happiness at Work: To enhance workplace happiness, focus on six critical areas: reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment, well-being, instilling pride, and ensuring job satisfaction. These factors are foundational to creating a positive and productive work environment.Culture and Management Matter: Organisational culture and management styles play a significant role in employee happiness. Companies that promote trust, recognition, and empowerment generally see higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.Cost-Effective Strategies for Improvement: Many strategies to improve workplace happiness, such as personalised recognition and empowerment, are low-cost. Implementing these can lead to significant improvements in employee morale and productivity.Global Perspectives on Workplace Happiness: Globally, workplace happiness varies, with countries like the UK scoring lower compared to developed nations the US. Understanding and addressing cultural differences in workplace practices can help improve overall employee satisfaction and productivity.Tailored Management Approaches: Recognising individual differences among employees is crucial. Effective management involves personalising support and empowerment to meet the diverse needs and preferences of employees, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and organisational performance.LinksWebsite: WorkLSocial media: LinkedInTake the free WorkL Happy at Work Survey here

Welcome dear listeners, to our series of ‘Talk Haunts' – a chat that's all scary ... just for you. So, grab a hot chocolate, maybe a tea, pull up a chair … because this is Haunted UK Podcast's Talk Haunts – Exploring the Unknown with Neil Armstrong – writer, author and founder of Enigmazine – a magazine which explores the unknown and investigates the paranormal. Neil has a wealth of experience in the publishing world but alongside this he also brings a lifetime of ghostly encounters and experiences – that need to be heard …Join us as we chat with Neil about his supernatural experiences plus a recent ghostly encounter which ultimately saved his life. Listen as we discuss with Neil the whole gamut of supernatural phenomena from time slips to Cannock Chase to Bigfoot to death bed visions – you won't want to miss this – and there's so much content, so many stories that it comes as a glorious two-parter! Enjoy!!Also, on Patreon right now, you could be in with a chance to win two of Neil Armstrong's fascinating books, Ghostly Encounters and Phenomenon and Time Slip Phenomenon – simply join Patreon as a free member and comment on the pinned post. The prize draw will be drawn on May 19th, 2025.Enigmazine – the magazine which explores the unknown and investigates the paranormal is available to buy in WH Smiths, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda – you can also subscribe at Enigmazine's website.Presented by Steven Holloway and Marie Waller Produced by Pink Flamingo Home Studios Script editor: Marie Waller ProofreadingThe Haunted UK Podcast has teamed up with Northumbria University who are interested in sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is when people wake up and are unable to move and often see vivid experiences. We would particularly like to hear from people who are over eighteen years old and have paranormal experiences during sleep paralysis.We are proud to be a part of this fantastic study, and we'd love for all of you listeners to get involved if you've had any experience with sleep paralysis ... no matter how small.Get in touch using the following links:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ThingsThatBumpEmma.barkus@northumbria.ac.uknick.neave@northumbria.ac.ukcontactus@hauntedukpodcast.com

It's the Dish Easter special and Nick and Angela are joined for dinner by JADE. JADE is a singer/songwriter already making her mark as a solo artist. Born and raised in South Shields, JADE was part of the chart conquering girl group Little Mix, who were formed on The X Factor in 2011. Little Mix went on to release six studio albums and won a BRIT Award for British Group in 2021 before going on hiatus. JADE has since released her debut single Angel of my Dreams, followed up by the single FUFN, the video for which stars our very own Nick Grimshaw.  JADE's had a busy start to 2025 with a massive night at this year's BRIT Awards, where she landed a huge performance and won her first BRIT as a solo artist. Alongside the release of her debut album, JADE is also due to perform at Glastonbury, with Nick and Angela hoping to be on the front row.  She is also a huge fan of roasts. And we mean huge.  Which is lucky because Angela has prepared two recipes by Paul Gamble; Roast lamb with boulangère-style vegetables and Chargrilled green vegetables with wild garlic salsa verde. This is accompanied by El Rayo Olarra Rioja Crianza. The conversation begins with a mojito, a cocktail making its Dish debut.  This episode is the perfect Easter lunch, with JADE bringing her passion for roasts, gravy and potatoes while looking back at her first steps as a solo artist - including that big night at the BRITs.  Side notes;  Sadly the pistachio Easter egg mentioned by Nick was so popular it sold out! But we're confident you will find an equally moreish alternative in store or online.  We are doing a live episode in Sheffield! On Friday 4th July, Dish will be at The Crucible Theatre at Crossed Wires Festival. Nick and Angela will be joined by a special guest for their second ever live show. Tickets are available now at crossedwires.live. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

On Dish this week, Nick and Angela welcome a Grammy Award winning musician to the table. Gregory Porter is a much-loved jazz and soul singer who lives in Bakersfield, California with his wife and two sons. Porter rose to prominence in 2013 with the release of his third album, Liquid Spirit, which achieved huge commercial success and saw him win his first of two Grammy Awards. More recently, Gregory appeared on our TV screens as a giant Dressed Crab on The Masked Singer, finishing as runner-up.  Alongside his impressive back catalogue of releases, Porter's live shows come highly recommended, powered by his rich, soulful and emotional vocals. He joins Nick and Angela ahead of his upcoming UK tour that includes four nights at London's Royal Albert Hall. Nick, Angela and Gregory enjoy a Cabernario No. 8 as Angela pulls out all the stops serving Steak à l'échalote, a recipe by Claude Bosi, with two types of chips. To accompany their steaks, they have the choice of three sauces: a Beaujolais, a Béarnaise or a Café de Paris-style butter.  Gregory hosts his own cooking show, The Porterhouse, and brings fantastic culinary knowledge and appreciation to this episode. He shares his love of hosting big, big parties, shows plenty of love for touring life in the UK and reveals what life was like inside that heavy Dressed Crab head. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions.

This week on Dish, Nick and Angela are joined by a powerhouse couple. Brian Cox is a renowned Scottish actor whose career spans more than six decades. Born in Dundee, he was classically trained before becoming a key figure in British theatre. Brian Cox made history as the first actor to portray Dr Hannibal Lecter on screen in Michael Mann's Manhunter in 1986. He went on to star in highly acclaimed films including Braveheart and The Bourne Identity.  On television, Brian Cox is now a cultural icon, thanks to his award-winning portrayal of media titan Logan Roy in Succession. Brian married his wife Nicole in 2002, and they have two sons. Nicole Ansari-Cox is an actor, director and producer. Born in Cologne, she began acting at the age of nine with a breakthrough role in the German crime series Tatort. Her career includes roles in TV shows such as Deadwood and Succession. Nicole frequently shares the stage with her husband, including their current performance in The Score at Theatre Royal Haymarket. Nick prepares the couple's favourite cocktail, a frozen margarita, to start while Angela prepares roast trout with soy, orange and chilli, based on a sweet and spicy salmon recipe from Waitrose. The experts at Waitrose pair this with an English white wine, Chapel Down Bacchus. This episode is one of those great Dish double dates. Brian and Nicole talk about their new play and its parallels with modern life. They share some hilarious insights into their marriage and Brian's eating habits, and treat us to some amazing anecdotes from the set of Succession. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode.   Dish from Waitrose is made by Cold Glass Productions

NCF EXCLUSIVE: We speak with Ben Woods, the Waitrose employee of 25 years SACKED for expressing traditional views on X (formerly Twitter). We're pleased that Ben chose the NCF for his first interview.

Nick and Angela celebrate Mother's Day this week on Dish.  Stacey Dooley MBE is an investigative journalist, TV presenter and author. Born in Luton, she first appeared on television in Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts, a documentary exploring the realities of fast fashion in India. Stacey's curiosity and empathy prompted the BBC to commission Stacey Dooley Investigates, which began in 2009. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to broadcasting, she was awarded an MBE in 2018. That same year, Stacey won Strictly Come Dancing, taking home the glitterball trophy with her dance partner and now long-term partner Kevin Clifton. The couple welcomed their daughter, Minnie, in 2023. Stacey's new book Dear Minnie: Conversations with Remarkable Mothers is out now.  Angela provides some inspiration for Mother's Day, with an afternoon tea-style menu. She prepares a delicious puttanesca puff tart (packed with all of Stacey's favourite flavours) and Martha Collison's triple cheese scones. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Masi Campofiorin.  This episode is full of fun and heartwarming moments. Stacey talks about the many loves of her life, principally: her family, her after-hours snack of choice and, despite never having met him, Nick's boyfriend Mesh. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help.  Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode.   Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose 

This week on Taking The Myth, Stephen Knight (@GSpellchecker) and Iram Ramzan (@Iram_Ramzan) discuss all the big topics. 0:00 Intro 0:34 Iram leaves The Daily Mail and launched a Substack 3:38 Tribalism v consistent principles and Donald Trump 6:05 Reform UK civil war and race row 9:14 Waitrose employee suspended and investigated for social media posts 15:53 The rise of trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney 21:56 Virgin active gyms, Michelle Dewsbury mixed sex changing room row. 26:07 Ash Sakar becomes anti-woke? 31:46 Man attacked in London for burning a Qur'an. 44:41 Reflecting on 5 years since lockdown 56:07 White Lotus Season 3 57:25 Movie review: ‘A Real Pain'. 59:14 New live-action Snow White movie backlash Stephen Knight's Substack: www.sknight.substack.com Iram Ramzan's Substack: https://iramramzan.substack.com/ Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/gspellchecker Also available on iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube & Spotify.

Nick and Angela welcome one of their favourite comics to Dish HQ. Broadcaster, comedian, writer and conductor Sue Perkins was born in South London. A Cambridge University graduate, Sue's journey into comedy began when she joined the prestigious Footlights, where she met her friend Mel Giedroyc. The duo quickly made a name for themselves, hosting Channel 4's Late Lunch and Light Lunch in the nineties, while also writing for the legendary French & Saunders and, later, Absolutely Fabulous in 2003. Her biggest TV job to date came in 2010, when she and Mel cohosted The Great British Bake Off for seven wildly successful series. Outside of television, Sue's broadcasting credentials include hosting Britain's best-loved radio comedy Just A Minute on BBC Radio 4. You can watch her new TV show Chess Masters: The Endgame on BBC iPlayer and listen to her new podcast Mel and Sue: Should Know By Now on Audlibe.  Nick pours Sue a Botivo, a non-alcoholic aperitivo, to start, while Angela prepares a mouthwatering Malaysian prawn laksa curry. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a La Val albariño and for dessert Angela makes Sue her favourite black forest gateau. Nick and Angela are (in their words) giddy at the sight of Sue Perkins sitting opposite them and our trio collapse into fits of laughter throughout this conversation. Sue loves to cook and recounts her best and worst food moments. She also talks about the time she met a shaman in a hot tub, and listen out for her incredible response to the End of Show Question. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we have a throwback to an incredible convo with the co-founder of TRIP, Olivia Ferdi.Maybe I am wrong.For yonks I've been waxing ad nause aboutNarrow and Deep.Focus.Do less, better.Be a Meaningful specific.It's what every wonderful guest on the poddy teaches me.TRIP ripped up the rule book.Definition of outlier.TRIP is for everyone and anyone, anywhere, anytime and everywhere.TRIP is a coffee replacement. Booze replacement. Cocktail mixer. Meal Deal enhancer. Grab & Go.All charged with a beautiful mission: Be Kind to your Mind.Won listings at Co-op Sainsbury's, Waitrose & Partners, @Annabel's, Soho House & CoOlivia Ferdi is the latest guest on Hungry. Oh boy. You're in for a treat.ON THE MENU:1. Why your brand must be chameleon to be a truly omni-channel brand – lessons from Annabel's, Mayfair and Co-Op.2. Why your brand should act as a PROMPT to unlock an emotion in people – TRIP own “Be Kind to Your Mind”3. How TRIP won a Bill's listing in 4 weeks – when one door shuts, open a window. Be fluid.4. How to repurpose your brand and shelf space to unlock more occasions = more consumption = more £ wonga.5. How TRIP raised £10 million quid – do you really need presentation a deck?6. Why founders must actually seek and embrace stress it's a gateway forward.Every top food and drink founder reads our Newsletter - why wouldn't you? https://hungryfeast.beehiiv.com/Watch the full shabang on Youtube -  https://www.youtube.com/@HungryFMCG/videosLet's link up on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-pope/Stalk me on Insta- https://www.instagram.com/_hungry.pod/ ==============================================

Nick and Angela welcome a British actress to Dish HQ. Born in London to South Indian parents, Simone Ashley packed her bags at 16 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream to model and act. She landed her first big role in Sex Education in 2019, before becoming a global superstar as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton. Simone played Ariel's sister in Disney's The Little Mermaid in 2023 and, later this year, will star in the hugely anticipated film F1. Simone is here to celebrate the release of her new rom-com, Picture This. Nick mixes a negroni for Simone while Angela prepares a fennel, potato & gruyère gratin with charcuterie. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Dourthe Roqueblanche sauvignon blanc.  A self-confessed foodie, Simone chats about her special relationship with gruyère cheese, her mother's incredible South Indian curries and her passion for lime pickle. She also talks tattoos, and what her family made of her working with Brad Pitt. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes. Angela's semifreddo is her own recipe; find inspiration for other delicious semifreddo ideas here A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lockdown saw Peter Hitchens riding through Hyde Park in a Polish gas mask hissing the word ‘virus' at strangers. Sarah Vine spent hers in Waitrose checking produce until an outraged fellow shopper saw her return over ripe veg to the shelves and accuse her of spreading ‘covid tomatoes!'. Whatever they are. Both struggled with lockdown – especially as Sarah was sharing a home with Michael Gove, who was very much behind his Party's policy to close things down – but, five years later, what did they make of the seismic period when Britain turned out the lights? Also, Peter asks why the hell can't the west stay out of other country's business, unless those despots or dictators can make life easier for us? It's enough to make cynics of us all. On our reading list this week:  ·      Lockdown Secrets – Eleanor Tattersfield ·      Catch Your Breath – Ed Patrick ·      The Great War For Civilisation – Robert Fisk To get in touch, email: alas@mailonline.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas'.   Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens Producer: Philip Wilding Editor: Chelsey Moore Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Jamie East   A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lockdown saw Peter Hitchens riding through Hyde Park in a Polish gas mask hissing the word ‘virus' at strangers.Sarah Vine spent hers in Waitrose checking produce until an outraged fellow shopper saw her return over ripe veg to the shelves and accuse her of spreading ‘covid tomatoes!'. Whatever they are.Both struggled with lockdown – especially as Sarah was sharing a home with Michael Gove, who was very much behind his Party's policy to close things down – but, five years later, what did they make of the seismic period when Britain turned out the lights?Also, Peter asks why the hell can't the west stay out of other country's business, unless those despots or dictators can make life easier for us? It's enough to make cynics of us all.On our reading list this week: ·      Lockdown Secrets – Eleanor Tattersfield·      Catch Your Breath – Ed Patrick·      The Great War For Civilisation – Robert FiskTo get in touch, email: alas@mailonline.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas'. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick and Angela welcome a fashion icon to Dish HQ. Born in Pennsylvania, Billy Porter was always destined for greatness. In 1992 he won the TV show Star Search, scooping the $100,000 prize ahead of a very young Britney Spears. He took his talent to Broadway and in 2013 won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Lola in Kinky Boots. In 2018, Billy played Pray Tell in the BBC2 series Pose, a role that earned him critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award. He released his memoir, Unprotected, in 2021. Billy Porter is currently starring in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London, alongside Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles. Nick mixes a fiery lime margarita for Billy, while Angela whips up a delicious Greek chicken with orzo. Our trio sip champagne with their meal, a le mesnil blanc de blanc grand cru brut nv, chosen by the experts at Waitrose. Billy Porter is up there with the most entertaining guests we've ever had on Dish. He's only been in the UK a few months, but he has some thoughts… On customer service at Christmastime and British cooks' ‘subtle' approach to seasoning. Billy tells some great stories about his early career and shares some beautiful sentiments about his amazing mother. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 19th March 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: https://www.ajah.ae/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-63432763/Kelly's final episodeThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillWhat it really takes to launch a podcast. With Kelly Molson and Paul GriffithsPaul Griffiths has worked in the Heritage, Museums and Tourism world now for nearly 30 years.After spending 16 years working in various role for English Heritage, in 2012 he moved to the Mary Rose Museum as Head of Operations to oversee the opening and operations of the multi award winning museum, welcoming over one million visitors before in 2018 taking on moving to the Painshill Park Trust in the role of Director of Painshill. Paul spent 6 years there before his move in December 2024 to Ras Al Khaimah one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In this exciting brand new role Paul is Chief Executive Officer of the Al Hamra Heritage Village, part of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with Visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden.Longtime listeners will remember my guest today, Paul Griffiths, when he was CEO at Painshill Park, from when he was interviewed back in season one by Kelly. In today's episode, Paul comes back to talk about his new role as CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamrah Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Now, I'm always interested in the first 90 days of people's experience in a job, so we'll be talking more about that and his for the future. Paul Marden: Paul, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul Griffiths: Hello. Thanks for having me, Paul. Great to be here. Paul Marden:  Long time. Listeners will know that we always start with an icebreaker question and our guests don't get to know that one in advance. I think this one's a pretty kind one. I was pretty mean to Paul Sapwell from Hampshire Cultural Trust a couple of weeks ago because I asked him whether it was Pompey or Saints and for political reasons, he felt that he had to abstain from that.Paul Griffiths: Testing his interest. I'd have gone Pompey at the time because that's where we live. Well, did live. Paul Marden: Oh, there you go. There you go. So you've moved over from Portsmouth. You're now in the UAE. Tell listeners, what is that one? Home comfort that after three months away from Blighty, you're missing? Is it proper English marmalade? Paul Griffiths: Do you know what? I've been able to get hold of most things, but I've not been able to get. I know people who cook properly, so I should be able to do this myself, but I haven't. Cauliflower cheese, one thing I'm missing from home, that doesn't sell it anywhere in a sort of pre pack or frozen form. I can even get hold of Yorkshire puddings in Spinny's supermarket, but I can't get hold of cauliflower cheese. Paul Marden: Can you get cauliflowers? Paul Griffiths: Can get cauliflowers. I'm sure I can make cheese sauce if I knew what it was doing. But you normally. I'm so used to normally buying a pack of cheese, cauliflower cheese to have in my Sunday roast. Paul Marden: Okay. So if I ever get to come out, I need to bring out a plastic wrapped, properly sealed so that it doesn't leak on the plane. Cauliflower cheese? Paul Griffiths: Yes, please. Yeah, absolutely. Paul Marden: So your last episode was actually. Or your last full episode was back in season one, episode 22. So five years ago and the world has changed a lot in five years, but most recently it's changed a lot for you, hasn't it? So why don't you tell listeners a little bit about what's happened to you since you were with us in season one? Paul Griffiths: Wow. Yeah, well, season one seems an age away, doesn't it, now with all the wonderful guests youu've had since on Skip the Queue, it's been a different program completely. But, yeah, no, well, back then I was at Painshill, were coming out of a pandemic and I remember, you know, Kelly and I were chatting over all the different avenues that everyone had gone and what we've done at Painshill and that continued brilliantly. And however, my life has taken a change in. In sense of where I am, but I'm still doing the same sort of work, so. Which is, you know, when our industry, and it's such a fabulous industry, it's great to stay in it. Paul Griffiths: So I am now over in the United Army Emirates in the Emirate of Ras Alhaima, which is the third biggest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, behind Abu Dhabi and, of course, Dubai. So I was approached, God, nearly always, this time last year, about a call over here. Yes. My recruitment company got in touch and went through, you know, had a good look at the job description and thought, well, actually, we'll throw my hat into the ring. And applied, went for a series of online interviews with the recruitment company, then an online interview with the people over here at various departments within the Al Kassimme Foundation and the Department of Museums and Antiquities. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, looking at this brand new job, which I'm now lucky enough to be in, I then was flown out in August for a round of interviews, met all the team. You know, one of those things that you later discover, the whole real four days was one big interview, although there was. There was a central one. But of course, everyone you were meeting along the way was being asked to feedback, And I love chatting to people and enjoying people's company. So actually went for dinners and lunches and all sorts, which was just a lovely four days and almost felt like a free hit in many ways, Paul. Well, this is going to be a brilliant experience. Paul Griffiths: If I don't get the job, I'm going to have a great four days in Rasta Taima, seeing it, meeting everyone, enjoying the time here. And, you know, the more time I spent here, the more time with the team, the more time, you know, going and visiting sites. I just became more and more that this would be an amazing job. Obviously gave my absolute everything, did loads of research, gave everything in the interview. The interview took a rather unusual turn. After the sort of hour and a half of questions and my questions, I was asked to leave the room for a short period. Not unusual in that sense because I was, you know, I wasn't just going to leave and go because obviously I was in their hands for four days. Paul Griffiths: But the doctor, Natasha Ridge, the executive director of the foundation, came out the interview and said, “Right, that's all gone really well. We're really pleased. We're now off to the palace for you to meet His Highness Sheikh Saud, who is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and on the Supreme Council of the UAE.” So I was sort of, I went to one of the small meeting rooms you. Now I know that. Now I know where I was, where I went. But at that point I had no idea. One of the lovely. There's a very much a service thing here. Paul Griffiths: So, you know, we have in the Heritage Village as well later we have a wonderful member of our team, Geraldine, who does lots of cooking, prepares stuff and just had a wonderful fish taco lunch because we're four hours ahead of you, of course, here in Alaihi. So, yeah, so one of the guys came in with, gave me an English breakfast tea and sort of, you know, sat there reviewing what, thinking what on earth was I going to be asked by His Highness. And then was put into one of the drivers and we drove up through Rat Sahma City, through into the palace, up the long driveway and there I was sort of eventually, after about 20 minutes, presented with. Presented to Sheikh Sword who asked me, chatted, asked various questions. Paul Griffiths: I don't think there could be many interviews that you end up with His Highness in the second half of it. You know, it's sometimes a presentation. Yeah. So that was. I was there for about half an hour and that's your time over and off he goes. And off I went back to then go and have dinner with some of the team. So it was a very surreal afternoon. Paul Marden: Being interviewed by royalty. But when you're not expecting that as part of the interview process, that must be quite unnerving. Paul Griffiths: I had a heads up that at some point in my trip I might meet him, but there was no formal arrangements. I had me had to get in a diary. So it hadn't even crossed my mind that's what was about to happen. When I was asked to leave the meeting room, I just thought maybe they wanted to come back with more questions or, you know, say I hadn't gone well, whatever. But, yeah, no, that was the. I took that as a good sign. I thought, well, actually, if I'm being whisked up there, the interview must have gone relatively well because I'm sure they would present me to shake sword if it hadn't gone so well. Paul Marden: Yeah. You'd hope that he would be towards the end of the cycle of the interview round. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. Paul Marden: Not doing the early sifting of CVs. Paul Griffiths: No. He certainly had seen who I was because he asked me some questions about where I'd worked and. Okay, things like that. So he'd obviously seen a CV. He's a very. I mean, I've met him subsequently a few times. I've been fortunate to be a dinner hosted by him a couple of weeks ago. But he is a very, very intelligent man. Works really hard. I mean, work. He, you know, for him, he spends every minute working on the emirate. He ruled, he. He's the ruler. But he's almost a. It's a sort of combo, I guess he's all Prime Minister at the same time as being the ruler. So he is constantly working. You know, I'm really committed and I'm lucky in many ways that where I am working at the Heritage Village is his real. Paul Griffiths: One of his real pet projects that he's really driving forward. So, yes, we come with sort of royal. Royal approval, if you like. So. Yeah. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I. I've not been to the Emirates before, so for those of us that have not been, tell us a little bit about Ras Al Khaimah, of course. Paul Griffiths: Well, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the quieter Emirates mentioned. Sheikh Saud there, he's really driving a sort of, you know, a sort of agenda of bringing in more tourists. But he wants to use culture and territory as part of that. So, you know, it's a more relaxed, low level, if that makes sense. It's not Dubai, it's not full on, it's more relaxed Emirate. It's relaxed in cultural and many of the ways it's not, as you know, some of the other Emirates are, for example, completely dry. Ras Al Khaimah has given licenses to hotels and big restaurants in hotels for serving drinks. And there are a number of sellers where you can purchase for your consumption your own home, whereas Sharjah, you can't purchase any alcohol, for example, so it's a bit more chilled like that. It's a lovely place. Paul Griffiths: We're very fortunate to have the heavier mountains go through the far side of Ras Al Khaimah. So where I'm based is more on the seafront but then not, you know, I can see the mountains behind and there's a number of drives up into the mountains which are absolutely fabulous. Up to the Jebel Jais, which is the highest point in the UAE, we have the world's longest and fastest zip wire. I have not gone anywhere near that yet. Goes up to 100km an hour and is the longest over from the top of the mountain, whisking you off to the other side. I think it looks terrifying. But my. Paul Marden: I'm more interested in cables that take you to the top of the mountain. Maybe with some skis on my feet than I am attaching myself to a cable and going down the mountain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Paul Griffiths: There's a toboggan ride as well up there as well.Paul Marden: Oh, I'd love that. Paul Griffiths: So that's the toboggan ride's on my to do list when the family get off, I'll save it for then and take my son Barney on that. But you know, there's all this sort of venture sports up on the top of the mountain and driving up there is remarkable. They put a proper road in. It's not the scary driving up the Alps, terrified what's going to come around the other corner. It's very like driving up a road, you know, normal sort of dual carriageway, two lanes each way and then right going through the mountains to the other side to one of the other Emirates for Jazeera , for example. So you're over on the Indian Ocean side Gulf Vermont. That road is just beautiful. There's no traffic on it, you know. Paul Griffiths: So Ras Al Khaimah is only about an hour and hour to an hour and a half from Dubai airport. And Dubai is a sort of people go to Dubai in the same way that we, you know, you'd go to London, I'd go to London when I was in Port Soviet, we would. It's now, you know, it's not considered a. There's always someone from work who's in Dubai every day almost for some reason. So nipping up to Dubai, I was like, I went to a dinner there last week and you know, it just seemed very normal that he jumped in a car and drove up to Dubai and came back that evening. Whereas. Seems remarkable actually to be doing that. But yeah, so because of where we are, Abu Dhabi is about two and a half hours away.Paul Griffiths: And we are the northern point of the Emirate, So we border on to Oman, split into a number of areas. Again, I didn't know any of this till I got here, but there's a part of Oman that's at the top of Ras Al Khaimah. And so, yeah, so it's a beautiful Emirate with nature, with mountain areas, which does get a bit chillier when you go up the mountains. I looked quite silly in my T shirt and shorts when I went up there on a Sunday afternoon. People were going past me like they were going skiing. You know, people wore coats and hats and looking at me as if I'm really daft. But I was still. It's interesting that because it's winter obviously everywhere here at the moment and at home, but it's. Paul Griffiths: People here are often telling me it's a cold day when I'm still standing. I still feel really quite warm. But yeah, finding that sort ofPaul Marden: Talking 30s at the moment for you, aren't we? Paul Griffiths: Yeah, it's a little bit. The last couple days have been down in the lower 20s, really comfortable. But when we last weekend, people were getting a bit nervous that summer had come very early because it was hitting the early 30s last week. So I don't know how for me, when we get to August, when it's in the mid, late 40s with real high humidity, I think I'm just going to go from aircon building to aircon building to aircon building.Paul Marden: I am such a Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing. Not too hot, not too cold, it needs to be just right. So I would definitely struggle in that kind of heat. Look, let's talk a little bit about where you are in the new job. So you've taken on the role of CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. So tell me a little bit about the village. Why is this village so historic? Paul Griffiths: Well, it's a really interesting one, Paul, because it is very important, but it's not that old. And that's why what coming to me about making it more alive is something that's going to be crucial to us. So the village has been lived in for many years. It was a pearl farming village. So most of the people who worked here were doing pearl farming, which is pretty horrible job to do. You were, again, learning about this. You were jumping off boats, going to the ocean depths for up to three to four minutes. No protection really, apart from a very light shirt and some little bits on your fingers. But actually you're nothing on your eyes. Paul Griffiths: So you're having to look through the salt water, find the pearls come up and they were going up and down sometime 15, 16 times or more a day. And there's a fascinating exhibition in Dubai at the Al Shindagha Museum which really does focus on how this worked and how these guys were living. So, so it's a real. So that was the village. So the village had that, it obviously had then had fishing men, merchants making boats, merchants selling, trading wares. And Ras Al Khaimah has been quite a strategic part as all of the UAE really for the sort of trades coming from the Middle east and out into the Gulf. So the villages was being lived in up until the very early 70s. Paul Griffiths: Up in the 1970s the Al Za'abi tribe who were based here were offered I guess a new life is the only way to look at it in Abu Dhabi with new jobs, with land, with housing and it's just a better way like pearl farming was now being done so much cheaper and easier in the Orient in Japan mainly. So that was, that dropped away. There wasn't the other merchant trading going on. So actually the oil boom basically led the tribe to almost one up sticks and head to Abu Dhabi. And in many ways good story because we're still in touch with quite considerable amounts of the tribes people who were here. Lots of the elders have done wonderful oral histories, videos talking about their lives here. But this village survived as just fell into ruins, but actually wasn't developed. Paul Griffiths: And where it becomes important is this would have been what all of the Gulf would have looked like before the oil boom. The UAE wasn't a wealthy nation before then. You know, when I went up to Dubai and spent some time at the Etihad Museum, which is based around which Etihad Union is the not Around Man City Stadium should point out very much around about how the UAE had come together and how, you know, so it wasn't the wealthiest nation, but actually they discovered oil. They then brought seven Emirates together. It then has flourished in the ways that we now know what Dabi and ifwe looks like and even Ras Al Khaimah in some parts and really quite glamorous. But this village survived. Paul Griffiths: So although it fell into ruin, all the other fishing, farmhome fishing, pearl farming villages across the Gulf had become, just got destroyed, knocked down, you know, turned into hotels and high rises. And actually when you visit the other Emirates, lots of them are now recreating their historic areas or re purposing some of the historic buildings and they're doing it very well. In Dubai, Sharjah has actually completely rebuilt. It's what it calls the Harp Sharjah, which is. Which was its historic sort of areas, but. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: But this survived. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. And what we've been doing for the last few years, as the Al Qasimi Foundation and the Department of Antiquities and Museums is restoring a number of these buildings, we've then sort of gone into a sort of activation so you can walk around. So we've got, you know, carving now. Only a year ago it was mostly sand. We've now got a path going through it, so you can walk in. And the job that I've really been asked to do initially on arrival here is to really push that activation forward and really look at my sort of. What I've done in the past and what we've seen other places do and think about what can we do to bring this bit more to life? Paul Griffiths: Because it's the sort of storage village is around the 1970s. Well, it was abandoned in the 1970s. Well, you know, for us from the UK, from lots of other nationalities, actually, something in the 70s isn't very old. It's in our lifespan. You know, we are looking at this going well, actually. So when I was talking to a lot of. So RAK TDA's basically visit RAK tourism authority. So they are really supportive in wanting to push Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which will from now on abbreviate to AJAH to save me. Keep saying that. Long tanned. So they are really keen that we're doing more stuff. So why would a tourist want to come? What is there to see once you're here? Paul Griffiths: On top of some abandoned and now beautifully restored houses, mosques, you know, things that you would have expected in a village of, you know, a thousand or so population, 500 houses, you know, so more than a thousand people, really. So that's the sort of plan in that way. So in many ways I've got a sort of blank canvas to play with. But, you know, money's not unlimited, so it's about. So working closely with local communities, working with, you know, local traders, looking at what could we bring into the village on the back of the art fair. I know we'll talk about later, but it's, you know, this has been a. This is a real challenge for me to. How do I take this sort of place forwards.Paul Marden: In my mind's eye, we go to the Weald & Downland Living Museum so open air museum, lots of houses recreating life through the ages. Is that the sort of experience that I'm going to get if I come to the village of I'm going to see the properties and I'm going to see this previous way of life come to life in front of me?Paul Griffiths: Well at the moment you'll see you just see in the houses and the buildings but you're walking around looking at historic buildings but we have got a number of the houses we've put in. Each video is at the moment showing the audio visuals so you can walk around and listen to members of the tribes chatting about their youth and what's happening and you can see the buildings in real life. I guess what I'm looking for this is telling the story a little bit of the village which we don't initially do that well at the moment that's no criteria. Yes, this is what we need to do going forward. There's been several stages of activation When I came last August part not many the paths weren't all finished. We didn't have anywhere for visitor services to be at the front.Paul Griffiths: We only had a very small sort officey area which has now been built up to where I'm. Where I'm sat today. So I think what you're going to get is a multi as a blend of traders who will be in our suitcase. The Souk is fully restored sooke and shopping market area so that's my first point is to move some people in there. So I've already got a goldsmith and move to her studio in got some handicrafts we've got some textile people moving in the. Paul Griffiths: The main gallery of Nassau Heyman Design Gallery which is the one big gallery where artists can go is going to have a sort of satellite shop if you like not shop a satellite so there will be pieces of work there are in here with their little souvenir store which they sell because they get people a lot of what the design gallery does is making souvenirs of Ras Al Khaimah that are all handmade so quite special gifts. So what we're hoping is tying up with our local hoteliers who many of which have not been so it's bringing them in and they need something more to see to send their guests here. Paul Griffiths: So you know talking to some of them over lunch when I hosted some of them on Saturday it was a case of you know actually, can they send their clients and say, you can do all your holiday shopping because at the moment they're sending people to the shopping malls which are just, you know, nice, but actually merchandise them to go to a heritage village, get that experience of what the golf would have been like and bags of shopping at the same time. Paul Marden: So who doesn't love a. A museum gift shop at the end? So, you know. Paul Griffiths: Exactly. And we don't really have that here at the moment from an Al Jazeera perspective. So on my plan for this year is to put in. We've got an info booth, as it's called at the moment. It's not a world. It's not the best customer service friendly. It's like a caravan but with some windows. And yeah, it's probably a better. Now it's got air conditioning. Yes. But it doesn't work very well for customers. You're trying to talk through little windows because you can only have small windows to keep the air con working, not have too much open to. It's just passing out. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I'm looking at building this summer, hopefully. Fingers crossed, touch wood, a visitor welcome centre, which is something we're really pushing along with, which will be lovely because that will be that proper visitor welcome with a shop with an induction into an introduction. Sorry, into the Al Jazeera story. And then let people go. And then when they get to the far end, they'll be the souk full of. He says again, hopefully slowly filling them out, but full of traders and local craftspeople and people who are. Even if they're not originally local, they're based in rack, so they are considered local. The UAE is built up of a lot of expat population. When I say expats, I mean just English people from around the world. It's a really accepting, welcoming community. I've been really. Everyone says hello to you as you're walking into the supermarket shops. There's no. Whoever they are where you're from. Paul Griffiths: Everyone's talking to each other because the local population know they've had to bring people in because there's thousands more jobs than there are Emirati population in Ras Al Khaimah. So, you know, it's always been. And when you look at the foundation of the UAE, it was about, we will need to bring people in to bring this. To build this nation with us. So, you know, it's been always a sort of welcome and melting pot of different people. Paul Marden: Yeah, amazing. Look, you mentioned when we had our initial chat. You've been there now three months, you've been doing lots of visiting of other attractions. Because I think you said to me, which I thought was quite interesting, that you were. There's lots that you bring with you from the UK in your experience, but there's lots of best practice and good practice happening within the Emirates already. So you've been kind of going out and visiting a lot of cultural venues and attractions in the Emirates. Tell me a little bit about those. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so it's been a minute of a manic last month in February, because we've had the art festival. I know we're going to keep hinting at it, we'll get to it at some point, but when I've had some time away, what's been fabulous, it's just sort of. And I think as well, because the family aren't here in my own at the moment, said, “All right, I've got some time off, let's go and explore.” Yeah. So I've sort of driven across to Fajera, spent time in Sharjah and took myself up for a weekend in Dubai, which was fantastic. Booked a very reasonably priced hotel and just spent a weekend flowering around everywhere and just really immersed in my. So and only scratch the surface. There's so much more to see. So, yeah, so I've been going and looking at. Paul Griffiths: Well, you know, I don't want to do something that's not. There'll be alien to, obviously, the culture here. And that's been really. What's been great fun in the last few months is it's not just going into a new job, you know, and learning that. It's actually been a terrifying, at some points, fabulous experience. I was learning new cultures, new working lives. You know, things are working. It's done very differently here. You know, there's a different hierarchical process we have in the UK and permissions are needed in different places. And that's not. I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing, it's just learning those different things. So I've been learning all these different cultures. You know, we're just coming into Ramadan, which I've had no real experience with before. And that is. That is a massive thing here. You know, it's the month. Paul Griffiths: Every billboard you go past is someone trying to sell something for Ramadan, whether it be a new chest of drawers, you know, your family needs this new dining table for Ramadan. It's a bit like, you know, you will see at Christmas at home, everyone catching on, you know, IKEA will be saying, new table and chairs for Christmas. You know, it's. It's not. It's a sort of different repeating itself. You know, those sort of signs you have around the supermarket. Christmas back home. They're all up now in supermarkets here for Ramadan. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: Encouraging what people are going to buy for when they break the fast at sunset Iftar. So, you know, so it's all sort of promoting. You need this for. So it's a real. We're going to a massive thing. And that's been a real sort of learning, cultural thing for me, which has been great because actually I've always enjoyed, when I'm traveling, learning about other cultures, you know, it's always been for me, I always try and visit museums, galleries, learn about the place I'm at. And so actually living somewhere and learn about someone who's been. I think it's added to the fun of the experience. But back to your question. Paul Griffiths: Yes, I've been traveling wherever the possibility to start to look at other historic venues, looking at where they've, you know, restored historic markets and souk areas and what sort of things are going in there, what are people doing there. Up in Dubai, there is a place called Al Shindagar Museum, which is where they've. Some of the historic buildings that have been saved by the creek of Dubai have been turned into the most amazing series of museums, is the only way I can describe it, because each house is a different gallery or different theme. So you have the story of the creek being built up, the story of Dubai seafarers. There was a faith and. Faith and religion room, talking about Islam and different cultures, how that's worked around Dubai. Paul Griffiths: Dubai being built up as a city, lots about the rulers and families, but every house you went to is a different place. What was so impressive there from a visitor experience perspective was the training that Stafford had was sensational. You know, you go into someone, you think they're obviously being managed really well because obviously this is. You don't just train. So obviously someone oversees this really well. But clearly the training, everywhere you went, the customer service was exceptional. People coming out from behind counters, giving you introductions, making sure you had everything needed, you know, as you were leaving. Have you got any questions? All those things we try and all have tried to teach over the years, and in many ways we've all been different levels of success of that. Paul Griffiths: But what was amazing was they also got the security guards in on the act as well, because there's a real culture here that there's a separate, they're secure, they're very different. You know, there's, we've got them here, they're in very much brown security, clearly marked, you know, protecting places. But what they've done there is they had clearly trained those security guards as well, because every security guard you came across was getting in the act of chatting to visitors, even if their English wasn't brilliant, they were really keen to direct you to the next. Come this way. So the next place, oh, you finished that room, you must go upstairs. And you know, that sort of. Paul Griffiths: And whether they, you know, really just said, look, you can have a much more interesting day than just standing, staring at people walking around. You can actually chat to visitors from around the world and get talkative. And I just had the most amazing. I ended up in this museum for over five and a half hours or something silly like that. And I thought I was going to be there an hour because it was priced very reasonably. You know, when you judge a museum on, well, actually I paid this, I'm probably going to be here for that amount of time. And actually it was just, you know, I found myself stopping for a coffee, stopping for lunch. But I was so impressed by the way the staff interacted. Paul Griffiths: They also had a number of cultural local guides as well, who really were, you know, in the full sort of Emirati national dress, but wanted to press on. This is where. This is what I'm doing. So I've some, you know, I traveled across to Fujairah every week and was in a, an old, what was the ruler's summer house. And the guy, and the guy who ran it just took me on a tour. I didn't ask for a tour. He just said, would you. Well, he said, should I take you around? Yes, please. And we had this great hours experience as he was just chatting about all the rooms. And I think people here are very keen to share their culture and their heritage and very welcoming. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I've done quite a bit traveling around the other parts of the UAE. I can't go out of the UAE because I've only got a hire car at the moment, so I can't go out to Omar, that's on my list. You get yourself a car. I can travel north of the border into Oman and explore that. But for now, seven emirates to. So no shortage of places. And I've not been up to Abu Dhabi yet, so still with that on my list. So yeah, Paul Marden: Wowzers. Okay. So I guess, and this is completely, what would I feel like if I was in your position of going to this new country, immersing myself in this relatively new place that you're leading? How do I say this without flattering you? You were a well connected guy. If I went to events, everybody knew you. You had this wide network of people having worked in the UK in the attraction sector for a long time and you've now jumped over to the UAE. What's happened to the network? How does that feel? I mean it must feel slightly kind of worrying or nerve wracking. What have you done to build the network in this new place? Paul Griffiths: There's a number of points to that. Right, so let's answer in a few minutes. So the world's a smaller place so I'm still occasionally having teams call zoom calls with really close ex colleagues, friends, you know, I'm sure, I mean I always say I'm sure but everyone keeps saying, “Oh I'm really loving the journey so please keep posting. So I am going to keep posting and probably going to start to annoy people after a while”, but the feedback so far is everyone saying we're loving the journey and following you with it and feel like we're on the journey. So I will carry on. I'm sort of keeping writing stuff up and sharing it and also I don't know how long I'll be here for. You know, probation is massive over here. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Paul Griffiths: I pass probation which is a six month period because it's a real right the UAE all not just off and across the UAE. It's a real big, you know, much more than at home, much more structured. On day one was given a series and this isn't a bad thing at all, a series of probation tasks, you know, around reports that are around other historic parts because the job that I've come over will eventually evolve into a wider heritage role. But at the moment the real focus is on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which is great. Get one site, get it going, then see where we go next. So I think I'm still connected to lots of people back home. I'm still looking, seeing everyone's posts and enjoy. Paul Griffiths: I mean my usual jealousy of not being part of the ALVA network anymore as they're all having that great time in Belfast in the last couple of days and seeing everyone's post, not just one or two, but everyone you know, Bernard down with you know everyone's post. I wish I was there with them.Paul Marden: The FOMO was real. So I had Andy Povey in the office with me yesterday and we're both saying the FOMO about that ALVAe vent was very real for both of us having. Paul Griffiths: Having spent. You know I was at the Mary Rose few years where we joined ALVA and go experiencing those council weeks and knowing just hey how much they are great for networking A. You get very spoiled because every host wants to really show off what they can do and I think the Titanic always do that because we go there before for a council meeting but it's. Yeah. So you still see this stuff. So it's still sit home and there's still people I can reach out to.Paul Marden: Of course.Paul Griffiths: If we need to and I'm still calling on people things, you know, different projects we're doing here. But then again it's about slowly building up that network here and I think there's a slightly. You know, there's a. Within Ras Al Khaimah I've started making connections with lots of other people in the Heritage world and. And outside that. So we're already, you know, connecting up with different people from different parts of Ras Al Khaimah, the work we're going to do moving forward and for me I think it's been just a. I'm sort of still pinching myself I'm here and that sort of. So many things keep happening and you know. The weather's been gorgeous because I've come out of a grim English weather to this quite nice winter here where it's mostly been late mid-20s. Paul Griffiths: You're in she and shorts when you're off duty. You know, there's other things. The thing that really surprised me is how smart actually the dress code is for business over here. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: So I had to sort of all the usual brands that from home Mount Marks is next everything here so you could order online and get it delivered quite quickly. So I had sort of came out of one wardrobe thinking I was going to be far more in polo shirt and linen trousers are sort of very sort of summer at Painshill look, you know outdoor. But actually yeah my colleagues are still. Because of the aircon atmosphere. Lots of colleagues particularly in the head office are in suits. A bit like where I would have been when back in my London days. When we're in the office you were in a shirt tie. So yes, I had to sort of buy A back home wardrobe almost once I got traveled out with very lightweight clothing. So yes, it's a bit different in that sense. Paul Marden:  Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about life as an expat. How have you found the transition? Paul Griffiths: Fine so far. I say there's lots of bits around work and practice and you know, no amount of inductions will be able to help you on some little faux pas you can make about not realising where you need approvals for staff. And obviously coming from the. For the last six years of being director of Painshill and only from feeding into a board of directors, board of trustees who we'd see quarterly and you know, I chat to the chairman every week. There was a lot of me sort of making those sort of decisions instantly was here, you know, particularly as were part of the foundation and we are representing Sheikh Saud as his name's in the title of the organization now, making sure we're going through those tick sheets. Paul Griffiths: You know, if I want to do anything that needs to spend more money, that's out budget, that is going to his Highness to be signed off. So any projects we're doing, we're needing to make cases to the highest man in the country to actually get those, you know, sign offs and things. And I'm not, that's not a bad thing. But you know, it's just that from an expat I guess it's getting used to. Everything's available here. Not the big supermarket up the road sells Waitrose and Marxist products and has a room at the back for non Muslims where you push the button, door opens, it's like a little bit of a naughty boys room. Paul Griffiths: You push back door open, slides you walk in and there's the pork heaven, you know, there's bacon, there's pork scratching, patays, you know, all because it's a real, you know, it's not just there's so many expats here, particularly from the Philippines and stuff who obviously pork is a big part of their diet. So yeah, that's available. I said earlier on there's cellars where you can pick up a great beer or a couple of glasses of bottle of wine or whatever you want. So actually it's not that I found myself flying into this really different world and I'm not really. Paul Marden:  It's a melting pot, isn't it? Paul Griffiths: Yeah. And I'm not someone who's ever been since very young, you know, going off to nightclubs or anything like that. But if you wanted that There is that. The hotels. So actually, if you're a younger person coming out and you wanted that nightlife, the hotels, particularly on Margin island and Minnal Arab, the tubing hotels have really nice restaurants, fully licensed clubs and stuff. But, you know, actually I found sort of the work is busy. Everyone's, you know, lots going on, actually, just going back to, you know, I was in a hotel for the first two months, which wasn't a dreadful thing because it was an apartment hotel. So, yeah, I had enough and now we've moved. I've moved into a villa ready for the family. Come out hopefully in about a month's time.Paul Marden:  Oh, that'd be exciting. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. So that's nice. So we've got the back onto the golf course. It's quite, you know, it's a nice place to be. It's going to be nice and, you know. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so I've not struggled adapting because it's not. It's not that, you know, normally I've got a wonderful team here, Asia, you know, so with one Emirati and some Filipinos and other people from around the. From around the world. So that's been nice. And it's melting pot of learning their cultures as well as the local culture and. Yeah. And then they eat rice with everything. So it's. Yeah. Every lunchtime there's a bowl of rice, big bowl of salad in the main course and there's me pouring on the one on the salad, everyone else on the rice. But, yeah, it's been great, Paul. I mean, I can't. It's been one of those. Every moment you think this is just a great place to be. Paul Marden: Good. Let's go back to Al Jazeera and talk a little bit about some of the events that have been going on. So I know you're coming to the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. Tell me a little bit about that and how well that's gone. Paul Griffiths: It's been brilliant. I know. I had no idea what to expect. First time for this. So this is the 13th International Art Fair. It started off back in the small museum back in the city of Central Town, moved to here, I think, five years ago is what I'm saying, and slowly grown every year since then. So this is the biggest one we've done, really. Lots of massive sponsors on board from across the Emirates, actually fully supported by His Highness, who's been here at least four times, if not five, since we've had the vessel. He was here at the opening ceremony for the big launch, you know it was, and it was like a proper opening ceremony. Paul Griffiths: Everyone sat round with a band and speakers and you know like not quite Olympics but you know it was a proper event. This is the opening of it and it felt like a big event. Yeah. All my female members of my team had, were given time off in the day to do hair and makeup. It was proper. Everyone looked, everyone looked the business, it was lovely. You know everyone was scrubbed up from the maintenance team to, you know, our executive director looking fabulous in a brand new dress. You know it was really was. No, I've had a new suit, I got a new suit for the occasion. Paul Griffiths: So yeah, it was a lovely evening and then it's rolled ever since and for me it's been wonderful because I've seen people in this village which has been quite quiet since I'd arrived and it's sort of been okay, how are we going to get this? But actually clearly putting something on has attracted a complete cross spectrum audience. So you know, we have people coming in, absolutely fascinating, obsessed with the art, beautiful and it's artists I should say from around the world. It's all exhibited outside or inside the little houses. So you know lots of the pieces have been blown up quite big and quite impressive. I mean do look at it on the website, you know people, you know if you go to ajah.ae you can then click on from there.Paul Marden: We'll put the links and everything in the show notes so people be able to find that. Paul Griffiths: It's been, but it's been, for me it's been fabulous because we've seen so many people in, you know I was, you know, we've had, we've got pop up restaurants so this won't mean anything to people back home but the restaurant called Puro P U R O has a restaurant at the top of the mountain at Jebel Jais. Really almost impossible to get booking, you know you have to book months advance for lunch or dinner. It's the place that everybody, both locals, internationals and tourists want to see and often frequented by his Highness. They've got a pop up restaurant here which just is fabulous. Paul Griffiths: They we've had a lovely couple, Kelly and Paolo in running a restaurant called Antica which is a sort of the chef's Italian Paolo but he's lived in Australia so it's a fusion of Australian middle Italy, sort of historic villagey type cuisine with an Emirates twist. But you're just served four or five courses without there's not a menu. It's not a restaurant as such, so it's sort of a sharing experience. But you know, the food is amazing. So I was fortunate to have dinner. Well, I've actually been fortunate enough to have dinner in Antica twice and lunch there as well. But one of the dinners I was then wandering around the village about 10 o'clock at night was full of people, you know, families just. Paul Griffiths: There is a different culture over here that people do more stuff in the evenings because of the temperature and a different way of life because the local people aren't obviously, for obvious reasons, down the pub on a Friday night, they're doing stuff with the family and you go past cafes and even outside of the village, you know, 9, 10 o'clock on a Friday night, they're full of people sitting very beautifully dressed in their finest, drinking coffee and eating desserts. That's a big thing. People seem to love coffee and desserts. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: But, but then of course it's because because of the heat most of the year we'll spend more time indoors resting in the day and then ready to go out at night and do some more stuff. So yeah, so we've had this sort of here in the evenings. It's really fun. What was interesting is our hours for the festival were meant to be midweek. So Monday we always close. Tuesday to Thursday we're meant to be open till 6 o'clock and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday open to 11:00. Often struggling to get people out then the first night. So the Tuesday night was the first night. Medusa goes at 6:00. 5:45, I had a queue of at least 40 people trying to get in. So we just had to make an on the hooves decision. Paul Griffiths: We're going to stay open later. And then we just opened till 8:00 in the midweek. We didn't want to push it too much because of obviously from the staff welfare perspective, an hour's work. But actually that first night were just. Myself and Sikrat, who's the director of the festival, Emirati. Wonderful. Emirati has been my cultural bodyguard in many ways because he's been the person, my go to person for what should I do here? What about this person? How should I do this? So Spencer Crouch just stood there. Look at this crowd. We both just said, “Well we can't turf them away. This would be daft.” So yeah, so we've had. And we've had about 40, 000 visitors will have come through the door by the end of the festival in 28 days. Paul Griffiths: The artworks then going to stay up in place for Ramadan. So we'll be working different hours again during Ramadan and this is the first time Al Jazeera will ever do. Has ever done anything special for. Because before now it's just been a come and visit, walk in, do what you like, leave now. We're trying to structure that visitor experience. So we're going to be for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, because Thursday's the sort of Friday night in many ways. Because a lot of people have Fridays off here. Yes, because of the day of prayers and so a lot of people in Ras Al Hamah go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work. So Thursday nights they'll travel back. So actually we're going to be open till midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday for Ramadan. Paul Griffiths: So people will break the fast with the families and then they want to do the sort of head top of activity. They've now got food back in them and an energy source. And out they come. So again, first time we've done it, hopefully see numbers with the artwork will still be in place. We're then working on some different options around cuisine, food, coffee and hopefully get some musicians in as well, just to give a bit of an atmosphere. But it is a holy month, so it's not. It's not parties, but it's enjoying the family. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So what does the future look like for the Heritage Village and for tourism and attractions more generally in RAK? Paul Griffiths: I think for RAK itself, we're trying to bring more tourists in then trying to get the most hotels. Interestingly, as they had a lunch with five of our local big hotels at the weekend using. Using our Antico restaurant, this is excuse to have another lunch there and invite some people in and just take on their views, which is great. So just chatting and getting their thoughts on it. They were saying what. What happens in Iraq a lot at the moment is people are finding the hotels through travel agents, through, you know, searches. I know when were looking before I came out here, I know Ras Al Hamra came up on a Thomas Cumbin telescope. Yeah, similar. What am I thinking of? Probably Tui, I guess, or someone like, you know, someone like that. Paul Griffiths: I was doing a search for when went to Canary, but up came Ras Al Khaimah as a hotel and what they were saying. A lot of people will book that and have no idea really what Ras Al Khaimah is, other than it's part of the UAE. Some people think it's part of Dubai, you know, actually, because it's not, they don't realize it's seven emirates, etc. So a lot of people are booking their sort of tourists, their hotels. Our job is to try and then get them out and attract them to do other stuff. So there's lots of adventure tourism going on at the moment. We talked about the zip wire and lots of hiking, walking, camel rail, camel riding, you know, trips to the desert where you can zoom around in 4x Fours and go karts and stuff. Paul Griffiths: So from my perspective of the Heritage village is about bringing it more alive, bringing more people in, promoting it, more linking up with these sorts of hoteliers, concierges. And this is really early days for us because this has always been sort of slightly done but not really pushed yet. And sort of listening to what their advice is and seeing how we can act upon it, you know, and what sort of stuff we can take forward because, you know, there's a lot to be done. And there's lots of other heritage sites across rat about 90 on the list of actual heritage sites. And some of those are real ruins that you're never going to be able to do anything with. Paul Griffiths: Those sort of English Heritage free sites, you know, the ones you stumble across with a little brown sign and you pull up with a lay by, have a potter around and off you go without seeing anyone. There's a bit like that. But then there's a number of sites that will work well with some activation. You know, we've got Dyer Fort, which is on the World Heritage site tentative list and we're working on projects to slowly take that forward to World Heritage status. Touchwood because it's a really important for, you know, and it's perfect for visits. You climb up to the top, you get the most gorgeous views. You know, really is a gorgeous little site. So more interpretation, more things there is what's needed. But you know, again, this is all early days. Paul Griffiths: So it's all about sort of, you know, each day's excitement. What can we do, what can we push forward, who can we talk to? And what's been great is as the festival's gone on, more people have been coming and chatting to me. Mine have become more, well known. That sounds wrong, goes back to your sort of earlier question about, you know, people are sort of learning about, oh, this person's here now. Paul said, although people can call me sir or Mr. Paul, which is fine. I can deal with that. Keep saying now, people, I keep saying, please don't call me sir. You really don't need to. But it's so culturally great. But Mr. Everyone see everyone externally, she's called Mr. Paul, so I can put up with that. But I was there. Although when we host his. Paul Griffiths: His Highness hosted dinner that I was invited to, I then got even pushed up to His Excellency, which was a title. I want to go. Paul Marden: That's quite nice. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, I love that. Apparently. I always thought that someone else I knew was his title. His Excellency was part of the family, but actually it's. Once you get to a CEO director level in royal that circle, you immediately become His Excellency, so. Paul Marden: Well, there we go. I will correct myself in future communications. Paul Griffiths: Please do. Yeah, but I thought it was wonderful. That's why it's just been lovely, the funny comments coming from people back home saying, oh, well, I've amended my entry in my phone to now shake your he status. But yeah, so. But there's a sort of cultural things. It's just. Okay, right, lovely. That's fun. Paul Marden: It's been a whirlwind for you. It's been really interesting actually, talking about it and understanding more about. About what's happening there, about how exciting it is, this huge opportunity that you've got to make a something out of this beautiful historic village and then that, you know, the remit will grow from there. So I think. I think this has been lovely. We always wrap up our interviews with a book recommendation and you've had this privilege once before. So have you run out of recommendations or do you have something ready for me? Paul Griffiths: Well, I was going to recommend the Red island, an Emirati story, because it's based on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, but I thought that might be a little bit too niche. This guy. So, again, little things have come across. This guy's written a book, Adil, and he's going to be coming to Al Jazeera to do a book reading signing. These little opportunities. I have read the book, I promise. It was actually fascinating because it's all about local culture. It went off in a number of tangents, but actually from a point of view of how the Emirati local culture works and families, it was actually quite a really good induction. But now I've decided to go with a more book for management or book for running. And I don't think anyone's given this before, but if they have, I'm nervous. Paul Griffiths: But this book, Fish!, which is one of my favourite books. I've actually launched this as the Al Jazeera Book Club for the spring. So all the team have a copy. Book clubs are massive over here for work. Every department has one here in the foundation. So this book, Fish, is based around the Seattle fish market. My colleagues who've worked me in the past, both. I can hear them groaning now because they've forced everyone to read this, but it's basically around having fun when you're at work. And it talks about the story of the Seattle fish market, how they were just flogging fish, but actually one day decided, we need to liven this up. We need to want to be here. So introduced, sort of involving the crowd, fish flying through the air. Paul Griffiths: But It's a more of a story about a woman joins, it moves up in a company into a department that no one's been able to manage. She gets to the bottom of using the fish market. And it's just a really fun, easy reading book. And so I recommend it to. To listeners and viewers. Paul Marden: That's brilliant. So listeners, if you would like a copy of Fish,Paul Griffiths: It's quite a cheap book as well, Paul, so please, you have to give one away. So it's not too much money. It's just 9.99 in the non fiction section. So, yeah, cheaper. Paul Marden: Bargain. Bargain. That's the trouble with. So I've been doing a few live events where we have panels, four people with book records, recommendations. That's going to bankrupt me. No, not today. We got a bargain this time. So I like this. Yeah. If you'd like a copy of Fish, if you'd like a copy of Paul's book, head on over to Bluesky and when Wenalyn posts the show note, go over there and repost it and say, I want Paul's book. And the first person to do that will get a copy of the book. Paul, delightful as always. Three times on the podcast, at least. Paul Griffiths: I think this would be number. This would be number four because we had the original episode where Kelly grilled me about life at Painshill. Then we did the Turn the Tables episode when I grilled Kelly on setting up podcasts. And then we did. Then we did the Goodbye to Kelly, whatever it was. 100 episode. And then this. Yeah, four Skip the Queues. Which is always a pleasure and I'm so delighted as you're my favourite podcast, obviously.Paul Marden: It's, oh, you say the nicest things. That must be a record. I need to go back and check that I think four times on the podcast is pretty impressive. Paul Griffiths: I think I should get to add all mine up into one as a total so I can beat Dominic Jones, who's always had the biggest number, isn't he? Paul Marden: So, yeah, so he does and he still does. So, yeah, I think aggregating the number of listens for across all of your episodes, I think that might be within the walls. Let me see what I can do and I'll add everything up and we'll see if you can take Dom's crown. Paul Griffiths: Sorry, Dom. Paul Marden:  Because he's not competitive at all. Paul Griffiths: No, he's not, mate. He's a great guy, though. So, yeah, a friendly rival. Paul Marden: Exactly. Thank you very much, Paul. I would love to keep in touch. Paul Griffiths: Let's keep talking. Paul Marden: I want to hear what happens not just after the first 90 days, but I want to hear what happens in a year's time and two years time. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about Ras Al-Khaimah and the Heritage Village. It's been lovely. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great. Been a real pleasure. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.    The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Nick and Angela welcome another Irish guest to Dish HQ. Chris O'Dowd is an award-winning actor, writer and director. He was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, and studied politics at University College Dublin, later enrolling at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Chris played Roy Trenneman in The IT Crowd on Channel 4, which helped him secure his Hollywood debut in Bridesmaids in 2011. He created and starred in Moone Boy in 2012, a semi-autobiographical, Emmy-winning series set in his hometown. Chris wrote, directed and acted in his new show Small Town, Big Story, a Sky original featuring Christina Hendricks Paddy Considine. Nick pours Chris a whisky and the pair snack on Keogh's crisps while Angela prepares sticky pulled pork and a shredded quick pickled salad. The experts at Waitrose pair this meal with a Calmel & Joseph organic pinot noir. Chris O'Dowd is very charming company and tickles Nick and Angela with tales of his pet tortoise. He recalls what life was like when the family lived in LA and shares the inspiration for his new show Small Town, Big Story. This episode talks about kids getting involved in cooking; while it's always a win, younger children should be supervised by an adult when using kitchen equipment, including the air fryers mentioned. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick and Angela welcome a highly anticipated guest to Dish HQ. Keeley Hawes was born and raised in Central London. She won a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School and landed her first big job opposite Richard E. Grant in Dennis Potter's Karaoke in 1996. Today, Keeley Hawes is one of British television's finest actors, with leading roles in the biggest shows of the last decade. Her performances in Line of Duty, Bodyguard and It's a Sin received critical acclaim and kept audiences on the edge of their seats. In 2024 she starred in the Netflix drama Scoop alongside Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Rufus Sewell, and right now you can watch her in the BBC adaptation of Gill Hornby's bestselling novel Miss Austen on BBC iPlayer. Keeley's husband, Matthew Macfadyen, talked about his wife's favourite homemade sandwich on his episode of Dish in November 2024; curious, Angela makes one to share.  For main, Angela prepares a delicious slow-cooked beef rib ragù with fresh pasta, and the experts at Waitrose pair this with a pazzia primitivo di manduria. Nick and Angela are honoured to host Keeley Hawes on her first ever podcast! Our trio discuss Keeley's preference for snacking over cooking, the legacy of Jane Austen and what it's like to be one of the most recognisable faces in the UK. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textThis week we're joined by Bethan founder of Mother Root.In this interview Bethan explains how her decade long career in the wine industry and first pregnancy gave her the impetus to create an enjoyable non alcohol drink that she could savour in the evening.10 years on and this gingery based non alcoholic aperitif is a firm contender in the alcohol free market. It certainly is one of my favourites.During our chat - Bethan explains how she created this delicious drink and we discuss the many benefits of its natural and healthy ingredients and why it's a good idea to limit our alcohol intake.  Bethan also explains why her vision is to redefine what it means to drink well and why connection, joy and curiosity are words that she associates with her brand.Do come and have a listen and if you'd like to try a bottle of Mother Root ginger yourself you can use the link belowThe discount code AMANDA15 will get you 15% off your first purchase.https://www.motherroot.london/products/ginger-switchelYou can also find Mother Root at Waitrose, Ocade and The Natural DispensaryInstragam @motherrootldnAmanda Ryder Registered Nutritional Therapist ~ Author of Feel good for Menopause @amandarydernutritionhello@amandaryder.co.ukwww.amandaryder.co.uk

There is majesty in the air as Nick and Ange welcome TV royalty to Dish HQ. Dame Joanna Lumley was born in India, she attended boarding school in the UK before beginning a career in modelling in the 1960s. She transitioned into acting with early roles in Coronation Street and The New Avengers before becoming a household name as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous—a role that earned her three Bafta awards. Joanna loves to travel and is celebrated for her TV documentaries exploring Japan, India, the Nile, the Silk Road, and the Trans-Siberian Railway. In film, she lent her voice to Tim Burton animations, including Corpse Bride and James & the Giant Peach, and starred in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street. You can watch her latest show, Amandaland—a spin-off of Motherland—on BBC iPlayer now. Nick pours Joanna an elderflower pressé while Angela prepares parsnip gnocchi with sage & garlic  mushrooms. The experts at Waitrose pair this with an Italian white wine, La Monetta Gavi Piedmont. Prepare to be enchanted by Dame Joanna Lumley! During her chat with Nick and Angela, she discusses her 40 years of vegetarianism, looks back on the laughs on Absolutely Fabulous, and, in honor of Valentine's Day, shares the secret to a long and happy marriage. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick and Angela welcome their first guest of series 7 to Dish HQ. Legendary actor, comedian, writer and producer Steve Coogan was born in Lancashire. His career began on Spitting Image in the 80s, and he is most celebrated for his portrayal of the iconic Alan Partridge. He has earned critical acclaim for roles in Philomena, Stan & Ollie and The Reckoning, in which he played Jimmy Savile, and is back on the West End stage after a 28-year hiatus for a sold-out run of Dr Strangelove. His new Channel 4 drama, Brian and Maggie, is out now. Nick mixes a non-alcoholic Mother Root for Steve, while Angela prepares one his favourite meals, a potato, cheese & onion pie. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Le Arenarie Vermentino di Gallura. For dessert, our trio tuck into a rhubarb & pear crumble. Steve Coogan gives some hilarious insights into his cult show The Trip with Rob Brydon, sharing a great story about Anna Wintour. He talks Alan Partridge, of course, and weighs in on the best way to heat baked beans. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The UK Investor Magazine was delighted to welcome Bang! Curry Co-Founders Mark Johnson and Shelly Nuruzzaman to the Podcast to discuss Bang! Curry's current funding round.Find out more about Bang! Curry here.Mark and Shelly outline Bang Curry's growth plans and their achievements to date. Bang! Curry has developed an Indian curry kit product tailored to the growing trend of ‘scratch cooking' and people taking a greater interest in the cooking process of Indian foods.The company's products have been stocked by Waitrose since Q4 2024, representing a significant milestone for the company, which has forged four distinct revenue streams for its innovative curry kits. Food service is a significant part of the business, and the company has begun exporting to the United States with bulk products available in TJX stores.Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.Take 2 mins to learn more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast we have Imme Ermgassen co-Founder of Botivo, the award winning aperitivo. Botivo is hard to describe, it's labelled a Botanical Aperitivo. It's a small batch product, made on a farm, and is a great alcohol-free. Botivo puts it plainly saying it will “blow your mind once you taste it”. The product was started by Imm's co-founder Ben who ran a business creating new drinks concepts and ran a bar service at high end events. In Lockdown, when everything was closed, he had the chance to tinker on an idea he'd had for a while - a unique non-alcoholic aperitif. He eventually bottled it.On a chance encounter, that we talk about in this podcast, Imme joined him a few months later to turn Botivo into what it is today. A brand builder by trade - having led major brands across multiple categories, she joined Botivo as co-founder - and helped bring it to market - from restaurants like the River Cafe to chains like Waitrose, to raise capital and hire a team. In this show, we talk about everything from how to run a business when you have a family, the secret to distribution and her killer playbook formula for perfect brand positioning - whatever you are building,. It's a perfect episode for anyone who's ever considered bottling one of their own creations, or wondered how to build a brand that stands out. I hope you enjoy the episode! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riding Solo on el poddy this weekFancy riding shotgun?Simply shove my waffle in your ears.This week, I've picked 11 lessons from the 4 years of podcasting with INSANE GUESTSI'm referring to these DAILY. So hope they help you too.4.5 years of value, stuffed into 45 mins.Get ya chops round it asapLemme know if you like these, can do more. May do a sales one tooON THE MENU:1. THE SINGLE Biggest lesson from Luke Boase and Emma Heal, Lucky Saint | B Corp™ 2. Giles Brook: 3 Game Changing Brand Building Laws - You don't have a brand unless you have these.3. David Hieatt, Hiut Denim Co: This episode for founders, is Calpol for the Soul. Why Scale Kills Magic. Banging Brand Strategy in 3 Questions3. Julian metcalfe, Pret A Manger and itsu: The single biggest mistake he made in scaling (just avoid these)4. James Watt, BrewDog Nassim Taleb. Barbell Strategy = AntiFragility5. Alex M H Smith, No Bull Sh*t Strategy: The Spirituality of Strategy in 2 Easy Questions6. Why The Smart Answer Lies in The Dumb Question7. Rory Sutherland, Seth Godin and David Ogilvy = Why all great marketeers aren't ACTUALLY marketeers8. James Bailey, Waitrose & Partners CEO: “Not checking Availability is scoring an own goal”9. Lucy Busk (Wright), Nice | B Corp™ Wine: 3 Easy Questions to Become a Sales Superstar in 42 minutes.10. Imme Ermgassen Botivo Drinks | B corp: 4 Questions to build a brand with LITERALLY NO COMPETITION

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Southport killer Axel Rudakubana admitted carrying a knife 10 times Musk responds to backlash over gesture at Trump rally Government ousts UK competition watchdog chair Man accused of spying for Russia spoke to MI5 Capitol riot leaders Tarrio and Rhodes released from prison Scores killed as fire engulfs Turkish ski resort hotel Storm owyn Snow, strong winds and rain target UK as weather warnings issued Trump claims Manchester atom split as US achievement Ukrainian army psychiatrist arrested on 1m corruption charge Waitrose brings back free coffee for shoppers who buy nothing

Imagine that every person had exactly the same fashion taste. Imagine if each of us had the same clothing or the same hairstyle.  Imagine that everyone was the same height and build.  Imagine that everyone had identical makeup. Just imagine. Of course, it's a nonsense - different styling suits different people. Short, tall, thin, round, dark-skinned, fair-skinned, red-heads, blondes, straight haired, curly haired: everyone looks for something different to bring out their best. So why do so many photographers light their subjects using the exact same lighting pattern without adjusting for the variety of life? Why? I can't answer that but I do have a view! Cheers P. If you enjoy this podcast, please head over to Mastering Portrait Photography, for more articles and videos about this beautiful industry. You can also read a full transcript of this episode. PLEASE also subscribe and leave us a review - we'd love to hear what you think! If there are any topics, you would like to hear, have questions we could answer or would like to come and be interviewed on the podcast, please contact me at paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk.    Transcript  Well, it's the end of an incredibly busy week and an incredibly busy day. And today the temperature hasn't. Risen above freezing. It's so cold that our shower at home has frozen. The Landrover won't start. And the two clients, the two families I've had in today who desperately wanted to go out. And take pictures in the wintery Wonderland were sadly disappointed when even they couldn't last more than about 10 minutes at a go.  So we've been based in the studio, which is where I am right now. I'm Paul. And this is the mastering portrait photography  

Nick and Angela continue their Christmas tradition and welcome a Hollywood star to Dish HQ. Born and raised in South-West London, Tom Holland's career began on the West End, when he won the part of Billy Elliot in 2008. He went on to star in the critically-acclaimed film, The Impossible with Naomi Watts in 2012. He is best known for his role as Spider-Man and his first foray into the Marvel Universe came in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. He has since reprised the role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and several Avengers movies. Tom Holland is here to celebrate the launch of Bero, his new alcohol-free beer. Angela prepares a festive feast of slow-cooked pork shoulder with peas & mint with roast potatoes with rosemary salt, sticky pigs in blankets, the best cauliflower cheese, by Martha Collison and orange & honey glazed carrots. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a No.1 Piccini Chianti Classico Riserva. To finish, Angela makes Tom's favourite, orange Jaffa cakes and serves some No.1 brown butter mince pies. This episode is the perfect end to another wonderful year on Dish. Nick and Angela share their plans for the holidays and we find out what happens at a Holland family Christmas. Our trio pull crackers and read some Spider-Man-themed 'dad jokes', while Tom reveals what Zendaya really thinks of his cooking. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this festive episode of Dish, Nick and Angela are joined by the beloved Welsh actor, comedian and broadcaster, Rob Brydon MBE. Rob's career began on radio before his BBC Two mockumentary Marion and Geoff put him on the TV map in 2000. Career highlights include his portrayal of Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey, and The Trip with Steve Coogan, a sitcom that has now reached cult status. Rob has presented the BBC's Would I Lie to You since 2009 and hosts his own podcast, Brydon &, which is now in its seventh series. Nick mixes a gin & tonic for Rob, while Angela prepares a rib eye steak with tarragon, parsley & garlic butter, potato dauphinoise by Julius Roberts and roasted cabbage with anchoïade by Tara Wigley. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Terre Da Vino Barolo Riserva Docg. Rob Brydon is the epitome of entertainment. Having supplied a very detailed email on his food preferences, Nick and Angela dive into his thoughts on condiments, his passion for kiwis and his problem with mushrooms. Rob talks about the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special and treats us to a selection of his incredible impressions! Find Angela's Christmas menu with Dishpatch, the restaurant-quality meal delivery experts, on Waitrose Entertaining. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week: are we drowning in a sea of twee? Gareth Roberts writes the cover article this week, arguing against what he sees as the hideous triviality of our times. ‘The British have lost their aversion to glutinous sentimentality,' he declares. How did we get here, and who are the worst offenders? Gareth argues that the triumph of twee has left us unable to face serious things with seriousness. Could there be sinister consequences if we don't take this more seriously? Gareth joined the podcast to make his case, alongside Josh Cohen, psychoanalyst and author of All The Rage (00:49). Then: was Graham Brady the ‘kingmaker' or the ‘kingslayer' of the past Tory era? The shadow cabinet member and Conservative M.P. Alex Burghart has reviewed Graham Brady's new book Kingmaker: Secrets, Lies and the Truth about Five Prime Ministers in the books section of the magazine this week. Looking back on his time as chair of the influential 1922 Committee, Graham provides his reflections on what has been an historic, and often turbulent, period in British politics. Having now taken a seat in the Lords, Graham joins the podcast with The Spectator's political editor, Katy Balls, to reveal what he really thought about that time in office and what his advice to his successor would be (16:07). And finally: are pigs in blankets the best Christmas food? It would seem so, according to The Spectator's data editor Michael Simmons, who provides his notes on the festive treat in the magazine this week. His only gripe, as a proud Scot, is that they should really be called ‘kilted sausages'. He reveals that Brits are expected to eat a whopping 668 million of them over the Christmas season. Why are they so good, and how can you elevate your Christmas meal over the coming season? Michael joins the podcast alongside Martyn Lee, head of product at Yeo Valley and the former executive chef of Waitrose and Tesco. Plus, a guest appearance of pigs in blankets from The Spectator's local pub, The Two Chairmen – will they pass Michael's taste test? (26:58). Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons, Oscar Edmondson, and Cindy Yu.

This week: are we drowning in a sea of twee? Gareth Roberts writes the cover article this week, arguing against what he sees as the hideous triviality of our times. ‘The British have lost their aversion to glutinous sentimentality,' he declares. How did we get here, and who are the worst offenders? Gareth argues that the triumph of twee has left us unable to face serious things with seriousness. Could there be sinister consequences if we don't take this more seriously? Gareth joined the podcast to make his case, alongside Josh Cohen, psychoanalyst and author of All The Rage (00:49). Then: was Graham Brady the ‘kingmaker' or the ‘kingslayer' of the past Tory era? The shadow cabinet member and Conservative M.P. Alex Burghart has reviewed Graham Brady's new book Kingmaker: Secrets, Lies and the Truth about Five Prime Ministers in the books section of the magazine this week. Looking back on his time as chair of the influential 1922 Committee, Graham provides his reflections on what has been an historic, and often turbulent, period in British politics. Having now taken a seat in the Lords, Graham joins the podcast with The Spectator's political editor, Katy Balls, to reveal what he really thought about that time in office and what his advice to his successor would be (16:07). And finally: are pigs in blankets the best Christmas food? It would seem so, according to The Spectator's data editor Michael Simmons, who provides his notes on the festive treat in the magazine this week. His only gripe, as a proud Scot, is that they should really be called ‘kilted sausages'. He reveals that Brits are expected to eat a whopping 668 million of them over the Christmas season. Why are they so good, and how can you elevate your Christmas meal over the coming season? Michael joins the podcast alongside Martyn Lee, head of product at Yeo Valley and the former executive chef of Waitrose and Tesco. Plus, a guest appearance of pigs in blankets from The Spectator's local pub, The Two Chairmen – will they pass Michael's taste test? (26:58). Hosted by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons, Oscar Edmondson, and Cindy Yu.

Nick and Angela welcome the legendary Stephen Fry, a true polymath whose career spans acting, writing, comedy, and broadcasting. From his early days at Cambridge with Hugh Laurie to his iconic roles in Blackadder and QI, Stephen has captivated audiences for decades. He is here to discuss Odyssey, the final book in his Greek mythology series. Nick serves Stephen some gildas, and his favourite drink, a vodka and soda. While Angela prepares ricotta filled peppers with salsa verde and crab, avocado sriracha cucumber boats, followed by a delicious one pot-cod with peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Calmel Joseph organic pinot noir. Stephen shares fascinating stories and facts (of course), including a heartwarming tale involving his dear friend Nigella Lawson. This is a fun conversation with great food talk, and insights into life in the spotlight. Stephen Fry is exquisite company and this episode is a warm and entertaining way to kick off December. Find Angela's Christmas menu with Dishpatch, the restaurant quality meal kit experts, on Waitrose Entertaining. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Born in Norfolk, Matthew Macfadyen recently celebrated his 50th birthday. His father's job took the family overseas when he was young, and he grew up in places like Indonesia before returning to the UK to attend RADA. Matthew's career began on the BBC show, Spooks in 2002. From there he went on to star in Frost/Nixon in 2008, Robin Hood in 2010 and The Three Musketeers in 2011. Matthew played Tom Wambsgans in the smash-hit TV series Succession, winning Baftas, SAG Awards, Emmys, and Golden Globes for his performance. He is here to talk about his appearance in the Waitrose Christmas advert. Nick mixes Matthew his favourite drink, tonic water and bitters, while Angela prepares porchetta with salsa verde & crackling. The experts at Waitrose pair this with a Primitivo from Puglia, Italy. Our trio tuck into the No.1 red velvet bauble dessert for pudding. Nick and Angela quiz Matthew on his biggest roles. He talks about his love of Southeast Asian cuisine, his plans for Christmas, and shares why refuses to make his wife Keeley Hawes, her favourite sandwich. Find Angela's Christmas menu with Dishpatch, the restaurant quality meal kit experts, on Waitrose Entertaining. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vanessa Williams is a singer, actress and author born in Upstate New York. In 1983, she made history as the first African American woman to be crowned Miss America, an achievement that was overshadowed by racism and a media storm. Despite the controversy, Vanessa went on to carve out a celebrated career in entertainment. As a singer, she released 13 studio albums, earning multiple Grammy and Tony nominations. Beyond music, she is known for her iconic role as Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty and is currently treading the boards as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada musical in London's West End. Angela prepares a delicious tomato & vodka bucatini with crispy pancetta pangritata while Nick pours an Araldica Barbera D'Asti Superiore, recommended by the experts at Waitrose. Vanessa Williams brings some Hollywood glamour to the Dish table for our 100th episode. Our trio talks New York City takeaways, Vanessa shares her family's favourite pasta recipe and she explains how she and Stanley Tucci are connected IRL (in the real world). Find Angela's Christmas menu with Dishpatch, the restaurant meal kit experts, on Waitrose Entertaining. You can now watch full episodes of Dish on YouTube  All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can't all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.ukand she'll try to answer them in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mallika Basu is one of my absolute favourite people in food. Not only is she hilarious, she's a writer, commentator and board adviser in food, drink and hospitality with two published cookbooks (Miss Masala: Real Indian Cooking for Busy Living and Masala: Indian Cooking for Modern Living). She writes a fantastic newsletter “More than Curry” covering the link between food, people and planet, as well as recipes with spice and flavour and stories on food and culture in other publications.During the pandemic, Mallika developed proprietary thinking on food, culture and diversity covering cultural appropriation, language and labels and representation which she has delivered to almost 900 individuals at organisations including Penguin Random House, Jamie Oliver Group, Tesco and Waitrose.Today we chat aboutGoing from Indian cooking to commenting on culture and diversity, getting the facts right on cultural appropriationWhy the planet piece matters for food and drink loversThe everyday challenges of feeding a family. I have two teens and am a single parent with a solo household half the week.How she diverts them away from UPFs