Comfort Eating with Grace Dent

The Guardian
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Oct 28, 2025 • 35min

From the archive (season 5): Nadiya Hussain

Grace is serving up some of her old favourites to curl up to as autumn turns to winter. Cosying up with Grace is none other than the queen of baking and all our hearts – Nadiya Hussain. The Bake Off star, whose triumph in the tent launched a TV, writing and culinary career of which dreams are made, is dropping by Grace’s home to share her loves, her hates and her strategies for managing a house of teenagers. Over a plate of something so comforting you could curl up in it, Grace and Nadiya get down to brass tacks. Family, husbands, school and crisps – all the main bases – and there’s no shame allowed. Just get those elbows out and dig in. Buy Grace’s new Comfort Eating book, inspired by the podcast, here. The book is a wonderfully scrumptious, life-affirming journey through the foods that really mean the most to us
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Oct 21, 2025 • 49min

From the archive (season 2): Stephen Fry

Grace is serving up some of her old favourites to curl up to as the darker days of autumn arrive. In this episode, Grace is joined by none other than Stephen Fry. They talk about his childhood, memories of prison, cooking for his husband – and the comfort foods that have seen him through it all
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Oct 14, 2025 • 48min

S10, Ep12: Fatiha El-Ghorri, comedian

Comedian and writer Fatiha El-Ghorri pops round to Grace’s for a snack and a chat. Hackney born and bred, Fatiha is an east London girl through and through, but with her Muslim faith being a huge pillar of her life, and her parent’s Moroccan heritage, Fatiha’s standup covers everything from identity and culture, to the horrors of modern dating. But it was her recent stint as a contestant on Taskmaster Series 19 that has won Fatiha the hearts of fans up and down the country
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Oct 7, 2025 • 40min

S10, Ep11: Sally Wainwright, TV writer

This week, TV writer, producer and director Sally Wainwright OBE is pulling up a seat at Grace’s kitchen table. Sally’s love for words started at the age of nine, when she and her sister would stage plays together in their bedroom, a passion that would one day see her writing for beloved British soaps like The Archers, Emmerdale and Coronation Street. But the road to writing royalty has not always been so smooth, and Sally and Grace discuss the foods that have seen her through it all — from spaghetti pie, canteen stodge during her bus driving days, boozy lunches at Corrie, and Sally’s own concoctions in the kitchen
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Sep 30, 2025 • 42min

S10, Ep10: Mary Portas, broadcaster

This week, broadcaster, businesswoman and retail consultant, Mary Portas OBE pulls up a chair at Grace’s dining table. Mary initially set her sights on acting and was awarded a place at Rada, but then had to give it up after both her parents died. She was left homeless and she had to look after her younger brother, but she went on to blaze a trail through the world of retail and earn the moniker Queen of the High Street
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Sep 23, 2025 • 46min

S10, Ep9: Miriam Margolyes, actor

Sound the klaxon … we’re in National Treasure territory today as Miriam Margolyes joins Grace to discuss the joys of Jewish food, breaking wind and, of course, being naughty on national TV. Miriam is one of Britain’s most beloved actors, with her career spanning seven decades. But life hasn’t always been easy for Miriam, from her early years in wartime Britain, to coming out in the less-accepting 1970s. With her new The Little Book of Miriam just published, one thing’s for certain: no matter what, Miriam always has something to say
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Sep 16, 2025 • 45min

S10, Ep8: Mariella Frostrup, journalist

This week on Comfort Eating, Grace is joined by one of Britain’s most beloved broadcasters – Irish-Norwegian journalist and presenter Mariella Frostrup. Speaking to Grace, Mariella opens up about her early food memories growing up between Norway and Ireland with a Scottish mother, shares a cringe-worthy dinner faux pas involving Prince Charles and reflects on the perils of being a little too honest with her kids
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Sep 9, 2025 • 42min

S10, Ep7: Alan Davies, comedian

Today, Alan Davies pays Grace a visit, a dish of his favourite comfort food in hand. The Essex-born comedian has spent more than 30 years making us laugh and his third memoir, which shares the highs and lows of his comedy career, is out soon. But what food does he turn to for energy? • The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331.
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Sep 2, 2025 • 51min

S10, Ep6: CMAT, singer songwriter

This week, Grace is joined by a woman who has described herself as the unwashed ITV version of Taylor Swift – CMAT. With her third album, Euro-Country, out now, a summer calendar packed full of festivals and a tour on the horizon, what is this stunning, Irish superstar eating to fuel the ride? Warning: this episode contains descriptions of drug use and disordered eating
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Aug 26, 2025 • 42min

S10, Ep5: Nicola Sturgeon, former politician

This week, Grace is buzzing to meet former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. Over the past few years, Nicola has weathered an independence referendum, Brexit, a pandemic, countless press briefings and parliamentary spats, an arrest and a divorce. So what food does she turn to when she needs some comfort?

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