Comfort Eating with Grace Dent
The Guardian
From school dinners to sofa snacks – food has a huge part to play in shaping our story - and your favourite celebs have some delicious tales to tell. Join Grace Dent and celebrity guests as she throws the cupboard doors open and chats life through food. Expect to hear from guests (actors from TV, movie, theatre and film; sportspeople, comedians, chefs…) such as: Katie Price, Jamie Laing, Natalie Cassidy, Kathy Burke, Jon Ronson, Shirley Ballas, Nadiya Hussain, James Norton, Graham Norton, Jamie Demetriou, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Amma Asante, Jay Blades, Michelle DeSwarte, Gaz Coombes, Georgia Pritchett, Fern Brady, Jayde Adams, Adam Kay, Jaime Winstone, Malorie Blackman, Dawn O’Porter, Neneh Cherry, Greg Rutherford, Goldie, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Marian Keyes, Rufus Wainwright, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Big Zuu, Eddie Marsan, Self Esteem, James May, Guy Garvey, Dave Myers, Jo Brand, Craig David, Bernardine Evaristo, Tom Watson, Rosie Jones, Laura Whitmore, Desiree Burch, Russell Tovey, Stephen Fry, Deborah Meaden, Munya Chawawa, Aisling Bea, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Candice Carty-Williams, Lawrence Chaney, Siobhán McSweeney, Scarlett Moffatt, Joanne McNally, Mae Martin, Rafe Spall, Nish Kumar, Bridget Christie, Mary McCartney, Keith Brymer Jones, Adjoa Andoh, Tamsin Greig, Tom Kerridge, Katherine Ryan, Golda Rosheuvel, Suranne Jones and, David Baddiel, Amol Rajan and Russell T Davies. Comfort Eating is a one-to-one interview. In Grace’s kitchen, her guests discuss their lives in the context of food, cooking and cuisine. They talk about comfort food and snack recipes. The tone of the podcast is: warm, comforting, chatty, feel good, cheering, heart warming, comical and amusing. It’s inspiring but also escapism. It’s funny, comedy, laugh out loud / LOL, entertaining, humourous, inspirational, hilarious, illuminating, memorable, uplifting, soothing, reassuring, cheery and entertaining. Expect to hear humour, discussion, gossip and revelation. Grace's new Comfort Eating book, inspired by the podcast, is out now. It’s a wonderfully scrumptious, life-affirming journey through the foods that really mean the most to us.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 17, 2023 • 44min
S4 E12: James Norton, actor
For the last time this series Grace opens her door to another Comfort Eating guest, and to finish in style she welcomes James Norton into her home to discuss all things delicious. James is best known for his portrayal of the despicable Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley, and other star roles include Grantchester, Little Women, and War & Peace. However, there’s lots more to learn about James from his idyllic early years in Yorkshire, to a stint at a very religious boarding school, his breakthrough on the West End and, of course, the food that has been with him through it all
Jan 10, 2023 • 44min
S4 E11: Graham Norton, broadcaster
This week, it’s Grace’s couch that gets the star treatment as Graham Norton comes round to chat all things Comfort Eating. We all know Graham from his work interviewing megastars on his chatshow, as well as his much loved radio show, but there’s lots to Graham you might not know about; from his time living in a San Francisco commune, to his big break in the upstairs room of a famous gastropub and, of course, the snacks he reaches for when he’s home alone, and sat on his own couch
Dec 27, 2022 • 46sec
A quick christmas message from Grace
Happy holidays friends! Just a quick message from Grace to say no new episode of Comfort Eating today, as she’s at home on the couch eating cold roasties and stuffing sarnies, enjoying all the Christmas telly. However, fear not, Comfort Eating will be back in the new year!
Dec 20, 2022 • 38min
S4 E10: Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, singers
Roll up, roll up, for an unprecedented Comfort Eating event as we bring you not one but two very special guests … Yes that’s right, parking their sleigh outside Grace’s house we have world-renowned singers, entertainers, and the unofficial Kings of Christmas, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe joining us for a fantastically festive episode. Both hugely successful in their own rights, Michael and Alfie have been making music and topping the charts together since 2016, with multiple UK album No 1s to their name, as well as arena tours, TV specials, and Brit awards in tow. In this special Yuletide episode, Alfie and Michael reflect on Christmases gone by, their thoughts on carol singers, who’s the best gift-giver and, of course, the comfort foods that see them through Chrimbo every year
Dec 13, 2022 • 39min
S4 E9: Amma Asante, film-maker
Grace’s guest this week is the Bafta award winning director Amma Asante. From her critically acclaimed films such as Belle, and A United Kingdom, to her work on TV shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Mrs America, Amma is a giant of the film-making world. She pops round to Grace’s to discuss her teenage days on the set of Grange Hill, how she fell in love at the Europol canteen, and the importance of Mr Kipling. And, of course, the comfort foods that have seen her through it all
Dec 6, 2022 • 41min
S4 E8: Gaz Coombes, musician
This week, knocking on Grace’s door is actual rockstar Gaz Coombes. Gaz has sold millions of records around the world, both as the lead singer of Supergrass and as a critically acclaimed solo artist. He joins Grace to chat about his days overseeing Harvester’s coveted salad bar, late-night cheese boards and, as he prepares to release his fourth solo album, the meals that stand out from his days touring the world. And, as ever, the comfort foods that have seen him through it all
Nov 29, 2022 • 37min
S4 E7: Georgia Pritchett, screenwriter of Succession
Grace’s guest this week is Georgia Pritchett, the genius behind many of the shows we watch on the telly when we’ve whipped up our bowl of comforting goodness. She is currently a writer on the award winning satirical black comedy-drama Succession, which follows the disturbing and dastardly lives of media conglomerate family the Logans. Georgia’s past work includes The Thick of It, Miranda, Have I Got News For You, and Veep. She joins Grace to discuss the perils of snacking while breastfeeding, the dangers of fizzy paté, and the importance of dining out alone. And, of course, the food that has comforted Georgia along the way
Nov 22, 2022 • 37min
S4 E6: Jayde Adams, comedian
Cha Cha Cha-ing her way into Grace’s house this week is comedian and one of this year’s stars of Strictly Come Dancing, Jayde Adams. Jayde and Grace discuss Jayde’s Bristolian beginnings, what it takes to become a fishmonger, and what makes the perfect dinner party. And as always, the comfort foods that have seen Jayde through it all
Nov 15, 2022 • 43min
S4 E5: Adam Kay, writer
Knocking on Grace’s door this week is the doctor-turned-writer Adam Kay, whose memoir This is Going to Hurt was loved by critics and readers alike, making it the UK’s second-most-sold book in 2018. Adam and Grace discuss the fast pace and poor food of life on a gynaecology ward, his favourite motorway service station snack, and his struggle with disordered eating. And of course, the comfort foods he turns to today
Nov 8, 2022 • 35min
S4 E4: Jaime Winstone, actress
Jaime Winstone is Grace’s guest this week, coming round for a chat and a hearty portion of her ultimate comfort snack. Jaime is an actor, known for roles in films such as Kidulthood, Made in Dagenham, and Tomb Raider. The pair discuss the wild days and nights of Jamie’s party girl years, filmset food, and life with a famous dad: Ray Winstone. And of course, the comfort foods that saw Jaime through it all
