Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

This week we had our first guest zoom in from across the pond; American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer Josh Groban joins us on the podcast from sunny Los Angeles.Josh talks us through his musical journey, from starting in musical theatre, duetting with Celine Dion when he was only 16 to making a 4 year album with the master, Rick Rubin. Quarantine has awoken a new found passion for cooking; he makes a ‘mean’ beans on toast & has realised he enjoys singing in the shower, even with a puffer on. We talk about where to get the best sushi in LA, drinking mezcal & what he feeds his 15 yr old dog, Sweeney. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were SO thrilled to get the UK’s finest - the greatest and warmest comedic duo Mel & Sue on Table Manners this week, via our new friend Zoom.'Perky' & 'Melly', as they call each other, dialled in – Mel live from inside her wardrobe – and made mum and I feel so much better about another week in lockdown. The fabulous twosome talk to us about their brand new Sky Originals/Now TV show 'Hitmen', they Mrs & Mrs each other's last supper, tell us what they’re eating in lockdown, what a ‘special purse’ is & they reminisce about their Bake Off days! Everyone needs a bit of Mel & Sue in their lives…especially right now. They are wonderful, witty and kind and we love them, a lot x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the midst of this lockdown we managed to have lunch with Dr Alex's favourite, award winning broadcaster and Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis. We talk about Corona, of course, that Prince Andrew interview, being a flexitarian, the cake and cookie counter at the Newsnight studio and her love for a dirty vodka martini with 3 olives (my kind of woman). She hates a pud, her favourite food is Vietnamese and our Emily is insistent on having napkins on the dinner table. Emily Maitlis is on Table Manners!!! Lap it up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So it may be week 2 of lockdown but we have something to celebrate. We have been trying to get this star for aaaaages and finally we did! Popstar sensation Dua Lipa shares a virtual dinner with mum and I whilst she is stuck in London quarantine with her excellent second album Future Nostalgia just out.We talk stockpiling hot sauces, Nutella sandwiches in her lunchbox, Pez rider requests, where she goes for good sushi dates in NYC and mum and Dua bond over gel nails. But even though we have probably the hugest popstar we have ever had, it doesn't stop mum interrupting our chat for her Ocado order.We loved chatting to Dua and absolutely adore the new record which is out now go and listen x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's lockdown. But that isn't going to stop us serving you Tables Manners, even in special circumstances.I've moved the family out to an Airbnb to make sure Corona can't get her mitts on Lennie, Dr Alex is on the frontline, so it's a quiet (and clean) house for mum and means this is our first episode recorded remotely.Via the internet the wonderful, funny and gorgeous Grimmy joined us for a virtual dinner with mum and I. We talk bulk buying Hobnobs whilst in isolation, growing up in Manchester, eating luxuriously late now he isn't on breakfast radio and living on Freddos when he made it to London. Although gutted to not have him over and give him a kiss, cuddle and chicken soup it was a Zoom revelation and a welcome relief from a heavy week! X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was our biggest delight to cook a Monday vegetarian risotto for one of this country's absolute treasures, actor, musician and all round excellent person, Riz Ahmed (even if he then did tell us he had chicken for lunch). We elbow bump and discuss growing up in London, school, PPE at Oxford, his mum's Nihari being on his last supper, Naughty Boy being a good cook and Asma Khan's Darjeeling Express being one of his favourite London restaurants. I want to know everything about his break up album with Britain 'The Long Goodbye' and the incredibly powerful short film (shout out Aneil Karia) and despite proclaiming to 'not be much of a pudding person' we watch dear Riz have two helpings of roasted rhubard and stem ginger Eton mess. Our new critical topic of the school lunchbox continues as we delve into his; penguins, jam sandwiches and 'no pork’ stickers in school. Riz we love you, you're amazing and it's bloody frustrating that people are going to have to wait a little longer to see the live show for The Long Goodbye. Enjoy x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A little something for the weekend! Last week we celebrated the publication of 'Table Manners: The Cookbook' with an 'In Conversation' at Waterstones Piccadilly, we met some of our lovely listeners, for those who couldn't make it here is a chance to listen in... enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcomed the beautiful and brilliant Zawe Ashton to ours last Friday with an unexpected guest, Fresh Meat co-star Charlotte Richie (who Jessie used to babysit back in the day!).The author and actress devoured mums sticky short ribs (even kindly put them on her last supper meal!), spoke all about being a child actor, being bullied, The Handmaids Tale and her new book Character Breakdown. We chatted about the go to places to eat after you've stepped off stage on Broadway, how savoury porridge saved her life, the thrills of cheap red wine and being a devotee of Terry's Chocolate Orange. She shares with us her mum's Ugandan cooking, what was in her lunchbox and Lennie’s love of Margaret Atwood. This has SO MUCH GOOD STUFF IN IT! Enjoy and thank you Zawe for being so wonderful x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queen comic Jo Brand turned up at our doorstep laden with gifts; a nativity tote bag and shoes to polish the floor with! We tucked into an effortless mid-week roast whilst discussing hairy gooseberries, sandwich spread, road rage, being heckled and Paul Hollywood! This wonderful woman can do no wrong, and it was an absolute pleasure finally getting her on the pod after a drunken proposal two years ago at Jools Holland's Hootenanny (god do I sound like I'm Jessica in Love is Blind?!) Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legend of stage and screen Vanessa Williams joined us for dinner and we could NOT believe we had a Grammy, Tony and Emmy nominee in our kitchen. The Desperate Housewives star tells us all about her new West End show ‘City Of Angels’ and we chat about Vanessa’s incredible worldwide travels, her outrageous Thanksgiving turkey-basting traditions and the Ugly Betty wedding that took place at her LA house! We had an honest chat about her misunderstood Miss America resignation and even got a singalong of the total karaoke classic ‘Save The Best For Last’. Vanessa, we absolutely loved you with all the Colours Of The Wind (YES, she was the voice of Disney’s Pocahontas) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.