Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

Comedian, poet, author and award-winning podcast Rob Auton is this week’s dream diner. We better get a bigger restaurant – we need room for a lot of sofas.

Rob Auton is on tour with his new show ‘Jupiter’. For dates and tickets go to https://www.robauton.co.uk/

Listen to Rob’s podcast, ‘The Rob Auton Daily Podcast’, wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Rob on Instagram and TikTok @robauton

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning stand-up comedian and actor – star of Channel 4’s ‘Break Clause’ and ‘Make That Movie’ – Lara Ricote joins us in the Dream Restaurant this week. Did anyone else have teeth like rice (but not cooked)?

Lara Ricote stars in ‘Break Clause’. All episodes are available to watch now on Channel 4.

Follow Lara on Instagram @lararicote

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

WWE legend-turned-acting A-lister John Cena is this week’s dream diner. He sits down with Ed and James to talk about his coffee obsession, wrestling tips and how to power through promo when you’re not feeling your best…

Trigger warning: this episode contains chat about counting calories.

John Cena stars in ‘Matchbox The Movie’ which is out now on Apple TV. Watch it here.

Follow John Cena on Instagram @johncena

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fan favourite from way back in Series 3 of Off Menu, US podcasting royalty and ‘Bojack Horseman’ star Paul F. Tompkins returns to the Dream Restaurant for a Tasting Menu.

Listen to Paul’s original episode

Listen to Paul F. Tompkins’s podcasts ‘Spontaneanation’ and ‘Threedom’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Paul on Instagram and TikTok @pftompkins

Don’t forget, video episodes of Off Menu are out every Wednesday on our YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radio DJ, presenter, and supportive-man-to-new-stand-up-comedians, Melvin Odoom is this week’s dream diner. And he’s choosing menu choices no one has ever picked before.

Melvin Odoom is on ‘Celebrity Masterchef’. Watch the full series on BBC iPlayer here.

Follow Melvin on Instagram and TikTok @melvinodoom

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand-up, podcaster, and Ed's wine club buddy Pierre Novellie has a table booked this week. They chat dream meals, getting trapped in caves, and whether the Queen in Narnia was fit.

Pierre Novellie is at London’s Soho Theatre with his new show ‘OK, One More Then Bedtime’ until Thu 1 Oct 2026. Get tickets at sohotheatre.com

Pierre will be announcing a tour very soon – sign up to his mailing list to find out tour dates at https://www.pierrenovellie.com/

Pierre’s book, ‘Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?: A Comedian's Guide to Autism’ is out now. Buy it here.

Follow Pierre on Instagram @pierrenovellie

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in National Treasure territory again as we welcome British comedy royalty Sanjeev Bhaskar to the Dream Restaurant. The ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘Taskmaster’ star makes James laugh more than he ever has on the podcast, we think.

Sanjeev Bhaskar stars in ‘The Split Up’ which launches on 20 September on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The Split Up’s story and characters are created by Ursula Rani Sarma, based on The Split, created by multiple award-winning Abi Morgan.

Follow Sanjeev on Instagram @tvsanjeev

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

US stand-up, Netflix star and Emmy-nominee Jacqueline Novak dines in the Dream Restaurant this week. Pizza or bread, Jacqueline Novak, pizza or bread?

TW: there is some chat about body image.

Jacqueline Novak’s special ‘Get On Your Knees’ is on Netflix. Watch it now.

For Jacqueline’s latest shows and tour dates, keep an eye on her website https://jokesnovak.com/

Follow Jacqueline on Instagram @jacnov

Listen to Jacqueline’s podcast ‘POOG’ with Kate Bertlant: https://poog.kit.com/

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tessa Coates – creator/show-runner of Prime Video’s hit show ‘Ride or Die’, stand-up, writer and former ‘Nobody Panic’ podcaster – is this week’s guest diner. But will they talk about the time she met Paul Rudd? Yes.

Tessa Coates’s series ‘Ride or Die’ is available now on Prime Video. Watch it here.

Listen to Tessa’s podcast ‘Nobody Panic’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Tessa on Instagram @wheatpraylove

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the Dream Restaurant welcomes British-Brazilian actor Kaya Scodelario – star of ‘The Maze Runner’ films, ‘Skins’ and Netflix’s ‘The Gentleman’.

Kaya Scodelario stars in Guy Ritcher’s ‘The Gentlemen’, and series 2 comes to Netflix on 3 September. Watch series one now.

Follow Kaya on Instagram @kayascods

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Gatiss – 1/4 of The League of Gentlemen, Bafta-winner, co-creator and star of ‘Sherlock’ – has a booking at the Dream Restaurant this week. And he makes James his chip b*tch.

Mark Gatiss created and stars in ‘Bookish’ and series 2 starts on U&alibi on Wed 26 Aug, and stream on U.

Follow Mark on Instagram @themarkgatiss

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor, Emmy-nominee, ‘The Last of Us’ star and future ‘Celebrity Traitors’ contestant Bella Ramsey is this week’s Off Menu guest. And people who write those quirky things on food packaging; you have a fan.

Bella Ramsey stars in ‘Sunny Dancer’ which is released in cinemas on Friday 14 August.

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Ed Gamble is on tour in 2027 with ‘Fresh Hell’. For dates and tickets go to https://edgamble.co.uk/

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jinkx Monsoon – two-time ‘Drag Race’ winner, actress, singer and the new star of ‘Oh, Mary!’ – has a table booked in the Dream Restaurant this week. And she loves a British accent…

Jinkx Monsoon stars as Mary Todd Lincoln in ‘Oh, Mary!’ in at the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End from 17 Aug-26 Sep. Get tickets from https://ohmaryplay.co.uk/

Follow Jinkx on Instagram @thejinkx, TikTok @jinkxmonsoonofficial and YouTube @jinkxmonsoonofficial

Watch the full video episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another fan favourite returns to the Dream Restaurant, and this time it’s straight-talking stand-up Sindhu Vee, all the way back from episode 15. Will she have more words of wisdom like ‘to the hungry person even the doorway looks like crisps’?

Listen to Sindhu’s original episode

Sindhu Vee is on tour across the UK in 2026 and 2027 with ‘Swanky’, including a date at London’s Eventim Apollo. For dates and tickets go to https://sindhuvee.com/

Follow Sindhu on Instagram @sindhuvee and TikTok @sindhuvee100

Don’t forget, video episodes of Off Menu are out every Wednesday on our YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final live Tasting Menu episode from the Royal Albert Hall, BFF of the podcast Nish Kumar joins us to talk beef beefs, Ghostbusters reviews and who’s the boss of the Hindus.

Thanks if you came along to any of the Royal Albert Hall shows. We had a lovely time!

Nish Kumar is on tour with ‘Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy’. Go to www.nishkumar.co.uk for dates and tickets

Listen to Nish’s podcast, Pod Save The UK wherever you get your podcasts

Follow Nish on Instagram @mrnishkumar

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Recorded by Matt Mountford-Lister for Storm Productions Group live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s dream diner is stand-up, Live at the Apollo star and Radio 4 regular, Laura Smyth! And James remembers his shopping list…

Laura Smyth is on tour across the UK and Ireland with ‘Born Aggy’, including a date at London’s Eventim Apollo. For dates and tickets go to laurasmyth.com

Listen to Laura’s podcast ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But…’ here or whenever you get your podcasts.

Follow Laura on Instagram and TikTok @thatlaurasmyth

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Shall I Be Mother’s Day! Comedian, poet, Bafta-nominee, bath-lover and poppadom-smasher Tim Key returns to the Dream Restaurant for a live Off Menu episode at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tim Key is on tour now with ‘Loganberry’. For dates and tickets go to http://timkey.co.uk

His book ‘LA Baby’ is out now. Buy it here: https://www.utterandpress.co.uk/products/l-a-baby

Follow Tim on Instagram @timkeypoet

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Recorded by Matt Mountford-Lister for Storm Productions Group live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dream Restaurant’s open for business once more, and our first diner for series 16 is ‘Taskmaster’ star and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Phil Ellis.

Phil Ellis is currently on a nationwide stand-up tour with Bath Mat, including an extra London show at Wilton’s Music Hall on 10th October. He will also be taking the show to Monkey Barrel 1 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 3rd - 30th August at 1.55pm. For more info and tickets visit https://www.philelliscomedy.com/

Listen to Phil’s podcast ‘Early Worms’

Follow Phil on Instagram @philelliscomedy

Watch the video version of this episode on the Off Menu YouTube.

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dream Restaurant re-opens for Series 16 on Wednesday 15th July.

And you can now WATCH episodes on Apple Podcasts as well as YouTube.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Royal Albert Hall Tasting Menu time, and joining us for this live episode is ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Derry Girls’ star Nicola Coughlan. On Nicola’s original episode she locked herself out of her flat. Will she do the same at the Royal Albert Hall?

Nicola is starring in the next of Channel 4’s anthology series, ‘I Am’, with ‘I Am Helen’ being released later this year.

She’s also joined the cast of ‘Only Murders in the Building’, so look out for the new series.

Follow Nicola on Instagram @nicolacoughlan

Off Menu is now on YouTube: @offmenupodcast

Follow Off Menu on Instagram and TikTok: @offmenuofficial.

And go to our website https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.

Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.

Produced and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.

Recorded by Matt Mountford-Lister for Storm Productions Group live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Video production by Ben Williams and Megan McCarthy for Plosive.

Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).

Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here.

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.