I’m running out of takeaways near me
Your podcast Out To Lunch has now become In For Lunch during lockdown. How has it been ordering takeaways for celebrities like George Ezra, Ed Balls and Russell Tovey?
I HAD already recorded three normal episodes with Dita Von Teese and Charlie Brooker and I happened to be in New York at the same time as Romesh Ranganathan.
We were both doing live shows and it was right as New York was closing down. I knew that something had to change so now we are staying in with a video link and a takeaway and time to just relax and chat.
I order the takeaway so they don’t know what it is and I try to order the same type of food as well. They are in lockdown, as is everyone else, so they are happy to talk to me and enjoy good food.
I think before this takeaways were seen as an indulgence, but it’s now actually supporting the hospitality sector when it needs it. I can tell my guests the takeaway is a few minutes away and it is delivered to their door and they generally do not know what they are getting.
For Shaun Of The Dead filmmaker Edgar Wright I ordered the most high-end Chinese takeaway you can get. It’s all been doable.
Most of my guests live in central London were there is a wider selection available. I’m running out of places near me.
Out To Lunch launched in March last year and recorded its millionth listener just nine months later. Have you been surprised by its success?
YES. There are a lot of podcasts out there, but I do a lot of research before meeting my guests and we edit the interviews. We might record two hours over lunch, but we edit it down and keep all the best bits. Most are about 40 to 45 minutes and I think the longest was 55 minutes. In restaurants, the microphone is above the table and people often forget about it and just relax.
The best thing about podcasts is that if people enjoy the new series they can go back and listen to everything right from the first one with Richard E Grant to people like Fifty Shades’ actor Jamie Dornan. He was incredibly relaxed and really good company
And it was great to talk to Guy Garvey from Elbow. (Laughs) I remember having Mel C on and thinking ‘does a Spice Girl eat anything?’ Luckily she does.
You’re a regular guest judge on MasterChef and have your newspaper column and your food panel show The Kitchen Cabinet for BBC Radio 4. How are you dealing with staying in?
I MOSTLY work from home so it’s not been a massive change and I am still writing my restaurant column drawing on 20 years of stories in my head. I’ve recently been writing about some of my favourite restaurants.
Jay Rayner chats to actor Russell Tovey over a takeaway for the In For Lunch podcast
I’m not a bad cook but I have not cooked this many meals at home for a long, long time.
Are you avoiding snacking at home or giving in to temptation?
I’M trying to be good. I’m at home with two large sons, aged 16 and 20, and my wife. The 16-year-old is doing schoolwork and the oldest is finishing his degree.
At 7pm we eat dinner and make it a proper moment. I might graze across the day, but I have a proper gym habit and I’ve been working out doing step ups in the back garden and some weights. I don’t want to come out of this the size of a house.
I’ve not spent this much time at home since I was about 14.
Who would be your dream lunch guest?
JEFF GOLDBLUM. I play jazz piano and I interviewed him before when he launched his first album.
I would also love a return match with Stormzy. I think he is fascinating and I would love to do a proper podcast recording with him.
What do you want to do when lockdown restrictions are lifted
(LAUGHS) I’ve given this a lot of thought. I want to go to Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill run by Michelin star chef Richard Corrigan and order oysters and chilled champagne and go to Brasserie Zédel in London, which offers great Parisian food at about half the prices. It’s really good value. It seats up to 400 and it has the Crazy Coq cabaret room as well. I play there as well with the Jay Rayner Quartet so you can almost say I’m an employee.