Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster is a food and comedy podcast featuring Ed Gamble and James Acaster, in which guests are invited to select their dream menu by both comedians. Off Menu was launched in December 2018. As of April 2023, the podcast has been downloaded 120 million times.[1]
| Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Ed Gamble, James Acaster |
| Genre | Comedy, food, interview |
| Language | English |
| Length | 45–120 minutes |
| Production | |
| No. of episodes | 218 |
| Publication | |
| Original release | Error: All values must be integers (help) |
| Ratings | 4.7894736842105265/5  |
| Related | |
| Website | https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/ |
Premise
In the show, guests are asked by Acaster—in the role of a Genie Waiter—for their dream menu, in a dream restaurant that can produce any food and drink.[2] Acaster first asks guests, "Still or sparkling water?" Shortly after, and without warning, Acaster will shout "Papadams or bread?" The episode continues with the guest giving their starter, main course, side dish, drink and dessert.[2][3] Cooking sound effects play between discussions of each course.[4] Guests explain what they like about the food, memories associated with it and other food and drink topics, as well as discussing their body of work.
Before the guest arrives Gamble and Acaster announce a secret ingredient that at least one of them does not like. If the guest mentions the ingredient they are ejected from the Dream Restaurant without getting any dinner. The only guest ejected from the Dream Restaurant is Jayde Adams.[5] The hosts refer to the producer, Ben Williams, as the Great Benito.[6] The hosts have some strong established opinions on food: for instance, Gamble favours a cheeseboard for dessert, to which Acaster objects.[2] They also have established anecdotes, such as Acaster's story about drinking Diet Coke after a long period of caffeine abstinence and believing that it tasted like Coca-Cola.[7]
Episodes
A wide range of guests have "eaten at the dream restaurant", including comedians, chefs, and other figures such as Bob Mortimer, Michelle Keegan, Ainsley Harriott and Joe Thomas.[2][8][9] In the show's 100th and 200th episodes, Acaster and Gamble chose their own dream menus. These special episodes were hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Rylan Clark respectively.[6][10]
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scroobius Pip | December 5, 2018 | |
| 2 | Grace Dent | December 12, 2018 | |
| 3 | Richard Osman | December 19, 2018 | |
| 4 | Nish Kumar | December 26, 2018 | Christmas Special |
| 5 | Aisling Bea | January 2, 2019 | |
| 6 | Joel Dommett | January 9, 2019 | |
| 7 | Lolly Adefope | January 16, 2019 | |
| 8 | Tom Kerridge | January 23, 2019 | |
| 9 | Selasi Gbormittah | January 30, 2019 | |
| 10 | Lou Sanders | February 6, 2019 | |
| 11 | Krishnan Guru-Murthy | February 13, 2019 | |
| 12 | Josie Long | February 20, 2019 | |
| 13 | Phil Wang | February 27, 2019 | |
| 14 | Jack McBrayer | March 6, 2019 | |
| 15 | Sindhu Vee | March 13, 2019 | |
| 16 | Jamie Demetriou | March 20, 2019 | |
| 17 | Victoria Coren Mitchell | March 27, 2019 | |
| 18 | Desiree Burch | April 3, 2019 | |
| 19 | Gemma Cairney | April 10, 2019 | |
| 20 | Rose McGowan | April 17, 2019 |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Dara Ó Briain | July 10, 2019 | |
| 22 | Suzi Ruffell | July 17, 2019 | |
| 23 | Dynamo | July 24, 2019 | |
| 24 | Sian Clifford | July 31, 2019 | |
| 25 | Loyle Carner | August 7, 2019 | |
| 26 | Kerry Godliman | August 14, 2019 | |
| 27 | Jordan Banjo | August 21, 2019 | |
| 28 | Serge Pizzorno | August 28, 2019 | |
| 29 | Jay Rayner | September 4, 2019 | |
| 30 | Cerys Matthews | September 11, 2019 | |
| 31 | Marcus Samuelsson | September 18, 2019 | |
| 32 | Catherine Bohart | September 25, 2019 | |
| 33 | Jess Phillips | October 2, 2019 | |
| 34 | Sophie Duker | October 9, 2019 | |
| 35 | Daisy May Cooper | October 16, 2019 | |
| 36 | Evelyn Mok | October 23, 2019 | |
| 37 | Tom Allen | October 30, 2019 | |
| 38 | Kemah Bob | November 6, 2019 | |
| 39 | Mike Skinner | November 13, 2019 | |
| 40 | Kumail Nanjiani | November 20, 2019 | |
| 41 | Joe Lycett | December 11, 2019 | Christmas Special |
| 42 | Greg Davies | December 18, 2019 | Christmas Special |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | Anthony Head | January 29, 2020 | |
| 44 | Armando Iannucci | February 5, 2020 | |
| 45 | Katherine Ryan | February 12, 2020 | |
| 46 | Noah Schnapp | February 19, 2020 | |
| 47 | Ronny Chieng | February 26, 2020 | |
| 48 | Arabella Weir | March 4, 2020 | |
| 49 | Catherine Cohen | March 11, 2020 | |
| 50 | Joe Thomas | March 18, 2020 | |
| 51 | Paul F. Tompkins | March 25, 2020 | |
| 52 | Sara Pascoe | April 1, 2020 | |
| 53 | Richard Herring | April 4, 2020 | Live stream for Stay at Home Festival |
| 54 | Sam Carter | April 8, 2020 | |
| 55 | Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher | April 15, 2020 | |
| 56 | Jean Grae | April 22, 2020 | |
| 57 | Simon Rogan | April 29, 2020 | |
| 58 | Susie Essman | May 6, 2020 | |
| 59 | Roisin Conaty | May 9, 2020 | Live stream for Stay at Home Festival |
| 60 | Emily V. Gordon | May 13, 2020 | |
| 61 | Reggie Watts | May 20, 2020 | |
| 62 | Ivo Graham | May 27, 2020 | |
| 63 | Jen Brister | June 10, 2020 | |
| 64 | Teri Hatcher | June 17, 2020 |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | Romesh Ranganathan | July 15, 2020 | |
| 66 | Louis Theroux | July 22, 2020 | |
| 67 | Aparna Nancherla | July 29, 2020 | |
| 68 | Gok Wan | August 5, 2020 | |
| 69 | Diane Morgan | August 12, 2020 | |
| 70 | Andi Oliver | August 19, 2020 | |
| 71 | Amy Hoggart | August 26, 2020 | |
| 72 | Michael McKean | September 2, 2020 | |
| 73 | Hari Kondabolu | September 9, 2020 | |
| 74 | Anthony Jeselnik | September 16, 2020 | |
| 75 | Corey Taylor | September 23, 2020 | |
| 76 | Claudia Winkleman | September 30, 2020 | |
| 77 | Ovie Soko | October 7, 2020 | |
| 78 | Dolly Alderton | October 14, 2020 | |
| 79 | Wyatt Cenac | October 21, 2020 | |
| 80 | David Cross | October 28, 2020 | |
| 81 | David O'Doherty | October 31, 2020 | Live Stream for Unmute: The Online Podcast Festival |
| 82 | Thomasina Miers | November 4, 2020 | |
| 83 | Josh Groban | November 11, 2020 | |
| 84 | Jayde Adams | November 18, 2020 | Adams became the first person to mention the secret ingredient, and was removed from the Dream Restaurant. |
| 85 | Jo Brand | November 25, 2020 | |
| 86 | Russell Howard | December 16, 2020 | Christmas Special |
| 87 | Sarah Millican | December 23, 2020 | Christmas Special |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | Mae Martin | January 27, 2021 | |
| 89 | Anne-Marie | February 3, 2021 | |
| 90 | Paul Scheer | February 10, 2021 | |
| 91 | Joel Kim Booster | February 17, 2021 | |
| 92 | Sue Perkins | February 24, 2021 | |
| 93 | Jessica Fostekew | March 3, 2021 | |
| 94 | Todd Barry | March 10, 2021 | |
| 95 | Rosie Jones | March 17, 2021 | |
| 96 | Thanyia Moore | March 24, 2021 | |
| 97 | Munya Chawawa | March 31, 2021 | |
| 98 | Mary Lynn Rajskub | April 7, 2021 | |
| 99 | Domhnall Gleeson | April 14, 2021 | |
| 100 | Ed Gamble and James Acaster | April 21, 2021 | Guest host Claudia Winkleman |
| 101 | Julie Adenuga | April 28, 2021 | |
| 102 | Rafe Spall | May 5, 2021 | |
| 103 | Bimini Bon-Boulash | May 12, 2021 | |
| 104 | Martin Freeman | May 19, 2021 | |
| 105 | Big Zuu | May 26, 2021 | |
| 106 | Josh Gondelman | June 2, 2021 | |
| 107 | Joe Wicks | June 9, 2021 | |
| 108 | Dan Aykroyd | June 26, 2021 |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | Nicola Coughlan | July 14, 2021 | |
| 110 | Ross Kemp | July 21, 2021 | |
| 111 | Emily Atack | July 28, 2021 | |
| 112 | Simon Amstell | August 4, 2021 | |
| 113 | Asim Chaudhry | August 11, 2021 | |
| 114 | Shaparak Khorsandi | August 18, 2021 | |
| 115 | Isy Suttie | August 21, 2021 | Live at Royal Festival Hall |
| 116 | Bob Mortimer | August 25, 2021 | |
| 117 | Ainsley Harriott | September 1, 2021 | |
| 118 | Edgar Wright | September 4, 2021 | Live at Royal Festival Hall |
| 119 | Jamie Oliver | September 8, 2021 | |
| 120 | Miriam Margolyes | September 15, 2021 | |
| 121 | Sarah Keyworth | September 22, 2021 | |
| 122 | Meera Syal | September 29, 2021 | |
| 123 | Jeff Rosenstock | October 6, 2021 | |
| 124 | Michelle Keegan | October 13, 2021 | |
| 125 | Ed Sheeran | October 20, 2021 | |
| 126 | Jack Dee | October 27, 2021 | |
| 127 | Timothy Spall | November 3, 2021 | |
| 128 | Miquita Oliver | November 10, 2021 | |
| 129 | Jason Reitman | November 17, 2021 | |
| 130 | Bridget Christie | November 24, 2021 | |
| 131 | Sarah Kendall | December 15, 2021 | Christmas Special |
| 132 | Harry Hill | December 22, 2021 | Christmas Special |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 133 | Tim Key | January 26, 2022 | |
| 134 | Charlotte Church | February 2, 2022 | |
| 135 | Tom Davis | February 9, 2022 | |
| 136 | Fatiha El-Ghorri | February 16, 2022 | |
| 137 | Michael Schur | February 23, 2022 | |
| 138 | Dane Baptiste | March 2, 2022 | |
| 139 | Nadiya Hussain | March 9, 2022 | |
| 140 | Claudia Jessie | March 16, 2022 | |
| 141 | Asma Khan | March 23, 2022 | |
| 142 | Morgana Robinson | March 30, 2022 | |
| 143 | Siobhán McSweeney | April 6, 2022 | |
| 144 | Josh Thomas | April 13, 2022 | |
| 145 | Kiri Pritchard-McLean | April 20, 2022 | |
| 146 | Jamali Maddix | April 27, 2022 | |
| 147 | Sikisa | May 4, 2022 | |
| 148 | Jarvis Cocker | May 11, 2022 | |
| 149 | Adam Buxton | May 18, 2022 | |
| 150 | Angela Hartnett | May 25, 2022 | |
| 151 | Rob Brydon | June 1, 2022 | |
| 152 | Paul Hollywood | June 8, 2022 |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 153 | Joseph Quinn | July 13, 2022 | |
| 154 | Esther Manito | July 20, 2022 | |
| 155 | Taron Egerton | July 27, 2022 | |
| 156 | Amy Gledhill | August 3, 2022 | |
| 157 | Professor Brian Cox | August 10, 2022 | |
| 158 | Maisie Adam | August 17, 2022 | |
| 159 | Felicity Ward | August 24, 2022 | |
| 160 | Lenny Henry | August 31, 2022 | |
| 161 | Flo and Joan | September 7, 2022 | |
| 162 | Matt Lucas | September 14, 2022 | |
| 163 | Rylan Clark | September 21, 2022 | |
| 164 | Richard E. Grant | September 28, 2022 | |
| 165 | Richard Ayoade | October 5, 2022 | |
| 166 | Paul Chowdhry | October 12, 2022 | |
| 167 | Rina Sawayama | October 19, 2022 | |
| 168 | Alison Spittle | October 26, 2022 | |
| 169 | Ania Magliano | November 2, 2022 | |
| 170 | Babatunde Aléshé | November 9, 2022 | |
| 171 | Chloe Petts | November 16, 2022 | |
| 172 | Stanley Tucci | November 23, 2022 | |
| 173 | Chris Redd | December 3, 2022 | Live at Just for Laughs Festival, Montreal |
| 174 | Mel Giedroyc | December 14, 2022 | Christmas Special |
| 175 | Alex Horne | December 21, 2022 | Christmas Special |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 176 | Paul Mescal | January 25, 2023 | |
| 177 | Kathy Burke | February 1, 2023 | |
| 178 | Fern Brady | February 8, 2023 | |
| 179 | Yotam Ottolenghi | February 15, 2023 | |
| 180 | Reece Shearsmith | February 22, 2023 | |
| 181 | Cariad Lloyd | March 1, 2023 | |
| 182 | Joe Cornish | March 8, 2023 | |
| 183 | Motsi Mabuse | March 15, 2023 | |
| 184 | Nick Mohammed | March 22, 2023 | |
| 185 | Florence Pugh | March 29, 2023 | |
| 186 | John Kearns | April 5, 2023 | |
| 187 | Lily Allen | April 12, 2023 | |
| 188 | Alex Jones | April 19, 2023 | |
| 189 | Róisín Murphy | April 26, 2023 | |
| 190 | Kiell Smith-Bynoe | May 3, 2023 | |
| 191 | Paul Feig | May 10, 2023 | |
| 192 | Helen Bauer | May 17, 2023 | |
| 193 | Arlo Parks | May 24, 2023 | |
| 194 | Tim Minchin | May 31, 2023 | |
| 195 | Judi Love | June 7, 2023 |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 196 | Toheeb Jimoh | July 12, 2023 | |
| 197 | Jenny Eclair | July 19, 2023 | |
| 198 | Graham Coxon | July 26, 2023 | |
| 199 | Celya AB | August 2, 2023 | |
| 200 | Ed Gamble and James Acaster | August 9, 2023 | Guest host Rylan Clark |
| 201 | Angela Barnes | August 16, 2023 | |
| 202 | Jimi Famurewa | August 23, 2023 | |
| 203 | Paul Foot | August 30, 2023 | |
| 204 | Carol Vorderman | September 6, 2023 | |
| 205 | Jordan Gray | September 13, 2023 | |
| 206 | AJ Odudu | September 20, 2023 | |
| 207 | Nick Frost | September 27, 2023 | |
| 208 | Izuka Hoyle | October 4, 2023 | |
| 209 | Maggie Aderin-Pocock | October 11, 2023 | |
| 210 | Paapa Essiedu | October 18, 2023 | |
| 211 | Steve Coogan | October 25, 2023 | |
| 212 | Garth Marenghi | November 1, 2023 | |
| 213 | Harriet Kemsley | November 8, 2023 | |
| 214 | Steve-O | November 15, 2023 | |
| 215 | Paul Rudd | November 22, 2023 | |
| 216 | Dawn French | December 13, 2023 | Christmas Special |
| 217 | Ross Noble | December 20, 2023 | Christmas Special |
| Episode | Guest | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 218 | Jada Pinkett Smith | January 24, 2024 | |
| 219 | Jamelia | January 27, 2024 | Live at Birmingham Hippodrome |
| 220 | Peter Capaldi | January 31, 2024 | |
| 221 | Elis James | February 3, 2024 | Live at Royal Albert Hall |
| 222 | Nabil Abdulrashid | February 7, 2024 | |
| 223 | Mathew Baynton | February 10, 2024 | Live at Royal Albert Hall |
| 224 | CMAT | February 14, 2024 | |
| 225 | Susan Wokoma | February 17, 2024 | Live at Bristol Hippodrome |
Background
The podcast began in December 2018.[1] It reached 50 million downloads in April 2021,[6] and 120 million by April 2023.[1]
Gamble had previously hosted The Peacock and Gamble Podcast, while Off Menu was Acaster's first hosting role on a podcast.[11] Acaster has experience working in two kitchens, though he did not learn to cook in either role.[2] As a format point, Acaster decided unilaterally that he was a genie.[11]
Live shows
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A live episode of Off Menu was recorded in July 2021 at the Royal Festival Hall with Isy Suttie and Edgar Wright as the guests. They returned to record a Christmas episode in 2022.[12][13] Gamble and Acaster plan to tour with thirteen Off Menu live shows in October and November 2023.[1][14]
Accolades
In 2022 and 2023 it received a nomination in the Best Comedy Podcast category at the National Comedy Awards.[15][16]
Off Menu was nominated for Best Comedy Podcast in the 2019 British Podcast Awards.[17] In 2020, Off Menu garnered two nominations in the categories Best Comedy Podcast and Best Entertainment Podcast.[18] It was nominated for two awards in 2022 in the Spotlight category—for large, mainstream podcasts—and the Best Live Podcast category.[19]
It was nominated for Best Podcast at the 2022 Chortle Awards.[20] At the 2023 British Podcast Awards, it was nominated for the Spotlight Award, a category for podcasts with over 100,000 downloads per episode.[21]
Reception
In 2020, The Guardian critics ranked it the 17th-best podcast of the year.[22]
In an early Irish Times review, Sarah Griffin praised the "succinct and unique" concept as a "particularly good ice-breaker" with "deliberate and considered" structure, and the hosts as "playful, curious and focused" with "genuine curiosity" in the guest.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "James Acaster and Ed Gamble announce Off Menu live tour". British Comedy Guide. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Nicholson, Tom (21 April 2021). "Off Menu's Ed Gamble and James Acaster Will Take Your Order". Esquire. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Luckhurst, Phoebe (13 March 2019). "Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster podcast review: Food for thought". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ a b Griffin, Sarah (15 December 2018). "Podcast of the week: Off Menu". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Streeting, Louisa (12 April 2023). "James Acaster and Ed Gamble's Off Menu podcast coming to Bristol in first-ever live tour". Bristol Post. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Bennett, Steve (21 April 2021). "Off Menu hits 50million downloads". Chortle. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ^ Carson, Sarah (5 December 2022). "James Acaster: 'People think they know me. But I'm clearly doing a persona'". i. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Episodes". Off Menu Podcast. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ^ Donoghue, Louisa Mellor, Elizabeth (2023-08-10). "Off Menu Podcast With Ed Gamble & James Acaster: the Best Episodes". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ep 200: Ed Gamble and James Acaster (with special guest genie Rylan Clark), retrieved 2023-08-09
- ^ a b "James Acaster and Ed Gamble interview". British Comedy Guide. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Off Menu goes live". Chortle. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Christmas specials for Off Menu and Guilty Feminists podcasts". Chortle. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Goodacre, Kate (14 April 2023). "James Acaster and Ed Gamble's Off Menu tour gets more shows". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "Channel 4's National Comedy Awards to return". Chortle. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "National Comedy Awards 2023 shortlists revealed". Chortle. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Wild, Stephi (12 April 2023). "Off Menu Podcast Will Launch a UK Tour Later This Year". Broadway World. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Heathman, Amelia (19 May 2020). "British Podcast Awards: the nominees revealed for UK's biggest podcast awards ceremony". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Are these the funniest podcasts of 2022?". Chortle. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Chortle Awards 2022 shortlist revealed". British Comedy Guide. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "British Podcast Awards 2023 nominees revealed". Chortle. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "The 20 best podcasts of 2020". The Guardian. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
External links