Some of the most satisfying and illuminating conversations can be had around the dinner table with family.
Perhaps it’s being in your own dining room, in comfortable surroundings.
Pop star Jessie Ware – who had a top 10 album in 2012 with Devotion – has seized upon this simple idea to brilliant effect with her podcast, Table Manners.
Jessie and her mum – social worker Lennie – get together with a famous figure to talk about food, family and the art of having a chat. Somehow the idea has grabbed listeners, as well as celebrities, who are flocking for a sit-down chat hosted in Jessie’s house.
Last week she and Lennie entertained 24 star Kiefer Sutherland.
In the past she’s been joined by Mel B, Cheryl Cole, Nigella Lawson, Sadiq Khan, Ed Sheeran and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary.
Her mum’s bustling kitchen and the pair’s bickering saves the podcast from becoming a gushing celeb-fest.
“Mum is head chef, and she barks orders,” explained Jessie. “I’m always sous chef and I’m always doing something wrong!
“We had a home-cooked meal every night though,” the 33-year-old singer added. “I really do think everything can be solved with food, and my friends are always telling me that I’m good at getting secrets out of people.
“Mum didn’t actually know what a podcast was when she agreed to do it.
“But she’s the best cook and host I know.”
Table Manners (iTunes, Google Play)
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This is a bi-weekly podcast about spooky historical tales and how they relate to folklore. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. These are unsettling tales of vampires, lost adventurers, premature burials, spiritual powers and spectral sightings.
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