Dan And James Podcasts

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has a table reserved this week. And James is turning his weirdest dial up to 11. Ed Sheeran’s new album ‘=’ (Equals) is released on 29th October 2021 through Asylum/Atlantic. Pre-order it here. Follow Ed on Twitter @edsheeran and Instagram @teddysphotos Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artw…

The Oregon Trail was 2,100 plus mile journey from Independence, Missouri all the way to Oregon City, Oregon. And along this trail and its offshoots, between 1841 and 1869, somewhere between 250,000 and 500,000 travelers headed West, motivated by the philosophy of Manifest Destiny and the hope for economic prosperity. The Homestead Act and the Monro…

Brassic and Our Girl star (and Bake Off champion) Michelle Keegan picks her dream meal this week. But is she a cheat? Brassic 3 all episodes available now on Sky and streaming service NOW. Follow Michelle Keegan on Twitter and Instagram @michkeegan Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and …

Oh boy. This is an especially weird one. Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. In the summer of 1965, John C. Lilly, a medic and neuroscientist, and his assistant Margaret Howe, a young lady who just happened to live nearby, would set up a partially-flooded house on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where Margaret would spend nearly t…

Grab a couple of tallboys! On his way to a root canal, NY-born musician Jeff Rosenstock joins Ed and James in LA (in a pre-pandemic world) to choose his dream menu. Buy Jeff Rosenstock’s albums on Bandcamp Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffrosenstock Recorded by the Comedy Store LA and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photogra…

Today we head to The Rock, America's Devil Island - Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. So much prison-related info and history to go over today! I'll share the history of Alcatraz Island - how it was discovered by a Spanish explorer, then went from a lighthouse and US military fort, to a US military prison, to the end of the line for the most unruly pr…

Goodness gracious me, it’s another national treasure in the dream restaurant. Actor-writer Meera Syal joins the Off Menu boys to order her perfect meal. Meera Syal stars in Sky Original ‘Code 404’, series 2. All episodes available now on Sky Comedy and NOW. Follow Meera on Twitter @meerasyal Recorded by Ben Williams and edited by Naomi Parnell for …

William Bonin is a little known serial killer who died via lethal injection in 1996 in San Quentin, after sitting on California's death row for over a decade. Surprising that he isn't more well known considering how shocking his crimes were. He was only active as a serial killer for a year, from May of 1979 to June of 1980, but he would be convicte…

The genie’s left speechless by comedian, writer and cob-lover Sarah Keyworth in this week’s episode. Speechless. See Sarah Keyworth live – visit her website for dates: sarahkeyworth.co.uk Follow Sarah on Twitter @sarahkcomedy and Instagram @sarah_keyworth Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and desig…

I'm guessing you know of the Jehovah's Witnesses. You've heard of them. Maybe you've noticed their "Kingdom Halls." Maybe they've knocked on your door. But - do you really know anything about them? Before this week, I didn't. Now that I do, I will NEVER look at them the same way again. The Jehovah's may not live on a compound, but, in my opinion th…

We welcome an absolute national treasure to the dream restaurant this week – Bafta-winning actor, Miriam Margolyes OBE! Miriam Margolyes’s memoir ‘This Much Is True’ is published on 16 September. Buy it here. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Follow Off M…

Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was but one of the numerous prolific serial killers preying on sex workers in South Central Los Angeles in the 1980s. And then after possibly going to "sleep" during the 1990s, he started killing again in the first decade of the 2000's. The Grim Sleeper preyed almost exclusively on black, female, crack-addicted sex workers…

Usually it’s the guest that’s shocked by ‘poppadoms or bread’. Not this week, as we welcome to the dream restaurant legendary TV chef Jamie Oliver. Jamie Oliver’s new book ‘Together’ is out now. Buy it here. Follow Jamie on Twitter and Instagram @jamieoliver Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and de…

Robin Williams knew how to make people feel deeply. He could give you a belly laugh - or a cathartic cry. He knew how to entertain you in a way that only he could. He seemingly had so much energy it's like he vibrated around instead of walking like the rest of us. His mind seemed to move so FAST. And then his brilliant mind betrayed him. Or, rather…

The second ever live Off Menu, in front of a sold out crowd at London’s Royal Festival Hall. With very special guest, Hollywood director and Cornetto connoisseur, Edgar Wright! Watch Edgar Wright’s documentary ‘The Sparks Brothers’ in cinemas or on demand. Edgar’s new feature film ‘Last Night in Soho’ is in cinemas 29 October. Follow Edgar on Twitt…

Christmas comes early for Ed and James with the gift they’ve been asking for since day one of Off Menu: Ainsley Harriott in the dream restaurant. Ainsley’s new book ‘Good Mood Food’ is published on on 9 September. Buy it here. Follow Ainsley on Twitter and Instagram @ainsleyfoods Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilb…

Let's get royal, Meatsacks! Born a minor aristocrat, Diana Spencer grew up to become one of the most famous people of all time. For years, she was the most photographed person in all of England if not the entire world. The tabloids adored her. Why? She appeared to be the real-life version of possibly the most popular fantasy ever - the fabled princ…

We welcome comedy hero Bob Mortimer to the dream restaurant this week. Will a campachoochoo be on the menu? Bob Mortimer’s autobiography ‘And Away’ is released on 16 September. Buy it here. Follow Bob on Twitter and Instagram @realbobmortimer Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Br…

Oh boy. Did you know that some people think that Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Eminem, some guy named Donald Marshall, and many other celebrities have been cloned? There are conspiracies revolving around underground cloning centers created and run by illuminati global elites who sometimes kill celebrities who don't follow orders and then …

Last month, the Off Menu boys took to the stage at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London for our first ever live show. Couldn’t be there? Here’s your chance to relive the show. And who better to be our guest for the first live Off Menu than Isy Suttie! Isy Suttie’s book ‘Jane is Trying’ is out now. Buy it here. Isy’s podcast ‘The Thi…

Superb stand-up comedian Shaparak Khorsandi joins the comedy rock stars of their generation Ed Gamble and James Acaster this week. See Shaparak Khorsandi on tour with ‘It Was the 90s!’. Buy tickets at shappi.co.uk Shaparak’s book ‘Kissing Emma’ is out on 2 Sep. Pre-order it here. Follow Shaparak on Twitter and Instagram @shappikhorsandi Recorded an…

Mark Twitchell really wanted to become a serial killer. In 2008, after discovering the Showtime series, Dexter, it had become his latest obsession. The aspiring filmmaker felt like he related to Dexter Morgan, the methodical serial killer so good at continually covering his tracks. Mark thought he was just as clever as Dexter, and would be able to …

Actor and writer Asim Chaudhry – aka ‘People Just Do Nothing’s Chabuddy G – has a table booked this week. And there’s a battle of the diet colas. ‘People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan’ is released in cinemas on 18th August. Follow Asim Chaudhry on Twitter @AsimC86 and Instagram @asimc Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul…

A very recent Christian militant cult, the Aggressive Christianity Mission Training Corps was founded in the late 1970s by married couple Lila and Jim Green. Lila would later change her name to Deborah, after the biblical prophetess of the God of the Israelites and the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. And she ruled her cult with an iron fi…

Comedian, writer and film director Simon Amstell joins Ed and James in the dream restaurant this week. And James gets so excited he cooks one of the courses. (Plus – we probably need to be clear – in no way do we condone taking illegal substances.) Simon Amstell is on tour with ‘Spirit Hole’ from 8 Sep. Go to simonamstell.com for tickets. Follow Si…

Lot to unpack in this one! Today we are blending history, aliens, and conspiracy. We'll be talking about the Ancient Sumerians - quite possibly the world's first civilization. Who were they and what "firsts" did they contribute to human civilization? Why did their culture flourish so long ago? We'll go over one of the oldest, if not the oldest writ…

Emily Atack – star of ‘The Inbetweeners’ and ‘The Emily Atack Show’ – is this week’s diner. But, unlike her ‘Inbetweeners’ co-star Joe Thomas, there’s not a buried lamb in sight. The second series of ‘The Emily Atack Show’ on ITV2 kicks off in October., Emily is also on tour from the end of September. Tickets here. Follow Emily Atack on Twitter @em…

Remember Jodi Arias? Remember why her trial back in 2013 captivated so many and made so many headlines? I'd forgotten. But I sure remember now. Most people have either dated someone like Jodi, or known someone who has, or... been that person. The girl who just doesn't seem to understand the difference between someone just wanting to hook up with he…

Finally, the documentary everyone’s been waiting for: Ross Kemp On Food. The Bafta-winning journalist, documentary maker, actor, podcaster and, of course, Eastenders’ Grant Mitchell joins Ed and James for a meal in a dream restaurant. But who’s the toughest? Listen to Ross Kemp’s podcast ‘The Kempcast’ on Apple Podcasts, Acast, Spotify or wherever …

This guy. Killing mainly in 1929 when he was 46, the final year of his freedom, Peter Kürten would be charged with nine brutal murders and seven attempted murders in 1930, and then executed 1931. Over the course of his depraved life, he'd be sent to prison over and over, for theft, breaking and entering, fraud, army desertion, arson, rape, and then…

It’s time to serve up another series of delicious chat, and who better to kick off series 6 than ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Derry Girls’ star, Nicola Coughlan! But will she get locked out of the dream restaurant? Follow Nicola Coughlan on Twitter and Instagram @nicolacoughlan Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photograp…

So much WTF!?! coming at you today. Wow. Dwight York is a maniac. And a terrible writer. And only a good disco/r&b vocalist if you compare him to other cult leaders who also have dabbled in music. But somehow this two-bit con man strung together around two hundred pamphlets full of his very confusing and constantly changing theology, or "factology"…

Hungry for more episodes? Series 6 starts Wednesday 14 July. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Operation Greenup was a covert OSS operation carried out by a special group of men many have called the “real life Inglorious Basterds,” a reference to the 2009 Quentin Tarantino film in which a group of US Jewish soldiers plot to assassinate high-up Nazi leaders. Two Jewish refugees living in Brooklyn - Frederick Mayer and Hans Wynberg, and Franz …

My God. This story is so over-the-top, it's hard to accept as true. But sadly, it did happen. For roughly two decades, Fred and Rose West were the patriarch and matriarch of torture, sadism, incest, and death at their horrific British home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, England. Both Fred and Rose were raised in preposterously incestuous home…

Surprise! While we’re in the off season, here’s a very special – and very different – bonus episode. Ed and James speak to an actual Ghostbuster and Blues Brother – Dan Aykroyd. Dan kindly agreed to be on the podcast to promote his vodka brand, Crystal Head – and he sure is passionate about it. We’ll be back properly for series 6 in a few weeks, bu…

Dream Restaurant Announcement! Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster – Live Friday 30th July at London’s Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall Tickets go on sale this Friday 25th June at 10am from southbankcentre.co.uk For the first time ever, Ed Gamble and James Acaster invite an audience to the dream restaurant for a very special live edition…

Hope you have as fun listening to this one as I had making it! I had no idea prior to digging into this topic, that Lovecraft was so influential on modern horror. Like Stranger Things? Heavily influenced by Lovecraft. Like Stephen King's It? The cosmic monster who presents as Pennywise is a creature who could have come directly from the Cthulhu myt…

Big episode for a big, complex topic today. PT Barnum has been called the The Greatest Showman on Earth. And he certainly was the most famous promoter of the 19th century. He brought entertainment to millions, and millions loved him for it. He also stirred up a fair amount of controversy and many in the modern day have not looked back kindly on him…

Από τον Dan Cummins

It’s the last episode of the series, and who better to wrap up season 5 than lockdown hero, Joe Wicks! But is he going to mug James off on dessert? Joe Wicks’s new book ‘Joe’s Family Food’ is published on 10th June. Buy it here. Listen to Joe’s podcast ‘The Joe Wicks Podcast’ on BBC Sounds. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork b…

The Great Pyramid of Giza. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Colossus of Rhodes. The Lighthouse of Alexandria. The Temple of Artemis. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. These are just SOME of the wonders we go over today. Get ready to want to explore the world. We are so surrounded by so many impressive man-made monuments.…

New York-based stand-up and former ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ writer Josh Gondelman lives up to his reputation as the nicest man in comedy. Just wait till you hear his dessert… This episode was recorded pre-pandemic in February 2020. Listen to Josh Gondelman’s podcast ‘Make My Day’ on Apple and Spotify. Josh Gondelman’s book ‘Nice Try’ is…

When the 1830s began, nearly 125,000 various tribal members lived on millions of acres of land in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida - land where their ancestors had lived for centuries. By the end of that decade, only a handful of indigenous Americans would remain in the southeastern United States. The federal government had f…

Grime artist and chef Big Zuu takes a trip around the globe to pick his dream menu. Is he having a nice time, or is that his fake laugh again? The new series of ‘Big Zuu’s Big Eats’ is on Dave starting Mon 7 Jun. The ‘Big Zuu’s Big Eats’ cookbook is published 3 Jun. Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photograph…

Heard of this guy before? If you haven't, I'm with you. I hadn't either. And then once I got into this story, I wondered HOW had I never heard of him? This story is insane. Karl Denke killed, it seems, at least 30 people in Ziębice, Poland (formerly Münsterberg, Weimar Republic aka Germany). And he ate them. And he sold some of their meat to others…

This week’s episode takes An Unexpected Journey as BAFTA-winning actor Martin Freeman – star of ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Sherlock’, ‘Black Panther’ and Sky’s ‘Breeders’ – orders his dream meal. But what about that ‘Fargo’ accent, eh? Season 2 of ‘Breeders’ will land as a box set on Sky and be available to watch on Sky One and NOW TV from 27th May. Recorded b…

Today we take a fun and sometimes concerning tour around the United States looking at laws that are still on the books that either definitely shouldn't be, shouldn't have ever been, are sadly necessary, or are just plain... odd. Did you know that in Indiana it's illegal to have a "a covered clearly erect penis" at a city park? Or that it's illegal …

Release the beast! Bimini Bon Boulash – the breakout star of this year’s ‘Drag Race UK’ – has a table booked this week. And did she mention she’s vegan? New music from Bimini is coming soon. Pre-order Bimini’s book ‘A Drag Queen’s Guide to Life’ here. Follow Bimini on Twitter and Instagram @biminibabes Recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosiv…

Cult! Cult! Cult! We're back to sucking on a cult - a small and relatively unknown one which is surprising considering how crazy this story is. For well over a decade, conman Daniel Perez convinced a small band of followers into thinking he was possessed by three mostly evil angels, or maybe was an angel, and that he had the keys to heaven, or mayb…