Pottering with Tom Allen

A delight this week to be joined in the garden by actor, writer and esteemed gentleman of comedy, Mark Gatiss! You may perhaps know Mark as one quarter of The League of Gentlemen, star and co-creator of Sherlock and, most recently, the fabulous Bookish, with series two available to watch right now! 🕵️‍♂️👀 We reminisce about acting legends, Mark geeks out on all things James Bond and shares the results of his social media algorithm! We also find time to discuss the declines of linear television and phone sex, so as always, there really is something for everyone! ☎️ So, turn that jazz off, grab an umbrella and come Pottering with us. ☂️🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.🌻 And as always, please do like, comment, subscribe and spread the word! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by bona fide musical theatre royalty, the utterly fabulous Jenna Russell! 🎭🌿 A true West End icon, I have been a huge fan of Jenna’s for many, many years, so it was an absolute treat to sit down and talk all things theatre! From the thrill of performing live to the rather less glamorous matter of some very unexpected audience interruptions... We also bond over our shared love of Cockney Angela Lansbury and discuss the brave new world of the ‘visualised podcast’. So, grab the Maltesers, no rustling please, take your seats before the overture, and come Pottering with us. ✨🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I had the real treat of being joined in the garden by none other than Saturday Night Live sensation George Fouracres! Perhaps best known for his prime ministerial impressions on SNL, George is also a master of the stage, regularly treading the boards at Shakespeare’s Globe, and a Cambridge Footlights alumnus no less! 🎭 It was a welcome surprise to discover that George and I have rather a lot in common, so expect conversations about top hats and starched collars, being eccentric teenagers, and the joy of Jeeves and Wooster. We also, of course, discuss the sublime success of SNL UK and touch upon George’s earliest memories in the garden with his grandparents. Just what kind of Irish his Grandad really is, well, perhaps we’ll never know... So, don your top hat and tails, pull out the fine china, and let’s go Pottering. 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh from the Strictly ballroom and as fabulous as ever, it was an absolute treat to welcome my dear friend and Cooking With The Stars co-host, Emma Willis into the garden! 🌻From NHS maternity wards to the Big Brother house, Emma really has done it all, so there was plenty to chat about. We covered the thrills of live television, the importance of a good bin and the undeniable power of a decent pair of Crocs, with a little sprinkling of glitterball gossip along the way, of course! 🪩✨ Now, pop the Parmigiana in the oven, pause your Paso Doble practice, and come Pottering with me. 🍆🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please like and subscribe! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, dear listeners, I was joined in the garden by writer, broadcaster, musician and all-round delight, the Reverend Richard Coles! 🌿 You may know Richard from his hugely successful books, as one half of The Communards, or from his many TV and radio appearances, including, of course, a successful stint in the jungle and a perhaps slightly less successful turn in the Strictly ballroom. Richard and I discovered we have plenty of shared eccentricities, so it was an absolute joy chatting about everything from childhood dreams of silk-lined cloaks and our mutual appreciation of the English language, to PJs (pyjamas and private jets). So, don your kaftan, take a brief pause from your funeral planning, and join “Rev Rich” and me in the garden for some Pottering. 🪴 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And do please like, subscribe or leave us a review! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by the wonderful Ranvir Singh! 🪴 You’ll know Ranvir from Good Morning Britain and beyond, and it was an absolute pleasure to swap the television studio for the slightly calmer surroundings of the garden for a spot of Pottering. We chat about her incredible trip to the Galápagos Islands, from blue-footed boobies to shark tales! Ranvir also takes us back to where her broadcasting career began, we discover a delightful shared connection to Lancashire, and we hear all about taking on ITV’s The Box. Very much looking forward to that one. 🦈 So, grab your binoculars, tell the builders next door to take a break and come Pottering with us. 🌿 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by the utterly delightful Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins! 🌿 Mel and Sue are long-time friends, comedy partners and sure-fire national treasures! 🏆 It was such a joy to welcome them for a chat, compare tales of suburbia and hear all about their many fabulous adventures together! We discuss tackling heatwaves in the garden, hungry cats and even hungrier beavers, and hear all about the exciting return of Win Win! 🍕🐈 So, grab your gardening gloves, jump on the nearest night bus, and come Pottering with us. 🪴🚌 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by star of stage and screen, Dorothy Atkinson!  You may know Dorothy from the brilliant BBC hit series Ludwig, Mum or perhaps Mr Turner. She's also currently staring in Alan Ayckbourn’s How the Other Half Loves at the Old Vic Theatre, so please do check that out! 🎭 We chat freezing film sets, theatrical mishaps and taking Brief Encounter to Broadway, with David Bowie in the audience no less! Plus, growing up around a flower nursery. 💐 So, dig out your gardening gloves, put those cucumbers to one side, and come Pottering with us. 🥒 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please like and subscribe, @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I welcome someone particularly special into the garden, Uncle Andy! 🌿✨ A close family friend, Uncle Andy was the first person I knew who worked in the glittering world of show business and, to a tiny Tom Allen, proof that a life on the stage was possible! 🎭 We chat about his extraordinary years in the theatre, from eight shows a week with Angela Lansbury to working with THE Barbra Streisand. We also delve into Polari, the realities of being gay in the performing arts and take a truly delightful trip down memory lane. I do very much hope you enjoy! So, curtains up! Grab yourself a freshly squeezed orange juice, settle into your finest chair, and come Pottering with us. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by the wonderful JB Gill! 🚜 From boyband sensation JLS to The One Show sofa, there's plenty of reasons to know JB, and these days he’s just as at home in a pair of wellies as he is on stage! It was such a pleasure to have him pop by for a spot of Pottering. 🌱 We chat about boybands and barnyards, the beauty of bees, and teaching the next generation all about the countryside on CBeebies. We also hear about his appearance on ITV’s The Box which is all rather exciting! So, without wanting to Beat Again around the bush, pull on your wellies, pop the kettle on and join us for some Pottering. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I've had the pleasure of being joined by the wonderfully talented Gaby French in the garden! 🌿✨ Actor extraordinaire and self-proclaimed Toby Carvery Ambassador, Gaby has appeared everywhere from Enola Holmes and, Alfie's favourite, Military Wives to the award-winning Broadway production of Hangmen. It was a real treat to have a good old catch up! We discuss life on stage and screen, the Carvery tales and nights out in Cardiff. We also hear all about Gaby's pandemic project in her parents' garden and so much more! A true delight, I do hope you enjoy! So, settle into your favourite garden chair, rest those vocal cords and let the Pottering commence! 🪴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I was joined among the sunflowers by the fabulous Nina Conti! 🌻 Ventriloquist, writer and director, it was so lovely to catch up and reminisce over our first meeting in Edinburgh many moons ago. Nina is back up at the Fringe next week with the delightfully named Nina's C*nti Cabaret, and do also catch her brand new film Sunlight, available now on Prime Video. 🐒 We chat the snobbery of theatre, monkey business in New Mexico and the shininess of the 80s ladybird. We also briefly discuss growing drugs in our back garden, which is neither medically nor horticulturally accurate. 🐞🌱So yes, take off that monkey suit, pour yourself a refreshing drink and settle in for another dose of Pottering. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do like and subscribe, @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I am joined in the garden by the incredibly talented and absolutely joyous Anna Haugh! 🌿✨ Irish chef, restaurateur and MasterChef judge, Anna brought with her the most wonderful selection of goodies, which were, unsurprisingly, delicious. 🇮🇪🍽️ Warning: this episode may make you rather hungry! 😋 We chat about the importance of seasonal farming, the role Anna’s Irish heritage has played in her culinary career, and what it’s like working in a professional kitchen. 👨‍🍳 So, can openers in hand, aprons on... Ready, Steady, Pottering! 🍅🫑 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back, dear friends, to my garden for another series of Pottering! The sun is still shining, my Pinky Winky are in bloom, and I have a whole host of fabulous guests for you to enjoy. ☀️ This week, I am joined by the ever-delightful Jake Lambert! A hilarious comic and one of life’s marvellous eccentrics, you may be familiar with his splendid social videos or his global stand up success, and it was such a pleasure to invite him into the garden. We chat school bullies, Bee Movie and meditation. And do listen out for some sage advice from Jake on avoiding mouth ulcers. Yes, Pottering is educational too. 🐝 Now, prep the ice bag, pop the kettle on, tea bag in for three minutes please, and join me for some Pottering. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts. And please do comment, like and subscribe, @tomallen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More from me in the garden this week, just pottering away, but normal business will resume next Thursday! Yes, we’ve been busy behind the scenes getting everything ready, and I cannot wait for you to see who we’ve got coming up. ☀️ It is truly such a delight doing this podcast, and I do hope it brings some joyful calm to your commutes, your kitchens, your garden paths, or wherever you find yourselves listening. Please do tell your friends about our quiet corner of the podcast world. Everyone is welcome in the garden. It is a calm and gentle space, pigeons and planes aside, but I would so love you to shout about it. So, pop those parasols up, grab some crisps and dips, and let’s go Pottering. 🪴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another week and more musings from the garden! While Pottering enjoys a small summer sojourn, I’m bringing you another collection of my favourite moments from the series. Clippings, if you will. 🌱 This week, we’ll be joined by Alan Carr, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Sarah Hadland, Ashley James, Ginger Johnson, Henry Agg, Sara Cox and Philippa Perry. From horticultural heroes to dear comedy colleagues, there really is something for everyone! We discuss lunar mysteries and Mary Berry memories, Strictly secrets and drag delights. We explore the highs and horrors of social media and hark back to the humble fax machine. A simpler time. So, slather on the Factor 50, shoo those Cabbage Whites away and join me in the garden for some Pottering. 🦋 Do like and subscribe to keep up to date with all things Pottering! And why not send me your garden pictures over on Instagram? I’d love to know how your cavolo nero has got on. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s something a little different for Pottering this week! ☀️ I thought I would hop on to share a few thoughts from the garden, ‘sans guest’, if you will. And while the podcast takes a little summer holiday, I have gathered together some of my favourite moments from the second series to share with you all too. 🌱 I love welcoming you wonderful listeners, and viewers of course, into my garden each week. Whether you spend your days merrily mulching the borders or regularly find yourself wondering when the houseplants last had a drink, everyone is welcome here, and I would be delighted to hear from you. Like and subscribe of course, but also why not share your floral creations with me on Instagram? Tag @tomindeed and use the hashtag #PotteringPod to get involved! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to fill our social feeds with hanging baskets and glorious garden goodies! 🌸 So, slip into your shorts, pause that episode of The Real Housewives, and join me once again for some Pottering. 🪴 -- Click below to discover QVC’s My Garden Escape, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a horticultural novice, it's your ultimate gardening destination. And don’t forget to use the code POTTER for £10 off your first purchase (minimum spends apply, see QVC website for full terms and conditions) https://www.qvcuk.com/content/garden-and-leisure/my-garden-escape.html?cid=PR-IF-Pottering&e22=MGE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An absolute joy this week to be joined among the hydrangeas by gardening guru Henry Agg! 🌸Garden designer and social media sensation, I love Henry’s accessible approach to gardening and was thrilled when he agreed to pop by for some Pottering.Listen in as we discuss Henry’s rather dramatic career change from the glamour of IT recruitment to the garden shed, the mental health benefits of spending time outdoors, and our highlights from this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Henry also tells us all about his brilliant book, The Weekend Gardener, packed with tips, tricks and a plethora of projects to fill your weekends. 📖🌱So, dust off your trug, pour yourself a glass of something cold, and let’s go Pottering. 🪴🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.And please like and subscribe! @tomallenClick below to discover QVC’s My Garden Escape, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a horticultural novice, it's your ultimate gardening destination. And don’t forget to use the code POTTER for £10 off your first purchase (minimum spends apply, see QVC website for full terms and conditions)https://www.qvcuk.com/content/garden-and-leisure/my-garden-escape.html?cid=PR-IF-Pottering&e22=MGE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining me in the garden this week is the glorious Ginger Johnson! 🌿😍Champion of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, MasterChef maestro and all round delight, it was such a joy to chat with Ginger. I cannot wait to see her brand new show, Show Pony, hit the road later this year! Tickets are available at gingerjohnson.co.uk. 🎭 We chat about theatrical beginnings, depressing queer cinema, the noughties drag scene and our shared love of Alan Bennett. Ginger also shares a rather harrowing garden tale involving guinea pigs, so that is something to look forward to! Now, sweep away those ants, pause that episode of ’Allo ’Allo!, and come Pottering with me. 🐜🐜🐜🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.And please like and subscribe! @tomallen🌎 Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code tomallen at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/tomallen ⛵Click below to discover QVC’s My Garden Escape, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a horticultural novice, it's your ultimate gardening destination. And don’t forget to use the code POTTER for £10 off your first purchase (minimum spends apply, see QVC website for full terms and conditions)https://www.qvcuk.com/content/garden-and-leisure/my-garden-escape.html?cid=PR-IF-Pottering&e22=MGE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining me this week in the gentle summer rain is the fabulous Philippa Perry! ☔ Author, psychotherapist, artist and agony aunt, Philippa is perhaps best known for the captivating The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read, and now her brand new cosy crime novel, Shrink Solves Murder, is out too! 📖Join us for a fascinating conversation, and an occasional visualised therapy session, where we chat writing fiction, why Mum’s comments about my chairs hurt more than they should, and newsletter reading newts. We also discuss whether a chatbot would make a good psychotherapist, and the importance of shagging in our youth. 🤖😘 Do take a look at Philippa’s new book, Shrink Solves Murder, and oh I urge you to follow her on Substack! 👈 So, settle down under our murder gazebo, stop scrolling on Rightmove, and let’s go Pottering. 🪴 🎧 Watch on YouTube and Spotify, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.And please do like and subscribe, or leave a review! Just don't mention the postman! @tomallen Click below to discover QVC’s My Garden Escape, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a horticultural novice, it's your ultimate gardening destination. And don’t forget to use the code POTTER for £10 off your first purchase (minimum spends apply, see QVC website for full terms and conditions) https://www.qvcuk.com/content/garden-and-leisure/my-garden-escape.html?cid=PR-IF-Pottering&e22=MGE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices