Jay Rayner's podcast offers food for thought

Like snooker on the radio, there are some subjects for a podcast which must be problematic. Like food.

After all, eavesdropping on others enjoying a delicious meal could be, er, hard to stomach. Especially when hosted by one of the UK’s top food critics, in one of his own favourite eateries.

Fortunately, Jay Rayner’s series has plenty of other items to tease the aural palate, not least his range of special guests who join the writer and broadcaster to eat and chat. And happily for hungry listeners, the food itself plays a lesser role – “it’s a writing job, not an eating job,” Rayner agrees.

The idea for ‘Out To Lunch’ stemmed from the team at his BBC Radio 4 Kitchen Cabinet show. “Initially I thought ‘is this really going to be interesting?’, but we trialled it with Richard E Grant and I realised it was a cracking idea.”

As in any good kitchen, prep is key – most obviously checking on dietary requirements, as for vegans comic Romesh Ranganathan and DJ Annie Mac.

The venue choice is also crucial – “They do have to be places I like and approve of, so not somewhere I’ve slagged off!”

Restaurants will surely be eager to please, with the podcast getting 100,000 downloads per week, and boasting guests like Stanley Tucci, Mel C, Kathy Burke, Nadya Hussein, and Jamie Cullum, with whom keen jazz pianist Rayner even duets during Season 3.