Pottering with Tom Allen

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! 🪴

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