Routes

Chef, farmer and Great British Menu judge Tommy Banks joins Jenni on this episode of Routes from LNER to talk food, family and the winding road that led him to two Michelin stars.

Tommy opens up about the illness at 18 that ended his cricket ambitions and redirected all his drive into cooking, the early days at The Black Swan when he'd rope in family and friends to fill the restaurant when a well-known chef booked a table, and how winning Great British Menu became the big break that changed everything. He shares the meals abroad that shaped his palate and his philosophy, and explains why his hyper-local approach means some ingredients, including fish, don't make it onto his menu at all.

There's also a look at life on the farm with his brother and sister-in-law, the animals named after boxers and actors, and what the next 20 years might hold for the business he's built from the ground up.

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Jim Chapman joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, tracks and hacks that get him through a travel day.

Expect an honest confession about crisps and cheating on the diet, a playlist built entirely around music that hurts a little, and a podcast habit that swings between true crime and dinosaurs. There’s a firm commitment to packing light, a clever click and collect hack for parents, and a relaxed, unflappable approach to family travel that comes down to one question: where’s the fire?

Jim also opens up about why travel days are the one time he never switches off, the special place that holds a lot of meaning for him, and the far-flung destination that makes him feel wonderfully small. It’s a funny, thoughtful chat about travelling light, in every sense.

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From a childhood that never took him beyond the Isle of Man to a life spent chasing adventure across the globe, Jim Chapman has made a point of saying yes to every opportunity. In this episode of Routes from LNER, one of the original YouTubers joins Jenni on the train to Aberdeen to talk about travelling with his young family, the places that have shaped him, and why he wants his children to see the world.

Jim reflects on his first trip abroad to Thailand and Australia at twenty-one, a long-haul flight with no entertainment, and a night train shared with cockroaches. He shares stories of spotting wild orangutans in Borneo with WWF, being nibbled by a raccoon in Costa Rica, and cold plunging in the Arctic Circle, as well as why a week lying on a Maldivian beach isn’t really his thing.

There’s plenty of talk about life online too, from the early days of YouTube alongside a tight-knit group of creators to being named GQ’s Best Dressed Man and taking over Louis Vuitton’s social media in New York. Jim also opens up about his unconventional Seville wedding, the story behind his “fun dad” travel style, and how finding his calling gave him a new lease of life.

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Hilary Whitehall joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, hacks and holiday habits that keep her family moving.

Expect a rainy honeymoon story that ends in indoor badminton and a Scrabble match so competitive it nearly caused an early divorce, plus a packing list that always includes Marmite, English teabags and a squashable hat that's travelled the world with her.

Hilary also opens up about the trip to Australia that finally lived up to years of anticipation, and shares a string of hard-won staycation hacks, from motorway service station strategy to the dangers of accepting live seafood as a parting gift. It's a warm, funny rundown of the small rituals that make travelling with a family that little bit easier.

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Hilary Whitehall, wife of Michael and mother to Jack, joins Jenni on this episode of Routes from LNER to talk travel, tours and the family holidays that never quite go to plan.

Hilary looks back on decades of family trips, from camping holidays in Devon and the New Forest to touring spa towns and theatres up and down the country with her podcast. She shares the story of flying out to keep Jack company while he was filming abroad, including one especially hot hike to the Hollywood sign and an unplanned trip to a sweat lodge that proved more intense than expected.

There's also a longstanding camper van ambition Michael refuses to indulge, some strong opinions on train bacon baps, and a warm reflection on finally getting the whole family under one roof for a holiday after years apart.

It's a funny, affectionate conversation about the chaos, characters and closeness that come with travelling as a family.

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Food critic Jay Rayner joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps him focused, the food that keeps him curious, and the places that first taught him to enjoy his own company.

From a formative solo backpacking trip in his teenage years to the family holidays that shaped his love of travel, it's a warm look back at the journeys that stuck with him. Jay also opens up about his routine for staying productive on the move: a particular soundtrack, a favourite spot on the train, and a few tricks for balancing focus with being recognised along the way.

Add in some firm opinions on station food and a genuine love of cooking for a crowd while on holiday, and it's a thoughtful, good humoured conversation about the small rituals that make travel, and life, a bit more enjoyable.

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Restaurant critic, author and Kitchen Cabinet host Jay Rayner joins Jenni on Routes from LNER as they travel to Newcastle, trading stories about food, trains and life on the road. Jay explains how decades of criss-crossing the country by rail earned him a surprising nickname on set, and looks back on the eccentric childhood holidays that shaped his love of travel.

He revisits a legendary summer spent Interrailing across Europe, and shares the personal rules he lives by as one of Britain's most read restaurant critics... including why he always turns down a freebie.

Plus: the secret to a stress-free dinner party, a picnic that caused an unlikely stir online, cooking with a Hollywood star, and the philosophy that's guided his search for great food across the country.

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Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps her moving, the food that keeps her fuelled, and the mindset that keeps her calm on the road.

From a lifelong love affair with one very special destination to the packing habits of a self-confessed "overactive venture scout," it's a warm, wide-ranging chat about what travel really means to her. Victoria opens up about how her tastes shift depending on the moment, one playlist for pushing hard, another for switching off completely, and the small rituals and essentials she never leaves home without, honed over years of life on the move.

She also reflects on the restlessness that keeps her chasing the next adventure rather than sitting still, and why, wherever she ends up, she's learned not to sweat the delays. It's a relaxed, honest conversation about finding balance between drive and downtime, on and off the track.

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Double Olympic gold medallist and nine-time world champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on Routes from LNER to talk about a life built on chasing new challenges. Victoria traces her journey from touring the UK on the back of her dad's tandem to racing across five continents, and reflects on the surprising imposter syndrome that shadowed her right up to becoming world champion.

She opens up about two of her boldest post-cycling pursuits — training to become an amateur jump jockey at Cheltenham in under a year, and an attempt on Everest that tested her in ways she didn't expect.

Victoria also shares how writing her new book, The Fear Opportunity, became an unexpected form of therapy following the loss of her twin brother, and why she believes stepping outside our comfort zones is one of the most important things we can do.

Plus: skydiving on her first holiday as a couple, surfing in the Algarve, and the story of the day her dad accidentally ended up on a train to Peterborough.

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Race Across the World winner and self-confessed adventurer Alfie Watts joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, tracks and hacks that fuel his life on the move.

Expect a firm stance on the age-old Pringles-versus-Haribo debate, a very specific idea of what his 100th country needs to be, and the truth behind a passport story that isn't quite what it first seems.

Alfie also opens up about the song that instantly takes him back to the trip that changed everything, plus a heartfelt reflection on why, after 3,500 miles by tuk tuk for mental health charity YoungMinds, nothing beats coming home to the UK.

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