Podcast · Arts & Books

5 O' Clock Apron

by 5 O' Clock Apron · English · Arts & Books

Chef and food writer Claire Thomson invites you to join her as she steps out of her kitchen to discover what's cooking in the home kitchens of Britain and beyond. Claire is renowned for her authentic take on home cooking and loved for her inspirational and no nonsense approach to food and cookery. I

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 41 min
Latest: 22 Jul 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

22 Jul 2026 · 32 min

Lentil Soup with Student Grace Williamson

For this final episode of season 4 of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with her 19-year-old daughter Grace, the catalyst for Dear Grace the cookbook. As many who follow Claire on instagram @5oclockapron will know, Grace left home for University last September and is very much missed by all of her family. Home for the summer holidays, and Grace’s suggestion, Grace wanted to cook with her mum for this podcast recording. This is a lovely listen, less Grace teaching Claire, more mother and daughter cooking together, talking about the year that’s passed and what Grace has learnt, about…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

15 Jul 2026 · 52 min
Butter Chicken with Poet Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay is a lifeforce. A poet, three times Sunday Times bestselling author, memoirist playwright curator and broadcaster. Lemn also has some of his poems embedded as landmarks in the physical architecture of Manchester, London and the British Council Offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Brought up in care homes Makerfield, at 17 he lived alone and worked as a gutter cleaner, personalising his gutter cleaning leaflets with his poetry. Sometime later, his ladder stolen, Lemn moved to Manchester and worked for a publishing house as an Asian & Afro-Caribbean writers development worker. The…
8 Jul 2026 · 30 min
Potato Salad, Gherkins and Mortadella with Gardener Gerald Stratford
Gerald Stratford is a gardener and a gentleman. Claire drove to the Cotswolds for this episode of 5 O Clock Apron Podcast. Knocking on Gerald’s front door, Claire is quickly whisked through the house, past Elizabeth, Gerald’s wife, and their dog, Bilbobaggins both sitting in the living room, on through the kitchen and out into Gerald’s garden. And what a garden it is! Gerald’s garden is immaculate and stuffed full to bursting with untold fruit and vegetables, the garden is a maze of walkways and paths, shooting off in all different directions to various raised beds, and to what Gerald’s…
1 Jul 2026 · 34 min
Marmitako (Basque Tuna Stew) with Lawyer and Politician Miriam Durántez González
Miriam Gonzaléz Durantéz is a force, and Claire loved cooking with her for this episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast. Worth noting here that Claire is keen to get the elephant in the room over with as soon as Claire and Miriam start cooking in Miriam’s immaculate London kitchen with Claire quizzing Miriam on her title of Lady Clegg. Miriam is quick to dismiss the title, with characteristic grace, as one she doesn’t necessarily identify with, saying it was given to her, because she is the wife of Nick Clegg. Clegg being the one-time deputy prime minister for the U.K. Miriam is a busy woman…
24 Jun 2026 · 29 min
Black Bean Chilli with Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Oxford University Michael Wooldridge
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast, Claire drives to Oxford to cook with the Professor of Computer Science and Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford, Michael Wooldridge. Michael’s field of work has been in Artificial Intelligence (AI) since 1989, a landscape which has seen wide-reaching change. Michael’s Wikipedia page, and in particular, the awards and honours section is extensive and hugely impressive. He has written over 350 scientific papers and contributed to many academic books, and his most charming, for the layperson, is the bite-sized…
17 Jun 2026 · 37 min
Chicken Curry with Undertaker Dee Ryding
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast, Claire is on home turf, in Bristol and walks to Dee Ryding’s house. Dee is an undertaker and owns the funeral parlour Divine Ceremony. Dee calls herself an undertaker and champions the phrase “Lovers in Life – Helpers in Death” as the strapline to her business. It was a blazing hot day in June for this recording, Claire marching the short walk to meet with Dee and cook together in her bright, sunny kitchen in Bishopston. Claire knocks on the front door, to be met by Dee, already in an apron and raring to go with one of her favourite - very much…
S4 · E10 · 20 Aug 2025 · 54 min
Actor Lisa McGrillis cooks Chicken Schnitzel with a Sour Cream, Cucumber & Potato Salad
Lisa McGrillis is an actor. Born in Carlisle to Irish parents, Lisa grew up surrounded by family, food, and humour - three things that still shape her life today. She studied drama in Newcastle, got her start in regional theatre, and had her London breakthrough when Lee Hall’s Pitman Painters transferred to the National Theatre. Since then, she’s become a familiar face on stage and screen, from Mum alongside Lesley Manville to her current role as the gloriously over-the-top Valerie in Rivals. When she’s not filming in Bristol or learning lines, Lisa is at home in London with her husband,…
S4 · E9 · 13 Aug 2025 · 47 min
England Rugby Prop Sarah Bern cooks pre match day Carbonara
For this episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire travels to Bristol to cook with England rugby prop Sarah Bern - just a stone’s throw from Ashton Gate Stadium, where Sarah hopes to be battling it out in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals this September. With her own flat mid-renovation, Sarah borrows a friend’s beautiful (and admittedly “too swanky to be mine”) kitchen for the occasion. Between whisking eggs and grating Pecorino for Sarah’s pre-match favourite, spaghetti carbonara (no cream allowed - “straight to hell” if you do, so they say), the pair dive into Sarah’s remarkable rugby…
S4 · E8 · 6 Aug 2025 · 44 min
The British Museum Curator for South East Asia, Dr Alexandra Green cooks a Thai Curry
In this episode, Claire visits Oxford to cook with Alexandra Green, curator for Southeast Asia at the British Museum. Alexandra shares her passion for Southeast Asian food, shaped by her childhood in Malaysia and her love of rice and vibrant flavours. Together, they prepare Alexandra’s favourite quick and easy Thai chickpea curry – a comforting dish that blends classic Thai ingredients with a twist, reflecting Alexandra’s own culinary influences.As they cook, Alexandra talks about her fascinating role at the British Museum, looking after a vast collection of over 33,000 objects from across…
S4 · E7 · 30 Jul 2025 · 39 min
Pasta Granny’s Mum, Susan Bennison, aged 92 yrs bakes her best Sponge Cake
Susan Bennison, Sue for short, is 92 years old and incredible with it. Claire travelled to rural Kent to bake a cake with Sue for this episode. Arriving outside a cottage that looks a little bit Beatrix Potter, a little bit Jane Austin complete with a very old and wonky stone doorstop which is surrounded by rambling roses, bluebells and peonies. The door opens and out pops a very sprightly Sue; “watch your step, this cottage is very, very old” instructs Sue, practically galloping off to the kitchen where Sue’s daughter Vicky is waiting to put the kettle on. Vicky is the founder of iconic…
S4 · E6 · 23 Jul 2025 · 53 min
Farmer Ben Andrews cooks his Herefordshire take on Bulgogi Beef
Ben Andrews is a farmer. Ben comes from a very long line of farming, in fact, his family date back 7 generations. He’s also been voted the UK’s 3rd hottest farmer by Farming Weekly Magazine. And that’s not all, Ben is a voice person for farming and mental health and uses his social media to shine a spotlight on the contemporary agriculture landscape. Ben is also a supporter of the global LGBTQ+ farming network agrespect which promotes and supports diversity in the countryside. Ben farms organic beef and vegetables, supplying Abel and Cole amongst other shops. He is also the beneficiary of…
S4 · E5 · 16 Jul 2025 · 40 min
Ballerina Yasmine Naghdi makes linguine alle vongole
Number 5 in 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast hears Claire cooking alongside Principal Ballerina from The Royal Ballet, Yasmine Naghdi. Claire has never met a ballerina before, nor indeed cooked with one. Yasmine is everything (and more) that Claire could have expected of a ballerina. Confident and poised (of course), Yasmine is also an extraordinary cook. Yasmine’s roots are Belgian Persian, but she’s a born and bred South Londoner. Yasmine attended the Royal Ballet school from age 11 and has danced her way through the ranks to the very top of the institution. Earlier this month Yasmine announced…
S4 · E4 · 9 Jul 2025 · 51 min
Comedian Jamie MacDonald cooks Seabass with Orzo, ‘Nduja & Leeks
For this episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, number 4 in a series of 10, Claire travels to Sheffield to cook with the comedian Jaime Macdonald. Jamie is blind, extremely tall and very, very funny. The front door opens and out jumps Jamie’s new puppy as the recording begins. Claire is armed with some ingredients that Jamie has asked her to bring along to cook with. It’s a lean shopping list, to say the least and it has Claire asking questions from the off. Some Sea Bass, half a packet of Orzo, three Leeks and a jar of Cream Fraiche, but that’s just the beginning, far from it, ‘Nduja, Lemons,…
S4 · E3 · 2 Jul 2025 · 52 min
Sex Educator Ruby Rare makes a salad, sexy, naturally!
For this episode of 5 O Clock Apron Podcast, Claire travels to Margate to cook with Ruby Rare. Ruby is a sex educator, that is to say, a force of nature with a mission to encourage and include everyone in her task to make the world a fairer and more accepting place when it comes to the enormous and thorny topics of sex, relationships and body positivity. In the podcast episode Claire and Ruby talk about the word ‘woke’ being misappropriated, the correct use of pronouns with Ruby saying she is she / her but “you can chuck a couple of they / thems in for good measure, if you like”, together…
S4 · E2 · 25 Jun 2025 · 44 min
Waste & Recycling Supervisor Owen Punselie Cooks Spicy Coconut Chicken & Rice
In this 2nd episode of 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast with Good Food, Owen welcomes Claire into his gorgeous kitchen in Bristol and sets about cooking with a confidence and flair that can only come from people cook often and cook well. Owen Punselie works for Bristol Waste and Recycling managing a squad of 12 people working in waste management in the city of Bristol. He’s also an American full football scholarship alumni and fairly new to his role with Bristol Waste; “As jobs go, it’s a great cardiovascular workout,” he tells Claire, “you also end up walking up to 12 miles on shift with each…
S4 · E1 · 18 Jun 2025 · 47 min
Broadcaster Amol Rajan cooks a Paneer Curry
To kick off the new series of 5 O' Clock Apron Podcast with Good Food Claire cooks with the giant of the airwaves, Amol Rajan. Amol is one of Radio 4’s Today program presenters, he also hosts BBC2’s legendary TV quiz show University Challenge. Amol Rajan Interviews on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds platform Amol interviewing momentous public figures from Bill Gates to Greta Thunberg to Sir Ian McKellen amongst others. Amol is a busy man with x4 children under 9 years of age, he’s up early to host the Today program and home late recording University Challenge, to make things easier, Claire and…
S4 · 14 Jun 2025 · 4 min
Introducing the new series of 5 O'Clock Apron
Chef and food writer Claire Thomson is back with a brand-new series of the 5 O’Clock Apron podcast with Good Food! In this series, Claire invites another incredible line-up of guests into the kitchen - from a comedian to a Royal Ballet dancer, a waste and recycling worker to a rugby player - and many more. Together they cook favourite home recipes while sharing stories, laughter, and the odd kitchen mishap. Episodes drop weekly from 18th June. Follow now and join Claire for some delicious kitchen companionship! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3 · E4 · 31 Jul 2024 · 39 min
Mackerel and 'Cat's Whiskers' Sauce with Fish Merchant Robin Turner
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with fish merchant Robin Turner. Robin’s family have been involved in the Cornish fishing industry for 5 generations and what Robin doesn’t know about fish isn’t worth knowing. Learn how to select the freshest fish, how fish change with the seasons, and what Claire will need to do if she wants to catch a mackerel. The podcast is recorded on the beach at Mousehole, near the South West Coastal Path, and attracts the attention of passers-by intrigued to see the pair cooking such delicious food in the sunshine on a camping gas stove. Robin…
S3 · E3 · 24 Jul 2024 · 34 min
Mackerel and Tabbouleh with RNLI Lifeguard Gavin Philpotts
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with RNLI lifeguard Gavin Philpotts. The podcast is recorded in the sand dunes above Sennen Beach, just below the lifeguard hut. With the sun shining bright and the lifeguard’s radios in bleeping distance, Claire and Gavin carve a space to cook with a lifeguard rescue board as their work surface. Claire arrives with some mackerel bought that morning in Newlyn and the pair get busy preparing a tabbouleh to go alongside, Gavin also contributes some roasted beets which he brought from home that morning. With the iconic 90’s TV series…
S3 · E2 · 17 Jul 2024 · 36 min
'Protective' Potato Salad with Witch Emma Griffin
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with the Cornish Witch Emma Griffin. The podcast is recorded in a magical shed at the bottom of Emma’s garden, next door to a graveyard. Alongside Emma is her witches' companion, or familiar, her dog, Walter. Claire and Emma are cooking a ‘Protective’ Potato Salad with chicken and bacon on a camping stove and space is tight, what with the broomsticks and the cauldron, so Emma’s husband Steve kindly boils potatoes in the kitchen. Emma’s witchcraft is boundlessly positive and together Claire and Emma talk good vs evil, recipes as spells,…
S3 · E1 · 10 Jul 2024 · 39 min
Date and Tomato Tagine with Wildlife Cameraman Hamza Yassin
In this episode of 5 O’Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with the wildlife cameraman, TV presenter, author and winner of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, Hamza Yassin. The podcast is recorded in a tent at The Hay Literary Festival. Hamza is there to talk about his latest book ‘Be a Birder’ and Claire was there to cook a date and tomato tagine with him after he finished his long and busy day. Hamza is an extraordinary guest to cook alongside, gracious and charming, he’s a once in a lifetime, next-generation David Attenborough type contender. The world and all it’s wildlife salute you Hamza. Claire…
S2 · E6 · 12 Jun 2024 · 41 min
Red Wine Risotto with Respiratory Consultant Anna Bibby
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with NHS respiratory consultant and clinical academic Anna Bibby. Anna chooses to cook red wine risotto with chorizo, and as you hear in the recording, tongue firmly in cheek, Claire ends up apologising to both Italy and Spain. Apologies done and dusted, through their conversation we learn the different characteristics of carnaroli, vialone nano and arborio rice, the physiologically accurate way to stir love into a risotto, and Claire asks Do lung and kidney doctors ever enjoy eating offal? Claire lives around the corner and plays…
S2 · E5 · 5 Jun 2024 · 59 min
Qeema and Daal with Journalist Mishal Husain
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with journalist and icon of broadcasting, Mishal Husain. A reassuring voice to so many listeners on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Mishal cooked not 1 but 4 dishes, home-style Pakistani qeema*, daal*, raita and rice. All this was no mean feat given the 45 minutes from a standing start it took Mishal to cook and present the most beautiful lunch which Mishal and Claire then sat down to eat together. Listen in to hear Mishal discuss family recipes, feeding teenage boys and how to extend meals for unexpected guests, what broadcasters…
S2 · E4 · 29 May 2024 · 47 min
BBQ Fish Curry with Adventurer Steve Backshall
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with wildlife TV presenter, adventurer and naturalist Steve Backshall. Keen to use his brand new BBQ in his garden on the banks of the Thames, Steve cooks a fish curry, inspired by his extensive travels in India, particularly during his time as 'Adventurer in Residence' for National Geographic. Discover what an adventurer eats in the wild and cooks at home with the family. Hear Steve's take on sustainable fishing, river pollution and how the Thames has changed over the last few years, while he educates Claire on the swan mussel and…
S2 · E3 · 22 May 2024 · 32 min
Pad Thai with Clown Tyler West
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks with New York clown and physical performer, Tyler West. Tyler is currently on tour with the very fabulous Giffords Circus here in the U.K. Needing to be in one piece for his shows later that day, Tyler was less than keen to be standing too near sharp knives and a smoking hot wok. So, in this episode, Claire cooks and Tyler chats, and this works just brilliantly. Tyler was extremely keen on making Pad Thai for the recording as bowls of cereal in his circus wagon can get a little samey he joked, and Thai food is is absolute…
S2 · E2 · 15 May 2024 · 38 min
Paneer Curry with Author Nikesh Shukla
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast Claire cooks paneer curry with the author Nikesh Shukla. Nikesh has recently written the new Marvel Spider-Man India and has also written books for children and young adults. Nikesh has just moved house and has the builders in, so Claire and Nikesh meet at producer Ellen’s house to record this cookery conversation. It’s a moving one from the get-go with Nikesh instructing Claire that “we will be following an old family recipe, passed down from my dear mother”, the recording starts off with an enormous responsibility to get things exactly right,…
S2 · E1 · 8 May 2024 · 48 min
Ravioli with Brewer Alex Lawes
In this first episode of Series 2 of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire cooks with the brewer Alex Lawes. Dublin is a city famed for its pint and Claire wanted to record a cookery conversation with someone synonymous with the city’s brewing industry. Alex Lawes is just that, brewer and joint owner of Whiplash Beer. Their instagram profile reads “@whiplashbeer - Ballyer brewery brewing banging beers.” Join Claire and Alex as they cook in his gorgeous, dinky cottage. They drink a Whiplash Basil and Lemon table beer and set about making the most delicious ravioli this side of Italy. Learn…
S1 · E6 · 3 Apr 2024 · 47 min
Fried Fish Flatbreads with Psychotherapist Philippa Perry
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire cooks with Philippa Perry, psychotherapist, broadcaster and the Observer’s wise and witty agony aunt. Philippa is also a million-copy bestselling author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did), and one half of the Perry presenting duo on hit TV programme Grayson’s Art Club. I absolutely loved cooking with Philippa in her kitchen in London a couple of weeks ago. To say Philippa was confident in her kitchen is an understatement, deftly whipping up homemade tartare sauce, flatbreads and…
S1 · E5 · 27 Mar 2024 · 47 min
Carbonara with Journalist Rebecca Wilcox
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire cooks with Rebecca Wilcox, journalist, broadcaster, deputy president of Childline and the daughter of Esther Rantzen. The Guardian newspaper have her down as “brilliant… both brainy and funny (a rare combination in a presenter), and a proper investigative journalist as well as a silly trigger-happy prankster." On the day of the recording, Claire drove to Rebecca’s farmhouse, which as all best farms must, comes complete with an aged Argentinian polo horse horse named Chunk. Rebecca wanted some help to make her carbonara not “gloopy, grey…
S1 · E4 · 20 Mar 2024 · 31 min
Pasta and Leeks with Comedian Amy Mason
In this episode of The 5 O’ Clock Apron Podcast, Claire cooks with comedian, writer and theatre maker Amy Mason. A Funny Woman finalist, Amy has written and performed for Radio 4 and has written for The News Quiz and Hypothetical (Dave). With 3 acclaimed autobiographical shows with Bristol Old Vic, she is a credit to the Bristol comedy scene - STOP PRESS - ‘Amy Mason is a born comic. Can’t wait to see her progress to a national treasure.’ In 2014 Amy won the Dundee International Book Prize with her novel The Other Ida. On the day of the recording Amy was wearing an enormous pair of sheep…

About 5 O' Clock Apron

5 O' Clock Apron is a English arts & books podcast from 5 O' Clock Apron. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: 5 O' Clock Apron
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 41 min
Latest episode: 22 Jul 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1733329121
Rights: claire thomson

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