The award-winning podcast Off Menu, hosted by comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble, is set to embark on its first live tour, making a two day stop in Manchester at the O2 Apollo on 29 and 30 October. This marks the first time the popular podcast, created in 2018, has ventured out on tour, with eight UK dates scheduled, including a headline slot at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
In the Off Menu podcast, Acaster plays the role of a ‘genie waiter,’ while Gamble serves as the maitre’d of a fictional restaurant. Each week, the comedic duo interviews an invited guest, inquiring about their dream starter, main course, side dish, drink, and dessert. The hosts also reveal a secret ingredient they dislike, and if the guest mentions it during the interview, they are promptly ejected from the restaurant without their dinner.
Having garnered over 50 million downloads and nine series, Off Menu has hosted an impressive lineup of guests such as Louis Theroux, Claudia Winkleman, Big Zuu, Tom Kerridge, Jamie Oliver, Stanley Tucci, Michelle Keegan, Dan Aykroyd, and Nadiya Hussain. The identity of the guest for the Manchester date remains a mystery.
The live shows promise a slightly different version of James’ Diet Coke story and will feature a unique guest each night. Expressing his excitement for the tour, Ed Gamble said, “I am mad with joy that we finally get to put the dream meals on wheels.” James Acaster added, “Like Shrek and Donkey, Ed and I are off on a noble quest and we won’t stop until we find our happily ever after.”
