Episodes
Jools and Jim are back on the open road, joined in this episode by veterans of comedy, acting, writing and producing — Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar. By police car, childhood bicycle and elephant, this week’s journey sees Jools and Jim consider the more impractically shaped car, while Sanjeev shares a unique method of questioning and Meera divulges a rather unusual phobia. There’s an aquatic transport first for the podcast, plus the four discuss the limitations of the Orient Express, Jim’s...
Published 10/12/21
Actor and presenter Mark Benton takes Jools and Jim for a spin in this week’s episode - the last in the series. From Austins to space hoppers, Jools makes a case for dressing the part, while Jim remembers causing a riot among Elvis fans in Stockton. Mark recounts a karmic run-in with the Brazilian police, and he and Jools compare their respective falls out of moving vehicles. Plus the three discuss heavy industry, heavy metal and the contents of Jim’s pockets… A Dig! Studios / Warner Music...
Published 09/01/21
Checking his mirrors and fastening his seatbelt, rapper and producer Dizzee Rascal joins Jools and Jim for this week’s joyride. The Mercury, Ivor Novello and Brit Award winning musician recalls selling his own dub plate pressings, and he and Jools discuss their overlapping stomping grounds. Plus Jim reveals a past life as a leather jacket mogul. Dizzee tucks into a flapjack, and the three talk about the advantages of seeking out The Old Town, a bleeding piano and a pair of £14,000 shoes… A...
Published 08/31/21
This week Jools and Jim are joined by The Human League frontman, songwriter and producer Phil Oakey all the way from Sheffield via Basildon. The Grammy nominated singer shares his thoughts on jetpacks, prog rock and the Sinclair C5, plus a damning review on VIP areas. The three ask: who has the smelliest tour bus, and what might have happened to a missing Dead Sea Scroll? And while Jools and Phil “hail the Low Countries”, Jim questions whether the Low Countries might hail him… A Dig! Studios...
Published 08/24/21
Taking the bus, the tube and the “normal train” is Turner Prize shortlisted visual artist Cornelia Parker, as she joins Jools and Jim for this week’s Joyride. Jools praises the impact of Communist architecture on East London’s transport infrastructure, and Jim and Cornelia refuse the hypothetical offer of a hot air balloon ride. The three discuss the joys of beetroot (and raw onion), while Cornelia recalls the lasting effects of her father’s bad driving and a couple of near misses. Plus...
Published 08/17/21
Comedian, writer and impressionist Ronni Ancona joins Jools and Jim this week for a trip by train, plane and (very) old-fashioned automobile! The BAFTA-winning comedy actress recalls a childhood surrounded by car parts, while Jools finds a shared passion with Ronni’s father. Jools puts to Jim and Ronni the ultimate “would you rather”: a long haul flight or a party with friends? And the three discuss the benefits of life in miniature, making the most of flying first class and being driven to...
Published 08/10/21
Comedian Harry Hill takes the “Anglo Saxon South Circular” and parks up with Jools and Jim for this week’s episode. Harry is quizzed on his artistic impressions of jazz greats, while Jools shares the intricate workings of his “true hobby” - the model railway. Jim suggests the novel application of a Spice Girls song, and the three ponder the use of red wine as an alternative fuel. Plus, they talk Greek national dress, comical car breakdowns and the invention of auto mimetic communication… A...
Published 08/03/21
Joining Jools and Jim this week is blues guitarist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa, who takes a trip through time and space via Zoom. From his home in Tennessee, Grammy Award-nominated Joe recounts his musical journey across the Atlantic and the impact of British blues music; plus the three are given a run for their money by some very well-travelled guitars. Jim describes an encounter with an unknown creature in the Arizona desert; and the three discuss driving across America, “fungible”...
Published 07/27/21
Famed photographer Mary McCartney takes the reins this week as she joins Jim and Jools for a canter. Mary discusses her relaxed approach to taking photos - and the impressive skill of her mother, Linda, while Jools reflects on a slower pace of life. Plus, there’s talk of playing on bombsites, building go-karts and mayonnaise addiction. Jim ponders the point of miniature horses (and giant rabbits), and the three talk sandwiches - the inventive, the unusual, and the un-interfered with… A Dig!...
Published 07/20/21
Jools and Jim are back on the road again, this week with perhaps their best-dressed guest yet - comedian and actor, Rob Brydon. No stranger to a good trip, the witty Welshman ignites discussion over appropriate etiquette for eating on the road; while Jim laments the point of grated cheese, and Jools proves himself to be handy in the event of a flat tyre. Plus Rob pitches a rather niche celebrity game show, and the three talk car cleanliness, sourdough bread and whether it’s really possible to...
Published 07/13/21
Comedy actor and writer Rowland Rivron pulls up alongside Jools and Jim this week to talk cars, caravans and cutting the roof off a Rolls Royce. Perhaps “the most dangerous man showbusiness has ever known”, Rowland recalls a dicey drive through France before the talk turns to celebrity spotting, squeezing a drum kit into a Hillman Imp and the marvellous Minic motorways. Plus, there’s a moment of chair-related peril, and Jim and Jools try to determine if Rowland is a caravanist or a...
Published 05/25/21
Jools and Jim take a virtual tour this week as they are joined by soul sensation Ruby Turner, who can’t wait to get back out on an adventure. Featuring two tales of bicycle blunders and a talking car, Ruby considers the significance of her “travelling mole” – reminiscing with Jools about their time touring, and flying solo at nine years old. The three consider how a joyride can turn into a nightmare, and there’s talk of horse-riding in the Dominican Republic, the pitfalls of a campervan and...
Published 05/18/21
This week Jools and Jim are joined by Emmerdale and Line Of Duty actor Tony Pitts.   The three discuss their shared love of all things motoring, and Tony talks about being the face of Seat Ibiza in Wakefield.   Jools recounts an unfortunate incident on a golden bicycle, and there’s talk of nodding dogs, the Sheffield style of motoring and Jim driving a tractor with little success. Plus a “kill or cure” fix to Tony’s renewed fear of motorcycling…   A Dig! Studios / Warner Music Entertainment...
Published 05/11/21
Jools and Jim are joined by musician and singer-songwriter Suggs, who makes a scheduled stop in this week’s episode. With a career spanning over 40 years, the Madness frontman shares stories of getting lost in France and pretending to drive in his uncle’s car. Jim dispenses caution over an unlucky colour, and the three workshop an invention to aid in paying tolls – plus there’s talk of unexploded bombs, extended periods of eating and why you should always check an ashtray before you empty...
Published 05/04/21
Singer-songwriter Imelda May joins Jools and Jim for this week’s joyride, featuring elusive poetry and makeshift windscreen wipers.While the talk turns from cars to tour buses to horses, Imelda takes Jools and Jim on a tour through the Dublin Liberties; sharing tales of hitchhiking races and sleepovers with her daughter in a bow top caravan. Jim and Imelda compare riding camels to riding pigs, and the three discuss exploring New Orleans, camping under the Eiffel Tower and what constitutes a...
Published 04/27/21
Taking the wheel this week is writer, broadcaster and former GQ editor James Brown. After detailing a drive through France to watch Leeds United, James regales Jools and Jim with tales of touring with U2, practising “extreme wellbeing” in the Himalayas and a close call with death on a light aircraft in Tanzania. Following a career seemingly without a single dull moment, James recounts a hotel horror story in Marrakech, plus an incredible coincidence in LA… A Dig! Studios / Warner Music...
Published 04/20/21
This week, Turner Prize winning artist and musician Martin Creed joins Jools and Jim for a run out in his trusty Fiat Panda. Martin invites Jools and Jim to revel in the endless possibility of travel and provides a philosophical reading of the importance of learning to drive. Jim gets the measure of late-learner Martin, while Jools offers up a potted history of listening to music on the go; and the three discuss childhood cycling holidays, a theory about jetlag and being questioned by police...
Published 04/13/21
In the driver’s seat this week is actress, producer and singer-songwriter Rita Wilson, talking vintage cars, autograph collections and an extravagant dinner with an unexpected host.   As the conversation takes them all around the world, the three lament the decline of proper map-reading and Jim provides a novel method of sprucing up your car.   Jools quizzes Rita over how her face ended up on a Greek postage stamp; and there are tales of French cuisine, the Monkee Mobile and paranormal...
Published 04/06/21
Former racing driver and Formula One world champion Damon Hill puts the pedal to the metal and joins Jools and Jim in this week’s episode.   Damon looks back on the lure of American motorcyclist, and a childhood spent surrounded by racing drivers; plus an amused Jim and Jools learn racing drivers don’t drive flashy cars.   After discussing speed, speeding and attending a speed awareness course, the three talk undesirable sleeve advertisements, getting buried under mushrooms on Shooting Stars,...
Published 03/17/21
Singer-songwriter – and podcast royalty – Jessie Ware takes the driver’s seat in this week’s episode: talking nudist beaches, UHT milk and driving playlist democracy.   A frequent guest and even one-time co-host of Later… with Jools Holland, self-confessed “boyracer” Jessie also hosts hit podcast Table Manners with her mum, Lennie.   After dosing up on Kwells, she chats to Jools and Jim about family holidays to Wales, and (not) tuna fishing in Mexico…   You can listen to Jessie’s latest...
Published 03/10/21
Jools and Jim log on to Zoom for a remote catch-up with Griff Rhys Jones, who transports them off the road and onto the water.   More accustomed to sailing the seas than classic cars, the comedian and broadcaster recalls childhood holidays spent on his father’s hand-built boat, as well as problems with pronunciation while filming Three Men in a Boat (something Jim proves he has no problem with).   The three laud the joys of the inland waterways and talk sea monsters, sub-par submarines and...
Published 03/03/21
This week Jools and Jim take a spin with veteran musician, composer and producer Nitin Sawnhey, taking comfort in living “the brochure-style life”.   Jools quizzes Nitin on his early career writing and performing comedy, and they discuss arachnophobia, meeting world leaders and riding an elephant.   The Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award recipient divulges a passion for cycling, plus he and Jim swap embarrassing driving anecdotes, and the three ponder the building of the pyramids…   A...
Published 02/24/21
In this episode, Jools and Jim are joined by actress and comedian Sally Phillips as the three take to the skies to revel in the glamorous golden age of executive air travel. Co-creator and writer of seminal sketch comedy show Smack the Pony, Sally shares stories of a childhood spent driving through the desert listening to The Goon Show; and Jim and Jools quiz her on travel by train, air and canal boat.   Plus, Sally and Jim discuss the shared slapstick of Jacque Tati and Vic and Bob, as well...
Published 02/17/21
This week Jools and Jim take a ride with lyricist, musician and Squeeze frontman Chris Difford. The Grammy-nominated and twice Ivor Novello winning songwriter recalls Jim calling bingo for Squeeze at the Royal Albert Hall, and Jools thinks back to a rather novel ashtray in Chris’ teenage bedroom.   Friends for close to half a century, Chris and Jools look back on their start in the music industry, sharing anecdotes about hats, Chris’ hotline to Audi, and the three revel in their shared...
Published 02/10/21
Little Voice legend Jane Horrocks locks her bike up outside and joins Jools and Jim for a chat. The Olivier, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated actress and singer reminisces over singing on the hills of Lancashire and flying on Concorde, and she tells Jim and Jools about her “slow but angry” approach to the road. Jim recounts hitchhiking to the Isle of Wight; plus they discuss favourite train stations, being a nosey parker, and wanting to be pushed around in a giant Silver Cross pram… A Dig!...
Published 02/03/21