What's the best brand of air fryer? How can bad bakers get better? And why does the This Morning baking expert hate making wedding cakes? Answering all these questions is the fabulous Juliet Sear!  She tells us all about her amazing career, from making the world's first edible Christmas jumper to becoming a daytime TV star and ending up with eight air fryers in her house. We share some of our culinary disasters, and find out what went wrong the time Juliet tried to make a red velvet cake for...

How is having ADHD like being a butterfly? Why are women still being defined by what their husbands do? And do sharks really love heavy metal? Helping us to answer all these questions is the awesome Lliana Bird!  She tells us about her children's book, Baboo the Unusual Bee, which she wrote while breastfeeding. We share our memories of being new mums, and reveal the advice we wish we'd had back in the day.  Lliana talks about her shock at discovering that women's pages are disappearing from...

This is a special LIVE podcast, recorded at the awesome Big Feastival this summer. Our guest is Cat Sims, known on the socials as @notsosmugnow.  We cover a host of topics in this podcast, from starting school to managing teens, coping with WhatsApp groups and dealing with nits. We chat about the three things you should never talk about with other parents, and have a heated debate about laundry.  We bring back the classic game Handbag Surprise and of course we share some Scummy Mummy...

Our guest for this episode is the hilarious Michael Akadiri! He tells us why he switched from junior doctor to comedian, but always wanted to be a footballer.  We find out how he's enjoying being a new dad, and laugh at the ludicrous extravagance of his son's first birthday party. There's some advice for anyone about to start medical school, and Michael shares how working as a psychiatric nurse helped him become a better doctor.  Plus: is it OK to push your kids towards sporting excellence?...

How come different people find different things funny? Why is When Harry Met Sally a better film than Love Actually? And can dogs laugh? Helping us to answer all these questions is award-winning comedy writer Joel Morris!  He tells us about his new book, Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters. We find out what it's like to write jokes for Charlie Brooker and Philomena Cunk, and why Joel hasn't got a BAFTA, even though he won a BAFTA. Plus - how does Joel feel about his books...

Do you really need to follow fashion when you've just had a baby? What's the best way to work on self-esteem? Is it still OK to wear skinny jeans? And why is Ellie in trouble with her Dad even though she's 46? Helping us to answer all these questions is stylist extraordinaire Sophia Lorimer! Known on the socials as @finedtunedwardrobe, Sophia is a fashionista with a difference. She's all about shopping your wardrobe and sustainability - in fact, she hasn't bought anything new from a shop in...

What's it like to perform a hilarious comedy show about death? Here to tell us all about it is stand-up legend Ed Byrne. We discuss his 30 year career in comedy and how he got started. Then there's some chat about his latest show, Tragedy Plus Time. We talk about the loss of Ed's brother, Paul, and Ellie explains why his was the funniest funeral she's ever been to. We also discuss the difference between dealing with family and friends, and Ed offers some advice for what to do when sibling...

Our guest for this episode is the hilarious comedian Helen Lederer! We talk about how she helped pave the way for slags trying to be funny like us. She tells us what it was like to do stand-up in the eighties, alongside the likes of Ben Elton and Ellie's Dad, and we discuss what's changed since.  Lederer tells us all about her brilliant book, Not That I'm Bitter, which is out now. She explains what it's like to write a memoir that's honest and funny without being mean, and we touch on some of...

What's the best thing to say to someone who's in mourning? Is the second year of grief really the hardest? And who was the lead singer of Westlife? Helping us answer all these questions is the amazing Stacey Heale!  She tells us what it was like to lose her husband, Greg, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer on their daughter's first birthday. Stacey explains what life is like now, nearly three years after his death. We discuss Widow's Fire - the phenomenon of bereaved people who turn...

This special bonus episode was recorded on Saturday 6 July, just two days after the general election. We got to interview Jess Phillips MP in front of a live audience at the Birmingham MAC, and she was brilliant.  We covered loads of topics including Jess's work in the areas of women's rights and domestic violence, what she wants the new Labour government to prioritise, and what she thinks of Starmer's cabinet appointments. We also talk about the abuse suffered by Jess and her staff in the...

Our guest for this episode is best-selling author, dear friend and Saturday Kitchen wine expert Helen McGinn!  She tells us what wine we should be looking for in the shops this summer. We discuss whether Whispering Angel is worth the money, and McGinn gives us some suggestions for budget rosés, cheap fizz, picnic wines, and what to stick in the fridge if you fancy a nice chilled red. We find out what goes on behind the scenes at Saturday Kitchen, who McGinn's favourite celeb guests have been,...

How do you get a book deal? Is Michael Buble's music for life, or just for Christmas? What's it like to watch your husband simulate anal sex with one of Britain's leading actors? Answering all these questions is the brilliant Beth Morrey!  She tells us how her first novel ended up in a bidding war after facing loads of rejections, and how her writing process works now. We hear her top tip for avoiding procrastination, and learn why she doesn't read her own reviews.  Then yes, it's a bit...

Our guest for this episode is the amazing Caro Tasker. We cover a huge range of topics, including baby loss, raising autistic kids, and how trauma can help you discover who you are.  There's also some much less serious nonsense. Why doesn't anyone use the word git any more? Is being married to a famous rugby player like being in Footballers Wives, only with different shaped balls? What was it like to be a guest at Harry and Meghan's wedding, and what's the one sentence George Clooney said...

It's a transatlantic party in this episode as we meet KK and Kerry, the world's second best female comedy double act! We hear about their fab show, Six Chick Flicks, and they tell us the best meet cute stories they've heard from audience members.  We discuss how they're enjoying their UK tour, including what they think of Scunthorpe and why they love M&S. Kerry tells us about the time she auditioned to be a theme park princess, and Ellie reveals the reason she got turned down for a job at...

This episode is all about the new weight loss drug Ozempic - what are the risks? What are the benefits? How does it actually work? Joining us is author Johann Hari, who has written a book all about it.  Just to be clear: this is a full and frank discussion about the issues around weight loss, the body positivity movement, and the health risks of obesity. We hear some tough stats about the dangers of being overweight, and some graphic descriptions of fat shaming. There's also some strong...

Yes, it really has been 25 years since Ralph's Party was released! You are that old! Here to talk about that book, and all the brilliant ones she's written since, is best-selling author Lisa Jewell.  She tells us about her writing process, and how she cured herself of imposter syndrome. Lisa shares her top tips for budding authors, and introduces us to our new favourite website, doesthedogdie.com.  We talk discuss true crime, and why so many of us women like it so much. Then there's some chat...

We sit down for a serious chat in this episode as we celebrate the life of Lee, Helen's Mum, who passed away recently. And of course, we manage to have a few laughs along the way.  We talk about the kind of person Lee was, and how lucky Helen was to have her as a parent. We discuss what it's like to prepare for the death of someone you love, and strategies for managing grief. Plus, find out the roles ABBA and East 17 played in Lee's passing.  This episode is dedicated to Lee, with love. Thank...

Why do lesbians have the highest divorce rate? How do you navigate an open relationship? What goes on in a sex lab? Answering all these questions is the amazing Rosie Wilby!  The comedian and author tells us all about her brilliant books, Is Monogamy Dead? and The Breakup Monologues. We discuss some of the fascinating things she's discovered through her research, and learn a superb fact about bonobos. Rosie explains why she and her wife are considering opening up their marriage, and reveals...

What makes the Danish some of the happiest people on earth? How can we steal their ideas, and what's stopping us? Why are Norwegian women like oil rigs? Answering all these questions is the amazing Helen Russell!  We talk about her brilliant new book,How to Raise a Viking. Join us as we go on a wonderful journey to a land where the streets are paved with trampolines, children are given knives to play with, and men are having VR sex in enormous spunk factories.  We talk about dating in...

Comedian, immigration lawyer, burlesque dancer, trainee wrestler, and absolute legend - it's Sikisa! She tells us how she went from being a barmaid to being on stage, and some of the weirder things she's seen while MCing one of London's most famous open mic comedy nights. We learn what it's like to go on Live at the Apollo with a concussion.  There's a bit of serious chat as Sikisa discusses her work as an immigration lawyer, helping refugees and asylum seekers to stay in Britain. We hear...

What's the best way to write a bestselling book? Who would win in a fight between a shark and a gorilla? And what's it like to be bitten on the penis by a piranha? Answering all these questions is Matt Coyne, aka Man vs Baby!  He tells us all about his brilliant new novel, Frank and Red, which is out now. We discuss our different writing processes, and the best way to deal with procrastination.  Matt explains why one of his favourite facts about himself involves Ellie's Dad, and gives us a...

HELLO READERS! What's it like to go to Antarctica with your 76 year-old Dad? What is Ellie's problem with penguins? Why did she get taken away by Buenos Aires airport security, and why was it Jim's fault?   Answering all these questions are Ellie and Ellie's Dad! Helen quizzes them to find out all about the fortnight they've just spent on the frozen Continent. We hear all about the whales, the weather, and what it's like to go for a dip in 0.3 degree water.  Ellie and her father share some of...

Why are PTA quizzes the worst? Is Croydon really the Manhattan of London? And which star of The Chase has the most erotic fan fiction written about them? Here to play for a four-berth caravan and a fortnight in Tenerife are Lucy Porter and Jenny Ryan!  Lucy tells us how she went from comedian to quizzing legend, and Jenny reveals the origin story behind her Chase nickname, The Vixen. We discuss our favourite gameshows of yore, and our experts share their top tips for hosting your own quiz at...

What's it like to embrace Hugh Jackman? Which celebrity does Tom Price still dream of interviewing? And why does he want us to eat prawns off his wife's back? Answering all these questions is the actual Tom Price!  The Magic FM drive time DJ takes a break from his busy three hours of work a day schedule to spend some quality time with us. We have a good old moan about what it's like to live with teenagers, and share the nice bits too.  Then it's time for some hilarious star-studded anecdotes...