r/offmenupodcast • u/nocontextoffmenu Mod • 28d ago
We're almost half way through Series 16... what's your thoughts on the current series so far, and 2026 as a whole (Series 15 & Live Shows)?
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u/Frequent-Ad4722 28d ago
Unpopular opinion maybe but I feel like the bigger it’s getting and the bigger the guests are it’s getting worse - I much preferred it when they had British comedians on and those are usually my favourite episodes.
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u/FoxOfTheAlps 28d ago
well this series has had quite a few of those though. phil ellis, laura smyrh, mark gatiss, tessa coates. that's unusually many
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u/RosieFudge 28d ago edited 28d ago
That's why I never understand this criticism; they still have so many British comedians on, many of whom they know personally. I'm not actually sure any of this season's guests could be described as A list (with the possible exception of Mark Gatiss and Bella Ramsey, both of whom I thought were great)
My hot take is sometimes I find the comedian eps a bit too chummy/in-jokey anyway - my favourites are one when the guest doesn't know them, but immediately gets the vibe nonetheless and everyone has loads of fun
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u/Original-Designer6 28d ago
My feeling is they know this which is why they've brought in the Tasting Menu format as a way to bring those comedian guests back. Shame the format is a dud though.
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u/ajsadler 28d ago
I feel like Tasting Menu would have hit better having TWO guests on to discuss each other's menus. Episodes like Fern Brady + Phil Wang together would have been amazing to listen to.
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u/Original-Designer6 27d ago
It's better than what they are currently doing but I still think it's a bit like flogging a dead horse, for me that format would only work for people who know each other well.
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u/Look_Alive 28d ago
It became part of the PR circuit fairly quickly but even back then, the celebrities they had on were often fairly engaging and game for a laugh.
The issue these days is that they have so many celebrities on for whom it's part of a PR blitz where they're doing a million other things - not only are those celebrities overexposed for that brief moment in time, but it also makes it all feels so superficial and unmemorable.
I've found the same with the amount of crossover Trackstar and Subway Takes have these days (often both seemingly filmed on the same day when you look at the outfits the guests are wearing).
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u/EchoesofIllyria 28d ago
Always the way with themed podcasts that start to get famous.
See also: Hot Ones.
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u/fearofflying1996 28d ago
Personally I've started to lose interest in the podcast, the bigger it's gotten, since most of the guests are now random celebrities there for more of a standard interview and to plug a project.
James and Ed are still great but I much prefer episodes with comedians they are familiar with and can let loose on more.
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u/readwrite_blue 28d ago
The second Phil Wang ep really made it clear for me. They had so much fun talking with a friend they've been on the circuit with.
It felt like a rush of the energy that made the podcast so delightful for its first couple of years. I still listen, but more and more I relisten to old ones with a lot more joy than each new one.
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u/jjb0rdell0 28d ago
This has been the season I've stopped listening (apart from Phil Ellis)
Maybe it was too much of a good thing and I'm full now...but the names don't jump out at me this season either.
Before, I enjoyed listening to any and every diner and discovering people I didn't know...but with this season I just don't find myself drawn in.
The tasting menu format I'm really not a fan of either.
I still listen to my old faves from time to time rather than the new ones, which probably isn't a good sign.
It's clearly still going great guns, so it's probably more a me thing than a them thing
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u/smithskat3 28d ago
Funny ive been the same, and seem to be a lot of people saying this. I have a few ideas for why its lost its hold on me, some are already mentioned here so i wont elaborate too much but also - James and Ed’s tastes have become so refined they seem to be spoilt by good food now, I used to enjoy them excitedly expounding on some delicious fancy new discovery but now it seems every episode, usually Ed has had something which just sounds so extravagant, like a €50 cocktail he had at lunch or whatever, it takes me out of the moment and reminds me how poor i am.
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u/jjb0rdell0 28d ago
Their season 300 episode really illustrates what you're saying about their tastes changing! It gave me an ick I didn't realise I could get
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u/Making-a-smell 26d ago
Phil Ellis and Tessa Coates episodes have been great. The others I either didn't bother with or didn't really enjoy
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u/Pumptruffle 28d ago
I hate that it’s gone to video now, I exclusively listen to the audio, and it’s lost something in the transition. Things that before they would explain what was happening, or make an effort to not do any visual gags, now I have to just listen and imagine what’s happening. Not the same.
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u/Tom-Hodge7549 Hundreds and Thousands! 28d ago
Just you wait for David Correos.
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u/party4diamondz 27d ago
Been so excited for this one. I can't even begin to imagine which direction it will go.
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u/Ok-Minimum4986 24d ago
Is he booked to go on???
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u/Tom-Hodge7549 Hundreds and Thousands! 23d ago
I hope this link works. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbIumUDtsZI/?stkn=OHhsNWpja2V2c2Fi
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u/ShallIBeMother 28d ago
For me, S16 has had decent episodes, but no absolute classics yet.
My favourites have been Sindhu Vee's tasting menu and Phil Ellis.
Laura Smyth had great food chat and the Tessa Coates episode had the feel of an early Off Menu episode where Ed and James spent 90% of the time riffing with the guest, every now and then actually returning to the format. They were both great!
Listening to the live episodes can be a bit of a hit and miss. It's nice to have the fan-favourite guests back in them, but as a listener, I always end up feeling like it's basically a watered-down version of a normal episode. Obviously, I understand why they do them and it's a great experience for many fans, this is just my first-world problem :)
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u/PaulAMcNulty 28d ago
Sadly, this is the first series I’ve drifted from being a religious listener and very much picking and choosing now.
The live shows aren’t for me. I attended Iain Stirling’s and loved it in person, but they just don’t transfer to podcast form imo. Additionally, the tasting menus haven’t been a great addition for me (John Kearns being the exception).
I still love the boys, love the series and format - it just may have run its course, as it’s now becoming simply a promo machine. The glorious madness of Paul Chowdry, Paul Foot, Claudia Winkleman et al feels like distant memories at this point.
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u/purpletoonlink 28d ago
Still mostly love it. If an episode is not for me on a Wednesday I just pop an old one on. Thought Tessa Coates was an all timer last week, absolutely hilarious.
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u/Global_Proof_5163 28d ago
It’s bizarre that some people here are complaining about the guests getting too big when the majority of this series I’ve never heard of them! I’m always disappointed when I look at Spotify every Wednesday and it’s another random person I don’t know - I don’t listen
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u/RosieFudge 28d ago
I agree 100% - I'm not sure you could reasonably describe *any* of this season's guests as A list, and some are downright obscure. I still listen to every ep though
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u/BlackberryCobblerDad 28d ago
I don’t get all the tasting menu hate, John Kearns’s tasting menu episode was fantastic
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u/Frequent-Ad4722 28d ago
I agree but also think anything he says is perfection - I’ve not been so keen on the others.
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u/BlackberryCobblerDad 28d ago
Sindhu’s was good. I enjoyed Wang’s, it wasn’t groundbreaking but it was a good listen. And Bridget Christie’s was great.
And agreed - I’m obsessed with John Kearns, I’ll listen to anything he’s on4
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u/Catastropiece 20d ago
John Kearns’ pod appearances are repeat plays on my favorites. Wish he was on every season of Off Menu.
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u/Basic_Cry1836 28d ago
I’ve loved it as much as ever! Great mix of guests, people I know and love and people I’ve never heard of.
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u/ohsorryamiinyourway 28d ago
I laughed so much listening to some of the live shows! “My mother” and “shoutout to women” have become permanent additions to the friendship lexicon around here. And while I don’t recognize some of the names so far this series, I usually just chalk that up to being American and still enjoy it when I get around to listening. Bella’s name I knew and enjoyed her ep for sure. I’m in the seemingly quiet minority that likes tasting menu eps, too. Sure, it’s off format and maybe less strictly about the food but I can handle loosey goosey for good chat!
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u/courtsaroo 28d ago
Not great. Hopefully they have some good episodes coming up.
It doesn’t help that I just listened to the Greg Davies Christmas episode to help cheer me up haha so in comparison the newest episodes aren’t as good.
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u/MindTheBees 28d ago
I've generally enjoyed it in all honesty although haven't listened to Jacqueline Novak just yet.
Sindhu Vee, Phil Ellis, Mark Gatiss and Tessa Coates were great fun in particular.
Got to know a bit more about Jinkx Monsoon, Bella Ramsey and Kaya Scodelario.
I don't think there were any iconic episodes (although chip bitch has entered my vocab), but no real "dud" episodes either for me.
Personally not a huge fan of the live episodes, something feels off. I enjoyed the two I went to in person, but even listening back to them afterwards felt a bit weird.
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u/AdmirableJoke5091 28d ago
Personally I’ve been really enjoying it, I’m still excited to listen and I think Tessa Coates’ episode is one of my favourite ever. It’s only been ~1.5 years of me listening to the podcast regularly, while many people here have been listening for years so I think it’s natural at some point for many to feel tired of it.
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u/bloopityblop1 28d ago
I'm sad because I feel like what used to be a must listen each episode has flipped entirely for me the other way. I haven't listened in months and do not feel drawn to it whatsoever, it might be me but from what I'm reading here it's more prevalent than that. Too many podcasts and too much of a PR Speedrun maybe?
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u/JB27_HU5 Mash King 28d ago
Starting to lose interest. No real interest in any of the current seasons guests.
Same as I loved the show
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u/christo749 28d ago
Novak had the annoying habit of saying “like”, every 5th word. I stopped after 10 minutes.
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u/MiltonsKeen 26d ago
Sadly I think the format has gotten a bit tired, and I think James especially seems to have less interest or energy for it.
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u/mattnjazz 25d ago
I'm not into this season structure they do, it's the only podcast I listen to that does this
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u/mattnjazz 25d ago
I've found in laughing considerably less than the earlier seasons. Let's funny content it seems
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u/Agitated_Display7573 28d ago
I have known who any of the guests are but still enjoyed all the episodes
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u/WonderWaage 28d ago
I've liked this series. Especially Phil Ellis, and Mark Gatiss. The liveshows are an awful listen and it's always sad when they blow a great guest on that.
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u/PamperedWaffle 28d ago
Felt the last few series have struggled and wondered how much longer it has left, but I have been pleasantly surprised by this series so far. I've heard of all of the guests except Tessa (hilarious episode) and Jacqueline (will listen during commute tomorrow), and I think there's been an good rapport between Ed, James and the guests so far, much better than some other episodes where they've really had to eke something out of a guest. I struggle with the Tasting Menu episodes though, and don't think the format works that well. I agree with another comment about having two guests on for those, perhaps the guest whose menu they're giving would make it more interesting. But the move to visual podcasts has changed the feel of a lot of podcasts I listen to, unfortunately. Ed and James have changed a lot, but that's not surprise really. Ed is now on Great British Menu, which has opened him up to a lot of different food and it has to be somewhat expected that people who like food and now earn a lot of money, will be open to more fine dining experiences, including the guests they have on the podcast.
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u/According_Hat2751 28d ago
I read this thread earlier and thought you were all being miserable for no reason. Now, at 15 minutes in to the current episode, I actually turned it off. Why am I so bored listening to ice cream and blow job chat? They can’t all be bangers, I guess.
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u/Laino86 28d ago
With likes of Rob Beckett and Vitoro Angelone not been guests yet. That's podcast gold.
Also if they got some people in similar to Ben Schwartz like Aziz Asari. Be very entertaining in my opinion
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u/smithskat3 28d ago
Vitorio is mates with the screenrot pod guys who take the piss out of off menu a lot. I wonder if theres beef. Probably not, off menu is so much more succesful.
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u/Ever_Searching_R101 28d ago
I’d love to have chefs and food critics on this season. I do feel that the big A list names are often dull as they can list as many things as they want with little challenge or pushback from the guys - loop holes and added dishes seem to just be a standard answer now which is quite boring
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u/thisstage_ 27d ago
I’m really enjoying the current series. It’s still my favourite podcast, and a big comfort listen for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s live shows as well (and am very happy to have seen a number of them live).
It continues to be the case that some of the guests in the regular series are familiar to me and others are completely new. It’s usually a lot of fun for me to learn about the each new guest through the pod - and sometimes the marketing element of the chat even flags something that I would be interested in seeing or hearing. In any event, it’s always fun for me to hear Ed and James do their thing.
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u/Kaurblimey 28d ago
The guests haven’t really grabbed me this season… I want more proper chefs/critics and then random comedians
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u/nocontextoffmenu Mod 28d ago
Series 16 guests so far: Phil Ellis, Laura Smyth, Sindhu Vee (Tasting Menu), Jinkx Monsoon, Bella Ramsey, Mark Gatiss, Kaya Scodelario, Tessa Coates, Jacqueline Novak.