Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware - Bonus Episode: Alison Hammond

Episode Date: December 2, 2022

It’s December! Christmas is right round the corner, so we thought we’d give you an extra festive offering this week… a special bonus episode with the wonderful, hysterical Alison Hammond! Thanks to our friends at @Sainsbury's we tucked into a delicious Taste the Difference Crimbo feast, sipped cocktails and laughed A LOT. We discuss Christmas Eve takeaways, the joys of an air fryer, her mum’s ‘Jamlish’ food, Barbie Girl - and whether to pud or not pud!If you’re looking for some food inspo this Christmas, we tried and can confirm that @Sainsbury's Taste the Difference range has it all there for you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to this very special, very festive episode of Table Manners, created in partnership with our darling friend Sainsbury's Taste the Difference. We've got quiet in the beautiful house that we're in, borrowing, so there's no mess for you to clean up, Mark. It's perfect. Everyone's very quiet whilst they're prepping the table. We've got cameras, it's all a Christmas tree. It's got cameras. It's all there. Christmas tree. It's got a... It's beautiful.

We are celebrating Christmas early. Yeah. Thanks to Sainsbury's and Taste the Difference. Yeah. I can't wait to taste some of their special treats, Jessie. I can't wait for the guests. I think we're going to have a lot of fun. I think she's the perfect person to invite to, well, a quite tiny festive do.

Just the three of us. And I think she's going to make the difference. To a festive, festive treat. I like this. So, it's a Table Manners chat. So we're going to find out all the things that we need to know about Alison Hammond. But we're also going to make it a bit more festive. We're going to talk about her traditions.

We're going to try some of the delicious Christmas Taste the the difference range. And there's no cleaning up. It's just perfect. You know how I love a canapé board that's gone in the oven? Yes. At a Christmas do. Yes. This is like all my

dreams in one. I'm in somebody else's house that now I'm thinking I should live in North London. Well maybe darling. It's heavenly here. It is, it's beautiful. I'm thinking I need to in North London. Well, maybe, darling. It's heavenly here. It is, it's beautiful. I'm thinking I need to get my wreath up. Yes. And I need to do a new kitchen renovation, apparently. No, it's really, really gorgeous to start celebrating early.

I feel like, because I've been on tour, I didn't mention that for a while, did I? About half an hour. Yeah. I haven't really got into the swing of being in winter in the UK. You know, I was just in a hot climate a mere week ago. So I'm getting ready to get cosy with Alison Hammond, who I think has just walked through the door.

Yep. Do you think we're about to hear a big laugh? They're here. They're here. Alison Hammond coming up on this special Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Table Manners episode. Alison Hammond. Oh, just kidding. You're here.

It's so good to see you. We're celebrating Christmas and you and mum have turned up in the same outfit. We're twinning. Now, can we talk about this? Because we... We didn't even chat about this no no mum knew

that you were bringing sequins and I feel like she's tried to upstage you or join you I wanted to commune with her it's very lovely to meet you because I feel like I've known you

for many a year because a lot of people say that you're Alison and you're on our telly and you've got that amazing iconic laugh you're ours

or Alison oh what a lovely thing to say yeah it's weird because like loads of people say that whenever I'm out and about. People like just want a hug. How do you feel about that? I'm okay with it. They're free. I think, you know, they don't cost anything and I'm okay with it. Yeah, but sometimes some people just, maybe I'm just seen as a big warm hug. Maybe that's what I'm seen as. But yeah, it's lovely. I love it. I don't mind. Well, so today is a kind of special Table Manners where we're going to ask you all the hard-hitting questions.

However, we're sitting back and we're relaxing, thanks to Sainsbury's Taste the Difference. Yes. Yeah. And we've welcomed you with a welcome cocktail, much like you would if you were going to a Christmas do. This is probably our first Christmas do that we're doing, right? Yeah, this is my first one. So listen, you've got... Shall we have a cheers?

Hold on. Right, OK. Let's do a cheers and I'll tell you what you're about to drink. Oh, cheers, ladies. Cheers, darling. Cheers.

Firstly, you've got... It's very beautiful. Now, not only is... It's gorgeous. I like the glass. The glass is gorgeous but the presentation... Lola.

Lola's killed it. Lola's killed it. We've got... Instead of, you know, like when you see on a margarita it's like a little chocolate hobnob on the top

so you've got the taste difference spiced ginger biscuit flavoured Irish cream liqueur so can I I'm going in can I go in is that alright

I'm more excited about just touching my own lips with the glass I'm excited about it now too oh yeah it's good very very delicious just get a bit of

very alcoholy isn't it very get a bit of ginger on that. Very alcoholy. Yeah. Very. Yeah, it is. Got a lot of gingerbread. Oh, delish. Biscuit and chocolate. Notes of...

Notes of... Festivities and Christmas. Not really. No. Oh, hang on. Maybe a bit of cinnamon. Okay. Ooh.

I mean, I could be making that up. Church bells. Can you taste any ginger?'s going in for more. Any ginger? I can taste the ginger. Ginger, perfect. Ginger. Maybe there's no cinnamon.

It's ginger. It's spiced. It's spiced. Now, what we've got, we've got the Merry Mandarin Fizz. So it's taste the difference Mandarin gin liqueur, taste the difference fresh orange juice. This is like a really fabulous buck's nose. Oh, that's nice. Oh, that could

be perfect in the morning when you're having your smoked salmon and eggs. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Lovely. Thank you. That's delish. I'm in the Christmassy mood already. Me too. I'm there. The candles are lit and we're going to have some canapes and bits and bobs. Thank you. I really

wanted to get Lenny to be cooking, to be honest with you. But this is a real treat for you. And I think, you know, you deserve this. Can you see how relaxed I am? So are you a cook, Alison? I'm a proper cook, but I'm like a mummy cook. So the sort of mummy cook who, you know, when your son comes home and he wants his food now,

but there's nothing made, I can do things very quickly. So what do you do? So if he just comes home and says, Mum, I'm starving right here and now, straight away I'm going to season up some thighs with a little bit of Worcester sauce, a little bit of all-purpose seasoning. I'm going to bang them into the air fryer.

I'm going to get a packet of rice out of the cupboard. I'm going to put that in the microwave for two minutes. Bit of broccoli, boom, we've got a meal. How that in the microwave for two minutes. Bit of broccoli. Boom, we've got a meal. How long in the air fryer do you leave it? It's 20 minutes it takes to the thighs. I'm hearing you just heard about this. What, so you don't use the air fryer?

No, I haven't had one. I think I'm going to do it. Amazing. Season up your chicken, strain the air fryer. 20 minutes later, it's ready. And it cooks right through? Yeah, right through.

And it's really succulent as well. So it's like just all the juices and everything. It's amazing. Will you be doing your turkey in the air fryer? No. It's too big. So what are you going to do for your Christmas dinner? Well, it's just a general Christmas dinner.

It's like got all the trimmings. So this year, I mean, I had quite a big household. My brother will be there, my son. Josie Gibson always comes with her little boy. Does she? Yeah, so she was there last year, she's here this year. And then I've got my housemate, Jason, and his dog, Bobby, and that's it.

That's it this year. Does Bobby get a different meal? Bobby dresses up and Bobby gets... No, he gets dog food. Fair enough. Sorry, we don't play. Maybe he gets a little bit of turkey here and there. But he got sick last year because everyone kept feeding him little bits.

So we're going to have to be really strict. Do you have turkey or do you cook a whole load of different meats? Turkey, I'll season it the night before. Then because turkeys are so big, you can't get them in the fridge, can you? So I put them in the shed because it's always freezing. Put it in the shed, all foiled up and ready to go in the morning. And I always wake up early, nice and early, and put it in early. Are you a lunch or dinner person?

A one o'clock person. One o'clock. Gosh, you get up early to do that then. Five o'clock, I put that turkey in. Five o'clock in the morning, I put it on really low and I let it cook. Do you want everyone to sod off by about four o'clock then? No, she's on there. Are you asleep on there? I want them to have a sleepover to box into her.

I don't want them to go. Are you like Jessie? She loves her turkey lunch. Yeah. And she waits for the turkey sandwiches at five o'clock with trifle. Yeah. I just have another dinner, if I'm honest with you. I'll have the lunch.

And then on the evening, I'll have another dinner because I'm still... Yeah, I know what you mean. With the gravy and everything. I love Christmas dinner. It's my favourite. I love a roast dinner full stop. It's my favourite thing. I agree with you.

And I don't do turkey throughout the year, so I love turkey. Me too. The amount of gravy that you get out of it is unbelievable. But I also do a rice and peas as well on Christmas Day. And I do a buffet. I don't, like, serve people their food. Okay. I do a buffet. I don't like to serve people their food up. Oh, okay. I do a buffet so everyone chooses and what you'll find is every single person eats all their food because they've chose what they

want on their plate. That's a good idea. It's a brilliant idea. It's much better, just put it on the side there like on the island and everyone goes up and chooses what they want because my son doesn't like carrots and he puts what he wants on it. potatoes gravy sprouts you name it it's on my spread but I always have rice and peas because I just like to have it I have to say that I love the build-up to Christmas and I love the I love the the dinner but then I'm incredibly ready for it to finish kind of once it's like five o'clock in the evening I'm like okay this no it's enough but I like the anticipation of the build-up and particularly those Christmas parties

where you have a little nibble, you have a little drink, you celebrate, it all feels kind of you're waiting for this big day that's, I think, slightly overrated. I do like a Christmas Eve party, do you? Yeah. A Christmas Eve party is like the build-up and it's a great party because I normally get a takeaway on Christmas Eve.

OK. What's the takeaway? Takeaway's Chinese. Oh, really? I'm obsessed with Chinese. Really? You know how some people, they, like, recognise places from pubs? I recognise places from...

From takeaway? From takeaways, Chinese takeaway. I'll be like, turn left at Yat Wah. Right at King Yip. Yeah, because I just love Chinese food. What's your favourite Chinese dish? Oh, it's a tough one. I mean, when order what's the takeaway order well whenever I order oh it's easy it's um beef and black bean green peppers it's a king prawn fried rice uh it would be prawn toast and maybe some

banana fritters and syrup I mean every single every single time. You're decisive, you know. Yeah, my son would go for chicken fried rice, spare ribs in syrup. I know, it's weird, isn't it? No, I like spare ribs. And then banana fritters as well. Says the Jew, man. And yes, shush. Yeah, come on.

I do like them. Are you ready for a bit of grub? Oh, I am, yeah. Right, so we have the gorgeous... So we've got... See, we're not even doing... We're not lifting a finger today. This is great, though.

I'm so glad you're just chilling out with me. This is gorgeous. But Lola and Kieran have been slaving away, putting those delicious Taste the Difference canapés in the oven and decorating beautifully. So they're going to come over with bits and bobs. I'm going to tell you what we've got. I'm hoping that I can actually taste the difference.

I'm sure you will. Right, OK, come on over. On to the savoury. Thank you, Lola, thank you, Kieran. We have the Taste the Difference Canapé range. This is what makes me feel like we're in Christmas time now. Obviously, I've tasted all of this because I was in my advert, but you've really got to try this one.

This is a sticky teriyaki, chicken skewers, delicious. But don't eat them if you're going to kiss someone afterwards because it's very garlicky. Oh really? Okay. These are the molten triple cheese bites, lovely. I really fancy the taste the difference mini crab thermidor crumpets. Let's get involved. Yeah, let's do it. I really fancy trying these. Tell me about your childhood. You know, you're a great cook, you say. And who was cooking in your... Well, I wasn't always a great cook, Jess. My mum was an amazing cook. Here, darling. Like, literally, every... Thank you.

Every single time... Do you want one of those? Every single time she cooked, like, she never... She never missed. It was always amazing. She just was... Her food was just delicious. What was always amazing. She just was... Her food was just delicious. What was her name? Her name was Maria.

And you were talking, as soon as you walked in, this beautiful house at Wyrm, you saw my mum and you both saw matching outfits and you thought... There's just an air... I know, like, my mum's a black lady, but there's an air about your mum that just felt like my mum.

The way your hair is set, the make-up, your size, your height. Everything about you screams my mum, which was really weird. So I just felt an instant connection with you, which was really sweet. It was so nice. It was really nice. Good. When I hugged you, it was like if I could close my eyes, I could see my mum and feel my mum.

When did you first know? 2020, actually. Oh, sorry. 2020, the beginning of 2020. But she discovered that she had liver cancer, and it was just really, really quick, and she literally was gone within about two, two and a half months. Shit, I'm so sorry.

So you miss her? Terribly. Because it was so unexpected, and she had so much more to do. Do you know what I mean? She was 71 when she died. And, yeah, it was just unexpected and she had so much more to do. Do you know what I mean? She was 71 when she died. And, yeah, it was just a shock to everybody because she was such... She was like the matriarch. Like your mum, she's a matriarch.

Everyone loved her. You know, she kept the family together. She brought, you know, cousins would come to her house and stuff. She'd make the best Jamaican English food. We used to call it jamlish. Because it was like a little bit of a fusion of English and Jamaican, which was so lovely. Are you from a big family?

Not really. I mean, there was three of us, three kids in my family. But my dad, I had a different dad to my brother and sister. And so I've got another three siblings on my dad's side as well. So there is a big family, but I'm only in touch with really two of them. But yeah. Is your dad still alive? No, my dad died in 2020 as well.

So my mum died. I can't believe it. I know, it's awful, isn't it? My mum died in the January and then my dad died in the June. It was bizarre. And he lived in Jamaica. And then I found out that, and I was just like, 2020 was, we all know it was the worst year for everyone

and then, but not only that, I lost both my parents and I felt so lost. I was like an orphan in that year. It was just bizarre and I did feel like a sense of,

oh my gosh, what am I going to do now? But, you know, you just get on with it, don't you? You get on and because I was working, I just got on with work

and I'll be honest with you, it didn't really hit me until the Queen died and I was watching the funeral and then this whole wave of grief just came on me that day and I went to the cemetery and I just laid by my mum's grave and I was just crying for like hours and I've never felt that intense amount of grief until that happened it's bizarre but I think a lot of people felt it when the Queen died, their own grief kind of came out. Tell me about your mum and her cooking and what was kind of so great about her cooking. Well, she was like, a little bit like Jamie Oliver in the sense that she never measured. She just like would do it, so like she was making a bit, some bananas would be going

off and she'd be like, oh, I'll make a banana cake out of that. She'd be like, she'd literally rub up the bananas with a little bit of sugar, eggs. And I used to go, how many eggs? She goes, it depends on the consistency. And then she'd put the flour in, she'd not be measuring. And then it would just come out like the best banana cake ever. And I just don't know how she did it. She just literally could rub things up.

Well, I'm like that a bit now, if I'm honest with you. But she was just so much better than I am. What was her best dish? Oh, there were so many. How were her peas and rice? Rice and peas was a good one. Why do you say peas and rice? I don't know.

Because it is peas and it is rice. I don't know. I think Gwen says peas and rice. Does Gwen say? Maybe she says rice and peas. I don't know. No, it doesn't matter which way you say it, but it's rice and peas where you always say.

But she was just really good with chicken. So she got to a stage where I was about 24 and I didn't know any of her recipes and I just said, Mum, you start teaching me how you do your chicken because it's so nice. So every time she cooked, she'd go, come and watch. And I'd watch how she'd cook things. And the easiest thing that she'd do is she'd get the meat, the raw meat, and she'd have Worcester sauce. She'd put Worcester sauce on it, garlic, onions, all-purpose seasoning, and that was it. And then she'd rub it up, leave it overnight in

the fridge, and then the next day she'd fry it off. And she'd say, you can do that with every single meat, and it's going to be a hit every single time. So you can do it with steak, you can do it with lamb, you can do it with pork, do it with whatever. And I'll be honest with you, every time I do it, it comes out amazing. And what do you serve it with? So I'm a rice person personally, but you can do it with potatoes. And is your rice, do you make it pink with the juice from the kidney beans?

My perfect rice is just white rice. Steamed rice. Oh, steamed rice. But when you do your rice and peas, do you use kidney beans? I do, yeah. So I make it easy for myself. So I get a can of kidney beans,

pop that in. Garlic, that's very important. Put that in. Some thyme. Thyme. Put the thyme in. Cream of coconut? Cream of coconut.

Put a little bit of all-purpose seasoning. That's my... All-purpose seasoning goes into everything. I love that. It's literally got everything in it. Love it. And then season that. So you always love up that. So I always taste it and I always put a little drop in the centre of my hands

because that's the only place that doesn't burn. So you put a little drop, have a little taste and then make sure that it tastes delicious and then add your rice. Hang on, tell me that. You put food in the middle of your... Yeah, so literally, she would always put the gravy in the middle of her hand and then lick it.

I don't know that trick. It doesn't burn, yeah. It's bizarre. She used to put it in the middle of her hand, centre of her hand. I love that. Yeah. That's like the greatest hack. Yeah, and you're not touching the spoon,

you're not licking the spoon, you just put it there, a little lick, and you're not touching the spoon, you're not licking the spoon, you're just putting it there, a little lick, and you go, oh, that tastes nice. So how old were you when you went on Big Brother? 27. So you had these food life hacks, food hacks from your mum. Yeah.

Did you cook a lot in the house? I didn't, actually. Did anyone eat? That's so weird. I actually didn't cook in Big Brother. Everyone else did it. Were they good? And I used to go with it. Because you just don't want to argue, get into arguments.

And you know sometimes there's too many cooks in the kitchen. I hate when there's too many cooks. Did you enjoy being on Big Brother? I did, yeah. I only liked it. Why did my voice go really high? I really enjoyed it because it was like a two-week holiday. I went in there, two weeks. What made you go on it? I don't know.

Where did you see the advert? I was in Tunisia, two weeks. There was no... What made you go on it? I don't know. Where did you see the advert? I was in Tunisia, repping. Yeah. And everyone was like reading the papers and they were reading about Brian Dowling, he'd won Big Brother. And they were saying, you should go on Big Brother, you'd win it. And at the time I had a debt of like £3,000, which at the time I was like absolutely traumatised by. Because every time I got paid, I just couldn't make that debt go down I thought oh that would be a really good good idea to win 70,000 pounds going in a TV show I'd never seen it before and everyone says why don't you apply so I went off to the internet cafe back

then you had to go to the internet cafe to apply for anything and I applied for the show and then I got an audition so I flew back to England did the audition but I also did an audition for blind date as well at the same time so I really wanted to do blind date really wanted to do Big Brother and I got both of them so I got offered blind date and I got offered Big Brother and I was like what should I do should I choose love or money and I went for the money so they paid you so they I was thinking in my head, I just want to win the £70,000. Oh, right. So that's the reason why I went in there.

I went in there to hopefully win. But do they give you money to be there? Not really. They don't really pay you. What they do is they give you expenses. So you get £30 a day to cover your expenses. Yeah, that's all we got. So how did you get rid of that £3,000 debt

when you started being a huge personality? Because I was thinking in my head, I'm going to win the 70 grand. Everyone was saying I was going to win it, but obviously I only lasted two weeks. I got kicked out after two weeks. I was devastated. Who won that year? Kate Lawler. Oh, who we love.

We love Kate Lawler. She's good telly too. She was amazing. Did you cry when you got thrown out? No, I didn't. I was like, I was happy, but I was also, you've got to remember, you're in this house and you don't have any phone, you don't know how people perceive you.

It's actually quite scary coming out. Am I light? I was 27 at the time. What was your outfit for coming out? Oh, gosh. Had you chosen it beforehand? That's a really good question. I had chosen it, yeah.

It was a black T-shirt with some Darmontis on, saying big, black and beautiful. it, yeah. It was a black T-shirt with some Dalmontis on, saying big, black and beautiful. And then I had a skirt with a beautiful palm tree up the side. And it was just beautiful. It was stoned by a company called Stoned, and they made it look beautiful, and that's what I wore as a trainer. So, Alison, are you going to be presenting the next big brother?

No, I haven't been offered yet. Sure. Do you know what? No, not at all been offered it. Oh, I like that you're sure. Do you know what? Oh, mother! Those people have been saying that, but no, not at all. We heard you were. No, it's not true.

It's not true. And you know, if I knew now, You'd tell us. I would have been stuttering. So who is? I don't know. Do you think it's going to be successful?

I do, because it's just one of those programmes where it's addictive watching. I mean, you know when you turn on Big Brother, it's very difficult to turn it off. Mum, have you touched your teriyaki skewer? I have. It was delicious.

What do you think of it? You can, it's yours, Jane. I'm just waiting for you to catch up. I can go in for third. You were talking a lot as well. How did you do that? I like the crumpets. Isn't it talented?

Where do you get a mini crumpet from? Sainsbury's. Yeah, at the Crab Thermidor, Mum. Do they come like this? Yeah. Yes. All you have to do is heat them up. It's supposed to take all the stress out.

Oh, so they're ready made with the stuff. Then for the bat meds for Mum. Yeah. Sorted. Absolutely. Now, Alison, you're a brummie. You're a proud brummie. Where should we go to eat?

OK, your top three. My house. Your house? It's got to be my house. OK, fine. If you're going to come to Birmingham, there's no way you don't come to my house because I want to cook for you.

OK, that's perfect. That's the first place you need to come. Now, which of the Chinese is that we're going to? Oh, see, Chinese, it's difficult because there's Lychee Garden, which I used to go from way way back as a child and that has stayed in the same family so these people are cooking the same as what they used to cook in 1980 to what they're cooking now it's exactly the same because

it's gone through the family so lychee garden which is on Hagley Road okay delicious amazing they do the most amazing prawn toast you've ever tasted, and you've never had that prawn toast anywhere. And their ribs are so red. Honestly, they are delicious. Okay, great. You come out with a red tongue, that's how good they are. So then, obviously, you come to Birmingham,

maybe you need to go to a Bolty. Yeah. See, Birmingham, for me, is curry. Yeah. So we do need to take you to have a curry, really. And for that, I can't tell you any names of restaurants. I would just say head to Ladypool Road and you're going to be fine. Ladypool Road, there's loads of them down that road.

Fine. And you just go and choose and every single one is going to be fine. So they all move from Selly Oak? Yeah, there's still some in Selly Oak. Because you used to live in Selly Oak, didn't you? Yeah, I was in university there. So I'm very over my side a little bit. So we used to go to the Three Tons pub.

Did you? And then have curry down the road. Well, yeah. And it was like a pound for a curry or something. We do the best curries. A bit ago, yeah. I like food full stop. Lebanese food I like.

I like a nice kebab. Have you ever been to Joe Lycett's house? I haven't, but I've stopped outside it. Oh, what have you been doing outside? To pick him up. Oh, right, I was going to say. Stalking him. Applauding him.

It's a lovely house. Oh, yeah, well, apparently... I was supposed to go and open his garden. But he grows his own, doesn't he? You were supposed to... Hang on, you were supposed to open his garden? Like, cut the ribbon? So he did, like, a new extension, and he supposed to open his garden? Like, cut the ribbon? So he did, like, a new extension,

and he wanted to open his garden, so he invited the mayor. Oh, my God, I love him. And then some competition winners came and spent the time in his garden. I was supposed to go to that, but I wasn't able to go. I was gutted. I love Joe Lycett so much. I saw him on Gardener's World with his garden,

but I just love the idea that Alison's supposed to be cutting the ribbon. That's brilliant. Yeah, I know, I didn't go, I'm scutted. But isn't he great? He's fantastic. I did a TV programme with him and I just loved every minute of it. And the other day I saw him online and he was in LA chilling out and he had an Alison T-shirt and he fell over.

I was thinking, firstly, who's doing these T-shirts and making money out of it? I need to see this Alison t-shirt and he fell over. I was thinking, firstly, who's doing these t-shirts and making money out of it? I need to see this Alison t-shirt. And then secondly, I just thought, oh, how lovely is that? That he's wearing an Alison t-shirt. I need one for Joe Lycett. I need a Joe Lycett t-shirt. So you've not been cheating on your on-screen husband doing it?

Never. No, I would never do that. I would dabble a little bit, but no, I'd always come back to do that. How lovely is he? He's so lovely. I know. You should get him on your show. We've had him.

Have you had him already? He's great. We love him. I love him too. He knows a bit too much about food though. He's very good at cooking. Yeah, he loves his fish. Right, so what is your last supper, Alison Hammond?

We have a starter, a main, a pud. Yeah. We'll be talking about pud in a bit, but a pud and a drink of choice. It's quite simple. So my last meal would have to be fried garlic prawns with a little bit of chilli in an olive oil. Like pill-pill prawns? Yes.

Like the ones you get in Portugal or Spain? Yes, exactly those ones, but the big king prawns. And then I want some nice crunchy bread so that I can mop up the oil at the end. Is there a place that you've had that? Do you know what? I think abroad.

There's many places abroad. I always go for garlic prawns. I just absolutely love it. Swimming in olive oil. Oh, I love it. Yes. So is that your starter? That's my starter. Okay, I love that. Swimming in olive oil. Yes. So is that your starter? That's my starter. It's very simple.

Love it. For Maine, I think, I mean, you're probably thinking I'd go for Chinese. No, I was thinking roast. I'd actually go for a roast dinner. Yeah. Just a real basic roast dinner. English. Which meat? Nice gravy. Can I have all of them?

Oh, yes. I want a mix of them. So I want gammon, I want the turkey, I want the beef, I want the pork. And then just a little bit of each. And then I want apple sauce and a little bit of mint sauce on the side. All the vegetables. I love sprouts. Do you like Yorkshires?

Love Yorkshires. Stuffing? Yeah, and I like the gravy in the Yorkshires. Okay, fine. So it's like a little soup bowl. Yeah. Absolutely everything. I know it's simple, but I love a roast in it.

Me too. And it's so easy to cook. Yeah. It's not that easy when you're doing five different meats, Alison. But yeah, no, I love that. That's amazing. I love a Toby Carvery in Birmingham. I was going to say, it sounds like a bit of a Toby Carvery.

Yeah. Well, every Sunday I'll have a Toby Carvery in Birmingham. I was going to say, it sounds like a bit of a Toby Carvery. Yeah. Well, every Sunday I'll have a Toby Carvery, whether I go into the pub and have it in the pub or I'll get it delivered. Oh, do they deliver? Every single Sunday, yeah. Jessie, that could be a game changer. I don't think we have any Toby Carvery's in South London.

We used to. The Grove Pub used to be. Really? On the corner. They are amazing. I've never seen a Toby Carvery in London. I went to one in Isle of Wight. Did you? Yeah, corner. They are amazing. I've never seen a Toby Carverie in London. I went to one in Isle of Wight. Did you? Yeah, if you're ever there. Yeah, London needs to get on that, don't you think? Pudding. Oh, pudding's a difficult one. So I'm a real chocolate

lover. Absolutely love chocolate. I love chocolate fudge cake with, but it has to be boiling hot. Well, it has to be hot or at least warm with cold vanilla ice cream. Not custard. Yeah, I agree. Cold vanilla ice cream. Cuts through the sweet, doesn't it? It's very simple, but I also like... Can I give you a choice of two?

Absolutely. I also love an apple crumble. Again, boiling hot with a nice quality vanilla ice cream. But it can mess up if they don't give you enough ice cream. They give you, like, one scoop. It really upsets me. I know, I agree with you. Why don't you just give me two scoops?

I like to have the cream and the ice cream there at the same time. Jessie likes cream on ice cream. Yes, I do. So, and drink of choice? Oh, gosh. Drink of choice. Can I go for a glass of water? No, you're taking this too seriously.

You can have water. I need to be hydrated. I mean, I say I don't drink, but in the last couple of years, I have been drinking quite a bit, and I do quite like a glass of Jack Daniels and Coke. Oh, Coke. Very nice. You're making up for all your youth

not spent drinking Jack Daniels and Coke. I don't know why I never drunk. Like, now, looking back, I've always said I just don't drink because I don't think I've acquired the taste. What it is, is I don't like beers and I don't like ales or wines. I like sweet drinks. That's what I'm into. I like things that are sweet and are quite pleasant.

So I do drink. I like sweet drinks. I like cocktails and things like that. What will you have at your Christmas dinner? Well, now you can do the taste difference. Spiced ginger biscuit flavoured Irish cream. You really can taste the difference with this. It's lovely.

Sorry, that was a big piece of gingerbread. Nearly knocked my tooth out with it. Are you a Christmas pudding eater? Do you know what? That is one thing I've never been into, Christmas pudding. I don't get it. I'm matching with a Jamaican girl.

I know, my mum loves it. You'd be putting the rum in. I know, but I just didn't get it. And then, I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, I got offered to do this advert with Sainsbury's and they said, well, the Countess doesn't like Christmas pudding I was like well I don't like Christmas pudding so this is so authentic. Paint the picture of the Countess you are the Countess. So I'm the Countess and I'm trying different foods to taste because

obviously I want the best banquet ever and I'm trying all these different foods and one of the chefs comes forward and says, I've got a Christmas pudding for you. And I'm like, well, it's never really been my thing, Christmas pudding. So then he goes away and perfects this Christmas pudding, makes it amazing, comes back and presents me with

a Christmas pudding, the Countess, and she's like, what are you doing? And everyone's like, are you crazy? You could get killed for this. She doesn't like Christmas pudding, the Countess, and she's like, what are you doing? And everyone's like, are you crazy? You could get killed for this. She said Christmas pudding. She doesn't like Christmas pudding. Anyway, I taste the Christmas pudding. Guess what? So fabulous.

I love the Christmas pudding. And now, on a serious note, obviously, I said to them, listen, I really don't like Christmas pudding, so can I have a spit bucket so I can spit it out? Because obviously there's quite a few takes. Anyway, I ate it. And it was gorgeous. I was like, this is delicious.

I said, move that spit bucket out of the way. I'm going to eat. I had every single spoonful. It was so good. So I have been changed by Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Christmas pudding because it is delicious. Well, it's a caramelised biscuit pudding. And I think that's the reason why I like it.

Because it's sweet. Would you actually say that's a Christmas pudding, guys? I'm just going to put it out there. It is. It's debatable. Well, I liked it. They put pudding in there and they put Christmas. But it's caramelised biscuit.

Can I please try it? You have to try it. Because I'm not sure whether you're having me on. I'm not. I'm serious. I do not like Christmas pudding. Yeah, but I don't think this is going to... But this Christmas pudding is on a different level.

Okay, fine. Alison. Yes, my darling? Who would be at your best dinner party? Who are you going to invite? Oh, that's such a good level. Okay, fine. Alison. Yes, my darling? Who would be at your best dinner party? Who are you going to invite? Oh, that's such a good question. Can I push it further

and be out the people that you've interviewed? You've had some iconic interviews. That Hugh Jackman one, the Harrison Ford one. Yes, Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman would have

to be at my dinner party. Is he great fun? He's such great fun. Did he sing The Greatest Showman at the beginning? No, he didn't. How was he fun? He's such great fun. Did he sing The Greatest Showman at the beginning? No, he didn't. Too busy flirting.

He's a big flirt. Is he? He's a little bit, but I kind of like it. Could you look at his face besides his body? No. Well, I've heard the stories about him. He's huge down under. You're kidding. So I've heard. So I've heard. Because he's from Australia. He's a big star. Who told you that? I've heard. You know, because he's from Australia.

Yeah, obviously. He's a big star. Who told you that? I just heard the rumours, babes. Jessie, I've never heard that. Did you question him on that? I did. I said, I heard that you're a huge Down Under, and he laughed.

Did he? So it's obviously true. Yeah. He's obviously famous, you know, Down Under in Australia. He probably started the rumour. Yeah. He probably did.

Okay, so who else is going to be at the dinner table? So Hugh Jackman. And has it got to be at the dinner table? So Hugh Jackman. And has it got to be someone I've interviewed? No. I do like Renée Zalwiga. Oh, really? She thought she was lovely, yeah. And what I loved about it is every time I interviewed her,

I interviewed her like three times over the space of about seven years, she remembered my son's name every single time. How sweet. Yeah, she was like, how's Aidan? I was like, oh, my goodness. That's so sweet. And that's a big thing, isn't it? When people remember, like, your family's names,

you're like, oh, my goodness. I definitely, I could be friends with you. Did you interview her after she'd done that TV show on Netflix? No. What was it, What If? Was it called What If? No, it was for Bridget Jones. OK, it was for Bridget Jones.

And she came into the interview, she was still speaking in an English accent. A method. Yeah, she's totally method. So I was into the interview, she was still speaking in an English accent. A method. Yeah, she's totally method. So I was like, she was still speaking in English accent. She went, oh, I'm so sorry, and then started talking in American.

How funny. You said that to her? Yeah, I said, you're still speaking in an English accent. And she went, oh, I'm so sorry, and then she started talking in American. I was like, that's weird. I love you. Alison, you're the type of person that would say,

when you just met them, you got something in your teeth. Absolutely. And I love that. Oh, yeah, because you've got to have your girls' backs. Alison, you're the type of person that would say, when you just met them, you got something in your teeth. Absolutely. And I love that. Oh, yeah, because you've got to have your girls' backs, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. In fact, you've got to have everyone's back. And I have got... If there's something in your teeth, I'm going to help you.

Yeah. I appreciate that. The worst thing is, it's just like a mark that's already on your teeth. That is so true. Or you've got a bit of a Malteser on your face, a bit of chocolate. Oh, no, that's a mole. OK. Orcs.

Who else is coming on your dinner party? How many people can I have? I don't know. Have six. I would have Renny Zalwiga. I would have... We've got Big Hugh. Who?

Big Hugh. Big Hugh? Big Hugh Jackman. Oh, yes. Lost my one-liner, lost on you, Alison. Sorry. I was like, who's you? Big you.

I was like, what? Big you. I've got big you. I've got Reddy Zalwiga. Should we bang a bit of Kylie Minogue in there? Because she is a little treasure. You've met her. Love her.

I love a bit of Kylie Minogue. You're really good. I mean, I know you're really good, Alison, but you, you are just a pro. What? You, I believe, maybe potentially, you did a bit of research on us before you did this. Oh, obviously.

Because you're a pro. I'm not a pro. We don't know who's coming. It's like blind date. Yeah. When you go on, like what you're doing this morning, tomorrow, you're like doing, you say you prep the script, you're like, you're amazing.

But I love how you just, that segue was, Did you like that? Loved it! Well, my makeup artist is a massive fan of Kylie Minogue's. She's also a massive fan of yours. So obviously I speak to the right people. I've got the right people around me. I do my research.

It was just, it was beautifully handled. Kylie loves a bit of glitter as well. She does, doesn't she? And I love a bit of glitter. Dermot O'Leary hates glitter. Why? Literally, if I wear glitter nails on this morning, he's like, oh! Don't tell me.

Dermot O'Leary's a diva about glitter. He says, I don't mind your nails if they're, like, normal like that, but when you've got these gems on, I can't stand it. It's like a proper OCD situation. He's an Arsenal supporter. He's an Arsenal supporter. Arsenal supporter, no glitz. He can't deal with the 3D thing.

He doesn't like the 3D situation. Also, he doesn't like if glitter gets on him. It really lightens him. So if I've got a top and it sheds, he's like, he really doesn't like glitter. That's very interesting. I'm really going to wear a top that sheds. So maybe he can't come to the Christmas do or the New Year's Eve one

because there may be some glitter there. Just if he does come, just sprinkle glitter all over the table. So you're not having him at the party, you're not having him

at the dinner? Well, I invite him but I will put glitter on. You want to take some in your hands and say, I'm going to give you a magic wish now, go. And blow it in his face.

Yeah. I just love, I love the fact that he's got his little quirks and stuff like that but yeah, he really can't stand glitter. Like he'd be hating me and you, Lenny, to go, like, what are you wearing?

I'm ready to try this pudding. I'm nervous. I'm nervous that you're not going to like it. Babe, I like everything. I love it. But I'm excited about this. Taste a difference. Caramelised biscuit pudding. Lola, are you ready for me?

Treating time! Oh, wow. Now, you've. Lola, are you ready for me? Treating time! Oh, wow. Now, you've got something. What have you got with you? You've got a beautifully presented... Look at that. Oh, it looks lovely. ...pudding.

Are you about to light this up? Or is that cream? No, you're going to caramel. Do you want me to do it? Do you want me to do it? Caramel! Do you want me to do it? Yeah.

Of course I do. So, obviously, you've got your Christmas pudding here. So if you're the sort of person who just wants a Christmas pudding, then you can just go in there with that. But really and truly... Do you pour it on first or do you let people choose whether they pour it on? Oh, that's a really good point. What do you think, Lola?

I would just pour it on. Just pour it on so it looks gorgeous. Yeah, I would just pour it on. Listen, this is the situation, everyone, at the dinner table. Right. We're pouring this on. Yeah. Whenever you like it or not. Yeah, I'll just pour it on. This is the situation everyone at the dinner table. We're pouring this on, whenever you like it or not. I'm going to give it to you. Careful of your hands, darling. So this is the caramelised caramel.

Here we go. Gorge. I can hear the music in the background in slow motion. Ooh, generous, love it. Right, and then we've got the biscuit, which goes on top like this. Oh, how fab. Do you love it? I do love it. Have we got cream to go with this? Do you want cream? I do. You have cream with everything.

No, just try it. Look at their faces. Just try it the way it is. This looks very nice. There you go. How are we supposed to eat that? Well, we just need a spoon. Yeah. We're getting bogged up, so... Oh! That does look gorge. How are we supposed to eat that? Well, we just need a spoon. Yeah. We're getting bogged up. Oh. That does look gorge. Thank you, darling. Honestly, it's so good.

Right. Thank you. Thank you, darling. So, for the listener that can't see this, it looks like a Christmas pudding. It tastes like a Christmas pudding, but then there's that sweetness of the sauce. It does taste like a Christmas pudding. Oh yeah!

That's great! It's delicious. Delicious. Should we get one for Alex this year? I feel like somebody who is in an entry level of Christmas pudding that has been terrified, this is a great way to begin it in a very luxurious way. Do you think it's got dates in it? It's got raisins or sultanas in it.

But don't you think they're like really moist, like they've been soaking in something? They're really moist for me. It's very delicious. I'd love it with a bit of cream. It's very, very delicious. Do you still need the cream? I always need the cream. Really?

Yeah. I think it's perfect just like this. Mmm. That's good. That's so lovely. Alison, at your Christmas party, after you've had your dinner, do you get the party started, bit of music, karaoke? Always karaoke. Did you do your research, Lynnie?

No. Well, believe it or not. Absolutely not. Honestly. Because I love karaoke. That's exactly what I do every single Christmas. We have karaoke in the afternoon. What's your song? I have quite a few, if I'm honest with you. We have karaoke in the afternoon. Do you watch your song? I have quite a few, if I'm honest with you.

Go on then. Come on Barbie, let's go Barbie. Oh, oh, oh, yeah. Come on Barbie, let's go Barbie. Ooh, ooh. That's one of my favourites. Do you and Aidan do that? Yes.

And it's even come on Barbie. Yeah. Okay, that's so cute. But sometimes I like to do it on my own and I do two voices. Come on Barbie, let's go Barbie. Ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah. Such a good tune. Love it, love it. I also love Mustang Sally. Oh, I can so imagine you doing that one. And then I like to go into Madonna. Because I'm crazy for you.

Not the best voice but you know it's true. I love it. Yes! I think that you and Alison Hammond are kindred spirits. I think we are. I can't believe you do karaoke as well, Lenny. No, we don't. But I love karaoke. Oh, you need to get one. Get yourself a karaoke machine.

I've got one for Christmas. Oh, my goodness. Can I come over and sing with you? The only thing is I hug it, so it becomes like the Alison Hammond show. I can't believe that. Alison, can anyone else have a go? Honestly. How do you get the songs on it that you really want?

So you connect it to your iPad and then you just go on YouTube and you just put karaoke, whatever song you want. Oh, I didn't know that. You connect it and it's karaoke. So if you want, I don't know, a bit of Jessie, karaoke Jessie. That's a good way to get your daughter reading. Yes. Because she loves singing.

There you go. It's such a good idea. That's one way of doing it. Let's put it to you go. It's such a good idea. That's one way of doing it. Let's put it to the curriculum. That's a really good idea. So you can just have a little chill. Can I try the spiced ginger biscuit thing? Because I think I'm going to have it with my pud.

What? That's quite nice. The cocktail you've got. Oh, that's a good idea. Maybe. I think that'll work. What, like put a bit of that on there? I could even put it...

Is that what you're going to do? I was just going to drink it but I think that's a really good idea too. She's smushing it. That totally works, man. We'll see. Just call me Heston. That's so nice. Yeah, thank you.

Oh my god, honestly. Taste the difference, you're welcome. You're welcome. So what you need to do is get the caramelised biscuit pudding with the ginger. That totally works. Thank you. Well done darling. I don't need the ice, I just need the drink, it's fine. I'm just going to pour it on. I'm so happy that we've done this today because I do feel like I'm in the Christmas

mood. Is that, that's not it, no I don't want that. Oh is that cream? That's cream, yeah. Oh, that's fine, actually. No, she was going to have the taste of it. No, it works. It totally works. It totally works. Bang it on. I think I'm going to put my Christmas tree up now. I'm so into this. It's like muesli.

It's heaven. You can mix it with your cream. Bob's your uncle. I am totally transformed into Christmas puddings now. I will literally have one of these every year. I hope you have the most gorgeous Christmas with your family. What have you asked Santa Claus to bring you, Alison, this year? I never ask for anything other than happiness, really. That's the main thing I want. Just Hugh Jackman dressed up. Hugh Jackman, looking huge.

No, I'm only joking. I literally just love the family being around, and that's my present, really. Because I don't really... I don't really, there's nothing I want. I do like to have a little perfume. One perfume I asked for, which is Dior. Which is your, which one? Hypnotica Poison.

Oh. Love it. That's my scent. That's the only thing. And a chocolate orange. Of course. If I don't have a chocolate orange, it wouldn't be Christmas for me. I'd be absolutely gutted.

I'd just walk to the petrol station and get myself one. And what's Aidan getting? I haven't even thought about it at the moment but I know he needs some new tyres for his go-karting. He loves go-karting so I know he needs some new tyres for maybe something as simple as that. Something for his go-kart. Do you think he's going to be a Formula One driver? That's how it all starts. He wants to do it so badly. But at the moment, he's a technician.

So if anything, maybe Formula One, doing behind the scenes, maybe mechanics or something like that. Fantastic, yeah. Alison Hammond, do you think you've got good table manners? What do you think? I just poured my drink on my Christmas pudding.

You're my kind of woman at the dinner table. Do you know what? I just keep it real. You know, at the end of the day, we're here to eat, feed our bellies. You know, I think my table manners are okay, but maybe they could maybe need a bit of improvement. I think you're perfect. We do.

Thank you for bringing the happiness into this room and bringing such joy, and I can't wait for Christmas and it's such a pleasure to meet you. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Right, Alison Hammond is going out the door. Love her.

It's been really, really gorgeous. Well, of course it's easy with her. She's amazing. Just really loved her. I'd quite like to get her back to the house. I can't believe you were wearing identical clothes when this was all like, Alison will be wearing this.

But I didn't know. You tried to upstate her. No, no, no, I didn't. She said she was wearing sequins, Alison will be wearing this. But I didn't know. You tried to upstage her. No, no, no, I didn't. She said she was wearing sequins and to be fair, she said she was going to wear a grey sequin dress. So I thought I'd just wear a black sequin. I didn't think she'd be in a velvet trouser suit like me. It's hysterical and brilliant.

Do I look a bit weird? No, it was amazing. Was it not like I should have got changed? Couldn't it have been more perfect? In your first meeting with Alison Hammond. She's invited us to her, what is it, 38th birthday? She's invited us to that. She just even asked me to sing at it.

Do you think she'll have Chinese? I don't know. Catering. I need to get that chicken with the all-purpose seasoning and Worcester sauce. I'm going to do that for the kids. Alison Hammond, what a treat. Thank you so much to Sainsbury's Taste the Difference for basically putting on a blind date together and making it so easy she was just like the sort of person that

wakes up happy lover yeah she was really lovely gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous um we've had a really easy day and look we can just walk out the door and not clean up no washing up love it thanks Taste the Difference thank you Alison thank you and merry christmas bye the taste difference range is available now in stores and online and it's delicious Please drink responsibly.