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Artwork for The Food Programme

The Food Programme

BBC Radio 4
Nutrition
Climate Change
Obesity
Food Waste
Cooking
Social Media
Food Culture
Food Safety
Public Health
Coffee
Food
Ultra-Processed Foods
Food Security
Bradford
Biodiversity
Mental Health
Japan
Rum
Christmas
Sourdough

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes824Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFood

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Artwork for The Food Programme

Latest Episodes

Dan Saladino reports from Parabere Forum, a gathering of food storytellers, featuring Olia Hercules on the Ukrainian cooks who inspired her, indigenous Australian chef Mindy Woods on saving First Nations' cuisine and Palestinian writer Fidaa Abuhamdi... more

Jaega Wise meets chef and broadcaster Matt Tebbutt at home in South Wales, to discuss his "Life Through Food". Matt has been presenting Saturday Kitchen Life on BBC One for almost a decade, but before he was a TV Presenter he worked as a chef - first... more

Francesco Fiore is a chef and Catering Manager at Milton Keynes University Hospital, and over the last few years has made some remarkable changes to the food experience for patients and staff. Awarded the title of “Caterer of the Year” in 2025 by the... more

Sheila Dillon discusses the rise of eating disorders among young women as part of Radio 4’s “About the Girls” series, which is hearing from teens across the UK about life in 2026.

As the number of young girls suffering from eating disorders increase... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Good Food
Good FoodGood Food

Recent Guests

Dr Maria Panurgia
Consultant, care of the elderly
Milton Keynes Hospital
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Anna Vermillinga
Acute team lead for adults, orthopaedic and gastroenterology wards
Milton Keynes Hospital
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Joe Harrison
Chief Executive, Milton Keynes NHS Trust
Milton Keynes NHS Trust
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Sarah Crane
Head of Chaplaincy
Milton Keynes Hospital
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Jenny McHugh
Patient catering supervisor
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Louise Shotland
Deputy Catering Manager
Milton Keynes Hospital
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Roberto Bosco
Representative, AB Fruits
AB Fruits
Episode: A Day in the Life of a Hospital Chef
Catherine Carr
Reporter behind About the Girls series
BBC Radio 4
Episode: About the Girls
Paula Sauco
Professor at Loughborough University; researcher on social media and eating disorders
Loughborough University
Episode: About the Girls

Hosts

Sheila Dillon
Host of The Food Programme, known for her variety of engaging interviews and ability to navigate complex food topics.
Jaega Wise
Host of The Food Programme, contributing fresh perspectives and insights on various food topics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Wonderful

    I love the food programme. The subjects are so varied and there is something for everyone, whether you are interested in the characters in the food world, the politics of it or how it all works.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fussy frederika
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Periodic Table of Food

    One of the most interesting and important podcast I’ve heard in a long while

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arthur Shufflehouse
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Wow!

    Michael Crawford, just listened, fascinating!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ALittleChaotic
    United Statesa year ago
  • Bad Case of Pseudo-Science

    The Brain Gut Connection episode was a classic example of Myth-Making Journalism masquerading as science. I’m sure many listeners would be misled, as intended, by the jump from saying “there’s a link” between gut biodiversity and mental health to the assumption that it’s a causal link, and hence that increasing gut biodiversity will improve mental health. Classic journalistic misrepresentation in a desperate search for a story…

    Then we cut to the researcher who carried out a study to explore thi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ArgyEll
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • These so-called MPs provided nothing that is new, and give little hope for the future health of the nation! Nice try, but...

    Podcast Addict
    1
    mobfizz
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback mentions concerns over the accuracy or bias on certain topics discussed.
There are mixed feelings about the presentation style, with a few preferring certain hosts over others.
The balance of expert opinions and personal stories is appreciated, making complex subjects relatable.
Listeners praise the wide range of topics and the depth of research behind episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#67
United States/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#7
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#18
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#48
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#137
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#14
Australia/Arts/Food

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
Q: Should we maintain localised facilities and UK capacity for processing?
Yes, to strengthen resilience and national security of the food chain, ensuring that if imports falter, there is sufficient domestic capacity to meet demand.
Is Food Processing the ‘Missing Middle’?
Q: So what can the UK do in terms of bean processing?
Experts suggest supporting a mix of on-farm, mid-scale, and larger processing facilities to provide resilience and keep farms economically viable, while also building demand for UK-grown pulses to justify local processing.
Chefs, Creativity and the Cost of Living Crisis
Q: What specific skills have been useful for chefs in navigating this cost crisis?
Chefs need to be adaptable, having more than just culinary skills but also an understanding of finance and the economics behind food costs.
A Wild Mushroom Chase
Q: What is the general perspective on wild mushrooms in the UK compared to Sweden?
In the UK, people are generally mycophobic and less knowledgeable about mushrooms, unlike consumers in Sweden who understand and encourage wild mushroom foraging.
A Wild Mushroom Chase
Q: What checks are in place in Sweden to make sure the mushrooms are what you say they are?
There are systems in place where mushrooms are checked both upon receiving them from pickers and again before packing for customers.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Food Programme

What is The Food Programme about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the complex and multifaceted world of food, the recent episodes provide insights into various themes such as culinary creativity, the social significance of communal dining, the challenges of food security, and innovative trends in the beverage industry, including alcohol-free options. Notable discussions highlight issues like honey fraud, the history of food production, and the evolution of dietary practices, reflecting a strong commitment to informative and thought-provoking narratives around food cultures globally. This podcast distinctively blends expert voices with personal anecdotes, making complex topics accessible and engaging for its audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Food Programme?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Food Programme. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Food Programme and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Food Programme get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Food Programme, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Food Programme?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Food Programme, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Food Programme have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Food Programme has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Food Programme?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Food Programme:

1. The Food Chain
2. The Kitchen Cabinet
3. Inside Health
4. Sliced Bread
5. Good Food

How many episodes of The Food Programme are there?

The Food Programme launched 16 years ago and published 824 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Food Programme?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Food Programme?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Food Programme from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Food Programme?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Food Programme. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Food Programme?

Recent guests on The Food Programme include:

1. Dr Maria Panurgia
2. Anna Vermillinga
3. Joe Harrison
4. Sarah Crane
5. Jenny McHugh
6. Louise Shotland
7. Roberto Bosco
8. Catherine Carr

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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