1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to River Cafe Table for a production of I 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and Adam I Studios. Briefly, here's a story 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: my mother. You know what she uses her oven for? 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Let me guess by her stockings. No, she used it 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: as a filing cabinet and a filing cabinet. Yeah, if 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: he didn't go in the microwave. Mrs Adams wasn't interested 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: in it. But this was the eighties and I was 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: growing up and it's all about microwaveable food and all 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: being super super quick. So you know, as I began 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: my life in the Spice Girls, we were eating out 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: a lot, going to lovely restaurants, and that was something 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: really quite new. A fashion designer, cosmetics entrepreneur, dancer, businesswoman, 13 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: a mother for a singer. There are a few women 14 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: who have seven or more adjectives attached to their name, 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: and one of them is Victoria Beckham. When Victoria comes 16 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: to the River Cafe, there's no fuss or privilege. She 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: comes in with just her family, her close friends and 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: her colleagues. She arrives early so she is there to 19 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: greet them, and the quiet time before they come is 20 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: spent discussing with us what is on the menu, how 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: it is prepared, and what she would like to order food, 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: how it affects our performance, our health and happiness, and 23 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: how it is shared is important to Victoria Beckham, and 24 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: Victoria Beckham is important to us. You are well. I mean, 25 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: maybe I'll make more fuss when I come the next 26 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: time if I'm that easy. You can, you can do 27 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: whatever you want, but you are. And also I do 28 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: think that there's other people, but very few, who always 29 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: arrive before their guests arrive. And I think it's a 30 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: real act of kindness. It shows that you're kind of 31 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: putting your time this side so that you'll be there 32 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: to greet them. It's very very nice. I like it. Well, 33 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if it's an act of kindness or 34 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: if it's just that we're a desperate to leave the 35 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: house and have a night on our own, or be 36 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: that we're just super excited to get here because we 37 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 1: adore the experience of coming and the food is always incredible, 38 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 1: and the wine is is wonderful and the people watching 39 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: is just everything good. Well, we're also here to listen 40 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: to you read the recipe that you've chosen for today. Okay, 41 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: so my recipe is roasted sea bass. So the ingredients 42 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: are two kilograms of sea bass, scaled and cleaned, a 43 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: hundred gram fennel seeds, two sliced lemons, a few parsley stalks, 44 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: two fennel bulbs trimmed and sliced, the juice of one lemon, 45 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: five tablespoons of olive oil, and seventy five million liters 46 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: of white wine. So you preheat the oven to a 47 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety degrees centigrade, preheat the grill, put half 48 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: of the fennel seeds inside the cavity of the fish, 49 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: and season generously. Brush the skin with a little olive 50 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: oil and grill for about five to six minutes on 51 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: each side until lightly charred. Place half the lemon, slices, parsley, fennel, 52 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: and the remaining fennel seeds in a roasting tin. Lay 53 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: the fish on top and cover with the remaining lemon, parsley, 54 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: and fennel. Pour over the lemon, juice, olive oil and wine, 55 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: and bake for about thirty minutes, or until the flesh 56 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: is firm to the touch. Serve either hot or cold 57 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: with south of Verdi So Victoria. Of all the recipes 58 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: that we haven are books and what you eat in 59 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: the River Cafe? Why did you choose sea bus. I'm 60 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: a very fussy eater. I like things to be cooked 61 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: in a very simple way. I don't like oils and 62 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: butters and sauces. So to most restaurants, I'm probably the 63 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: worst nightmare. But you guys are always so accommodating and 64 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: always cook the food exactly how I like it, very simple, 65 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: very clean, incredibly fresh and just perfect. And then you know, 66 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: I love some steam vegetables on the side, some bald 67 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: stomic vinegar, and then to season myself. Did you come 68 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 1: to this way of eating or did your parents cook 69 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: that way? Did you grow up with very healthy, clean food? 70 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, no, quite the opposite. You know. I've always 71 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 1: been to nice places with my parents and been taken 72 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: on lovely holidays, but I'd never been to the level 73 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: of restaurant I was going to when I was with 74 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: the Spice Girls, and it was all very exciting, and 75 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: very quickly I came to the conclusion that unless I 76 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: adapted a very healthy way of eating, I would just 77 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: be inclined to sit there and eat the entire contents 78 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: of the bread basket, which when you're eating out regularly 79 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: is probably not the healthiest, not when you're on tour 80 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: and you're expecting so much from your body. So I 81 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: just decided from that point to really try and eat 82 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: in a clean way. Lots of fresh vegetables, lots of fish. 83 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: I don't have any dairy at all. I haven't eaten 84 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: red meat since I was about seven years old. Before 85 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: you even go to that, I'd love to know if 86 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: your mother, do you think that she put her filing 87 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: in the oven or didn't use the oven because she 88 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: was doing other things? Did she think cooking was just 89 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: something she had to do rather than wanted to do? 90 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: Do you think do you know she was always a 91 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: great mom and a great wife, and she was always 92 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: busy doing something, But you know, cooking was never really 93 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: her thing. It's never really her passion, if you like, 94 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: if she found her much better abuse of her of 95 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: her oven and so rather myself. But did she do 96 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: the cooking or did you have somebody else? No? No, 97 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: she she did do the cooking. But you know, this 98 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: was when I was younger. This was, you know, when 99 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: it was all about microwaveable Do you know it was 100 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: a real thing. I remember when I was growing up 101 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: so many adverts on the television. It was all about 102 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: food that you could put in the microwave, fast, about 103 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: hurt and get out of the kitchen. Being seven and vegetarian. 104 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: Do you remember what made that happen? I do? I do. 105 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: I was at school and I was in a home 106 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: economics lesson and they were telling us about what was 107 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: I thing. I think it was either hamburgers or sausages 108 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: or something like that, and I was absolutely horrified and 109 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: haven't eaten me since that day. And I have to say, 110 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't miss it. I eat lots of 111 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,799 Speaker 1: fish and I have a very very healthy way of eating. 112 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: But I haven't touched me since then. The children do, 113 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: and David does. And it's not something that I did 114 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: for any reason other than the fact that I just 115 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 1: went off of it when I learned what was in it. 116 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: The shows are kind of determination of a child at 117 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: that age to do that. It's a principle, it's a 118 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: kind of view. So you must have been strong. I 119 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: mean I am, and the way that i'm I'm very 120 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,119 Speaker 1: very disciplined, and I think you know, even Golden Ramsey, 121 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: who's a very good friend of ours, has said he's 122 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: never known anybody be as disciplined about the way that 123 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: they eat, you know, because for me, it's just it's 124 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: who I am. I expect a lot from from myself, 125 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: being you know, a working mom for children, and I 126 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: work out a lot, and I eat very very healthily. 127 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: That's just who I am. And it's just, you know, 128 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: I'm not the most exciting eater. I like to have 129 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: a drink with my dinner, and then I can become 130 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: a very good dinner guest. I'm sure you don't need 131 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: the drink to make you a good dinner dress else. 132 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: But I think that it is interesting to hear that 133 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: trajectory as well, that you you know, and the discipline, 134 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: so you don't because we've all been on diet and 135 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: we all know what it's like to deny ourselves food. 136 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: And I know that you know when you hold back 137 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: sometimes on food, you hold back sometimes on fun or conversation. 138 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: But that I think it your description of your discipline 139 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: rings true. I absolutely don't deny myself anything. You know, 140 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: if I wanted something, I have it, you know, I 141 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: just it's just who I am. You know, I had 142 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: this healthy way of eating that works for me when 143 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: I was growing up. I used to have really bad 144 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: skin as well, and I went to see numerous dermatologists 145 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: over the years, and no one could ever figure out 146 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: what was wrong with my skin where I had such terrible, 147 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: terrible skin. And again that all just cleared up when 148 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: I started eating in this very clean, healthy way as well. 149 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: And also I feel that I have great energy, and 150 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: so I just figured out, you know, and I'm happy 151 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: the way that they are happy. And what about when 152 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: you were growing up? Where would you eat? Would your 153 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: family all eat together? Did you have family meals? Did 154 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: you sit in a living room or in the kitchen 155 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: or the dining room? What were meals at the Adams house? 156 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: But we always sat together and we eat in the kitchen. 157 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: You know, meal time has always been important. It's an 158 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: important time when when you're you know, when you're together 159 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: reflecting on your day. And that's something that we do 160 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: even now, you know, unless my myself or David are 161 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: actually traveling, we always make sure that we are home 162 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: at the same time and that the kids are always there, 163 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: and that's the time when we eat together and we 164 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: discussed our days. And I think it's very important. And 165 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: that's how it was when we were growing up. You know, 166 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: I was always starting in and out and dancing lessons 167 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: and singing lessons. You know, my mom was a taxi 168 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: driver when I was younger, literally running myself and my 169 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: brother and sister around all the activities. You know, my 170 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: mom was a real hands on mom. That's probably part 171 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: of the reason why she loved the microwave meals because 172 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: she was always so busy driving us around and then 173 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 1: sitting down to the meal. So I think whether the 174 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: meal comes from the microwave or or from the oven, 175 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: or from you brought in the actually the idea that 176 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: you were sit around the table and talk. My memories 177 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: of my people always asked me as a chef, you 178 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: know what did my mother cook? And she was a 179 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: good she just simple cook. But she was a teacher 180 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: so she would come back from work. But what I 181 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 1: remember as a conversation, you know, I remember the idea 182 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: that we got around that we had talk around the table, 183 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: you know, politics or the day, what you did during 184 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: the day and the time to do that. You know, 185 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: did you go out to restaurants with your parents? Would 186 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: be special occasion restaurants or would you go up My 187 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: mom and dad used to love you know, on a 188 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: Friday night, it was probably the treat to go to 189 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: the local Indian restaurant. You know, my mom and dad 190 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: loved Indian food, they loved Chinese food and so and 191 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: we traveled quite a lot, so we was always very 192 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: lucky to go on nice holidays and experience different kinds 193 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: of foods. You know, we go to Spain most summers. 194 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: My parents at a house in Spain, so we were 195 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: lucky enough to be able to go there and and 196 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,719 Speaker 1: have you know, foreign holiday. Every year. We go to Press. 197 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: We were lucky enough to go to America a couple 198 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: of times. Actually, we laughed a lot and we had 199 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: some great experiences together. And it's nice now that I 200 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: can do that with my parents, you know, me and 201 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: the kids and David love to take my mom and 202 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: dad out. You know, it's it's a real treat. Family 203 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: time is so so important something that we cherish. I 204 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: was quite touched when you said that the pleasure that 205 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: you gave from actually being able to take out your parents, 206 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: because there is that moment you as you're sort of 207 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: growing up, when you realize that you can actually, after 208 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: years and years of them taking care of you, that 209 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,559 Speaker 1: you can take care of them, and so is that 210 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: something that you associate also with taking them out to restaurants? 211 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: And yeah, because as you said, you know, if you 212 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: have three children, you know it's expensive to go out 213 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: and eat and go on holiday. And I think that 214 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: my parents they were wonderful, wonderful parents. So now the 215 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: fact that we can treat them, we can take them 216 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 1: on holiday, and we can take them to lovely restaurants 217 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,319 Speaker 1: really means a lot. That's something that me and David 218 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: really do enjoy with his parents as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 219 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: both sides are very very close. Going back into the 220 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: trajectory of your childhood and teenage years, how old are 221 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: you when you left home? So I did my GTSC. 222 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: So I was sixteen and I moved to Epsom in Surrey. 223 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: I wanted to be a dancer and a singer. I 224 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: wanted to go into musical theater actually, and I took 225 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: a place at Lane Theater Rance in Epsom in Surrey. 226 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: So I was nervous about that and I didn't enjoy 227 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: that part of it. I was always a little bit 228 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say socially awkward, but I was always quite 229 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: shy when I was a child and as I was 230 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: growing up. I loved the dancing and the singing. But 231 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: again I never really fitted in that well. I don't 232 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: think I really knew who I was. It wasn't until 233 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: I met the Spice Girls and kind of accepted who 234 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: I was, and they brought me out of my shell. 235 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: If you like that, I really became who I am. 236 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: Now do you remember what you ate when you were 237 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: at Oh gosh, yes, I used to eat super noodles. 238 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: I mean very very student style super noodles that you 239 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: put in there. We go again, the microwa. But yes, 240 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: when I was at college, I would eat super noodles. 241 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: I would have frosties, remember the series Frosties, bowls and 242 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: bowls of frosties with skimmed milk. And I used to 243 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: eat those yogurts, you know, those muller like when you 244 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 1: peel the corner off and you dump a whole load 245 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: of sugary you know what into it. Yeah, I used 246 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: to eat a lot of it. But you know, this 247 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: was the nineties when I feel that it was sort 248 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: of rammed down our throats. You know, fat free, fat free, 249 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,319 Speaker 1: fat free. So we used to eat a lot of 250 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,959 Speaker 1: fat free food without realizing how much sugar we were eating, 251 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: and I think that that probably didn't help my skin. 252 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: Back in the day, you know, there was so much 253 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: attention on eating fats free, and now what we know 254 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: is a complete opposite. Actually, I mean, my diet now 255 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: consists of a lot of healthy fats. I mean numerous avocados, 256 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: for example, and seeds and nuts. And now we know 257 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: that fats are good, good fats. But back in the day, 258 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: we were terrified of them. It's crazy. And like I said, 259 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: I think that that probably really didn't help my skin 260 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: as I was growing up, but we didn't realize it 261 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: then when you joined the spice Fields, what was food 262 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: like there? Well, you know, I mean it was so 263 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: much fun. But again, you know, we lived in a 264 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: house together and we ate like students. You know. I 265 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: think I was probably still on the frosties and the 266 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: super noodles and all those kinds of all those kinds 267 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: of things, sharing the food and fighting over the food 268 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: that was in the fridge, like all kind of students do. 269 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: And when I interviewed Paul mccurrently last week, he was 270 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: describing that was a very touching story about going with 271 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: John Lennon to Paris, for the first time they ever 272 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: had a glass of wine, because he grew up in 273 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: Liverpool never had had wine. But he said that there 274 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: was a point when George Martin took them to a 275 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: restaurant called their Uh in London, which was a kind 276 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: of a microt fancy French restaurant, and then he knew 277 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: what good food and good wine was. Was there a 278 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: moment when you were as a measure of your success, 279 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: when you realized what food could be. Got absolutely when 280 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: we signed our record deal with Virgin Records, they took 281 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: us too lovely restaurants and I remember actually when we 282 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: signed our record deal, you know, they opened a bottle 283 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: of Christal champagne. And again this was the nineties, and 284 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: it was like, wow, that champagne. How much? I mean, 285 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: this was just insanity but so much fun and not 286 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: something that any of us had experienced. And I was 287 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: the posh one and I came from a lovely, lovely family. 288 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: It wasn't as paras people thought. I'd never had any 289 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: anything like that in my life, and it was incredibly 290 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: luxurious and we were going to wonderful restaurants and eating 291 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: wonderful food, um and experience that I'll never forget, not 292 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: just in England, but you know, we traveled all around 293 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: the world. You know, we were we were selling records 294 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: in America, in in Japan, we spent time in China. 295 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: We traveled the whole world, and I feel so blessed 296 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: that I visited the most incredible restaurants in the world. 297 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: Would you eat afore a show or would you after it? 298 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: Again a question I asked people about actors. Do you 299 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: eat for them if you're doing a mat name, would 300 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: you have lunch before breakfast? It was their discipline and 301 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: rigor to the way you ate and performed. I mean, 302 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: not with us, but then you know, we we kind 303 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: of just did our own thing, Ruthie. You know, I 304 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: mean I remember once they introduced us to a choreographer 305 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: and we were like, what do you mean you're going 306 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: to tell us what to do? Just going to get 307 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: on stage and we're just going to jiggle around and 308 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 1: we're just going to do our own thing. So, you know, yeah, 309 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: we ate before the show, we ate during the show, 310 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: and we ate off the show. During the show that 311 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: in the middle of quick changes, you know, I mean, 312 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: Melanie c was the most disciplined for sure, but not 313 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: so much. I'm much more disciplined now than I was then. 314 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: You know, I was twenty years old and we were 315 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 1: on the road and we were having fun, um, you know, 316 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: and I was so much more naive than I am now, 317 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: nive and and just ready to just as you say, 318 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: have fun and not be not be held back by 319 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,479 Speaker 1: any you know, but also with a huge rigor. I mean, 320 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: you put on those shows. You were not the twenty 321 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: year old just you know, having fun. You were working 322 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: a lot of work. We were working work, Yeah, we were. 323 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: We were working really we were working really really hard, 324 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: and we did have a lot of fun we did. 325 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 1: And then in the trajectory again of food and work 326 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: and discipline and rigor, you started a business, a business 327 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: of fashion and fashion and food and employing people is 328 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: something major, isn't it? Because you find the eating and 329 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: the food and the discipline and the rigor of being 330 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: an entertainer. Did that also go into being a businesswoman? Yeah, 331 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: you know, at that point then I did start to 332 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: become more conscious of what I was eating because I 333 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: knew that I was sort of demanding a lot from myself, 334 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: and so I was much more disciplined then because you know, 335 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: like I said, I'd go into the stadium in a 336 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 1: pencil skirt and blouse and carrying a bark in And 337 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: then I walked into the dressing room and put on 338 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, a PBC cat suit if you like. And 339 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: then I was a spice girl at night. And I 340 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: knew that I was demanding a lot from myself. And 341 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: so therefore I think, you know, I'm a I'm a 342 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: big believer of if it's not just what you wear 343 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: and what you put on your skin, obviously, I mean 344 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: it's about what you eat and being healthy as well. 345 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: And when you have a show, when you have the 346 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: new finish, do you celebrate, do you go and have food, 347 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,239 Speaker 1: you go out to dinner, do you have food brought in? 348 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:22,479 Speaker 1: Or do you just everybody kind of so exhausted, you know, 349 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: it depends. It depends. I mean, actually, after my last show, 350 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: I came here actually with a few of my team 351 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: members and my mom and dad and my friend and 352 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: my sister. So we actually came here to River Cafe 353 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: to celebrate. But I'm looking forward to I'm looking forward 354 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: to the next show and business getting back on track. 355 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,919 Speaker 1: Nothing more. Well, we're in the process of working on 356 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: a pre collection at the moment um, and then we'll 357 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: have our main collection in September. But I'm looking forward 358 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: to things getting back to normal because I think socializing 359 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: and and eating and um and drinking with friends and 360 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 1: colleagues is so so important in my Victoria. Yeah, it's 361 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: been it's been a hell of a year, right, Yeah, 362 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: And so we think about you know, we've talked about 363 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: food and family and food and love and your parents 364 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: and exposure to new new places and travel. Food also 365 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: can give us comfort. And so my last question to 366 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: you on this very flusterry River Cafe day is to 367 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: ask you what is your comfort food? And this is 368 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: where I sound even more boring in the food department. 369 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: You're not boring in the food department. You're interesting in 370 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: the food. Okay, what do I like? You know? I 371 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 1: like whole grained toast with salt on it? Good? Is 372 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: that really boring? You know? Is that carby thing? Isn't it? 373 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: Is that carbohydrate that makes you feel comforted? And I 374 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: love salt. I'm a slavery person is supposed to a 375 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: sweet person? Yeah? I think that sounds like a very 376 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 1: good comfort food. And it's been a very very lovely 377 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 1: conversation thank you, thank you so much, thank you. It's great. 378 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: Is this for me? That's nice? What is it? I 379 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: think it might be fall Contina very nice. Is that 380 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: what you're having? There? We go? I am both having nice. 381 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: Let's go in the afternoon is my kind of day. 382 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: To visit the online shop of the River Cafe. Go 383 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: to shop the River Cafe dot co dot uk. River 384 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: Cafe Table four is a production of I Heart Radio 385 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 1: and Adam I Studios. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, 386 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: visit the I heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever 387 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: you listen to your favorite shows.