Nigel Slater: the food writer opens the door to his fascinating home life

Nigel is the first podcast guest ever to make me cry. I'm a big fan of his writing, and suspected he'd be a kindred spirit, but spending the day with him in his house was an overwhelming experience I wasn't prepared for.

He lives around the corner from where I grew up, in a pared-back way that feels very familiar. In this remarkably honest conversation, he outlines the essential role his home plays in keeping him on an even keel. 

We discuss what it's like to suffer from panic attacks, and how they're triggered by the built environment. He tells me that whenever he arrives in a building he hasn't been to before, the first thing he does is check where the exit is so that he can plan his escape. 

We touch on the childhood trauma that he wrote about in his brilliant memoir, Toast, from his mother's death to his father's bullying. We discuss the roots of his lifelong interest in gardening, why he keeps a daily diary, and the importance of smell within the home. 

This is a conversation I'll remember forever. Thank you, Nigel.  

This episode was recorded in person at Nigel's home in London.

For more:

Pick up a copy of Nigel Slater's latest book, A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy … a Memoir of Sorts

Find out more about Nigel's collaboration with Perfumer H

Subscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspiration

Pick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live

Follow Matt Gibberd on Instagram

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Watch our Homing In films on YouTube

Producer: Laconic Collective

Graphic Design: Ben Tucker

Music: Simeon Walker

This episode is sponsored by Vitsoe.

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