Rugby Journal launch new podcast ‘Rugby Lives’ with Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge as first guest

Two Michelin-starred chef and lifelong Gloucester fan Tom Kerridge talks exclusively about his love for the Cherry & Whites, growing up in the west country and the male role models he found in rugby. 

The debut podcast from the award-winning Rugby Journal, Rugby Lives welcomes guests from beyond the sport to talk about their passion for the oval ball game, and as a rugby man through and through, Tom reminisced on his early playing days in Gloucester and his fandom for the Cherry & Whites. “We would go every week to go and watch Gloucester play if we could, particularly when we were kids,” Tom tells Rugby Lives. “We would ride our bikes all the way to Gloucester, dump them around the back and climb over the wall before the ‘Speedy Skips’ stand was built, and watch the games.”

Tom also shares stories from his friendship with ex-Gloucester lock Mark Cornwell, and how, in the absence of his own dad, the male role models he found in rugby helped shape his own views. Not that his mum wasn’t a huge influence, as his house became a gathering point for all his rugby mates. “My mum used to run an open door policy and would cook extra potatoes and veg for kids who were coming round our house who might not have any tea at home.”

Far from just covering rugby, Tom also shares tales from his brief foray into acting with Miss Marple, and also personal struggles, including a battle with alcoholism. “I was drinking serious amounts of alcohol, I was drinking pints of Negroni,” he says. “There’s no such thing as a single drink or pint, it makes no sense to me”.

Taking the story full circle, he also discusses rugby and his eight-year-old son, a budding rugby player with dreams of joining Harlequins. “The most important thing for me is seeing him develop friendships,” he told Rugby Lives. “Rugby clubs provide that safe environment, but also they teach valuable lessons for young people about teamwork and winning and losing.”

New episodes of Rugby Lives will be released throughout the men’s 2025 Six Nations, make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.