People

Muddy Meets: Soprano Laura Wright

The rugby-loving opera A-lister tells all about singing for the crowds, royal encounters and post-lockdown footwear dilemmas.
My favourite places: designer Chloe Kempster

The Chalk Paint® queen and furniture designer behind Maisie's House on TV's Money for Nothing let us in on her top local spots in Leicestershire - how many do you know?
Six lockdown heroines to celebrate IWD

It’s been a bit of a year so to mark International Women’s Day 2021, we thought we’d big up six women who have impressed, delighted and inspired us over the past 12 months.
Chefs Jack and Scott get a roasting

Both their dads are chefs (one just happens to be Heston Blumenthal), they're Michelin trained and they've just launched at home dining with a difference. Let's meet the chefs…
How to run well by a pro marathon runner

Need some work-out motivation? You’re in the right place. Muddy talks to endurance athlete Nick Butter about how to motivate yourself out the door and onto an exerciser regime.
What’s cooking? Calum Franklin, The Pie Room

Fresh from the launch of his mouth-watering new cookbook, we caught up with the London Pie King himself to talk Scotch eggs, the Breville toastie masker and cooking for Axl Rose.
Yes, people, this is Meg Mathews!

Primrose Hill party queen turned wellness guru? Stranger things have happened! Muddy chats to the always glamorous Meg Mathews about her new book, the menopause and, er, vagina facials.
Why Stephen Fry calls Norfolk home

From sea and sky views to antique bookshops and country pubs, the legendary actor and author lets us in on the secret places he most loves in the county.
Muddy meets Lizzie Liebenhals

For the crème de la crème of party planners, it has to be Lizzie Liebenhals. Muddy snatched five minutes to pick the brains of this Surrey party queen.
My favourite places: William Sitwell

Food writer and MasterChef judge William Sitwell has called the chocolate box village of Weston in South Northants home all his life, with Weston Hall having been in the family since 1714. Fancy a peek into his personal Little Black Book?
What’s cooking? Matt Gill, The Hundred at Ashendon

In this new Muddy regular, our favourite chefs spill all about their work, lives and top tips. Dishing it this week: Matt Gill at The Hundred of Ashendon.
My favourite places: Lynne Levin, Levin Wines

Michelin-starred restaurants, a royalty-approved cheese shop and a farm the kids will love? Sign us up, Lynne Levin! We take a peek in the super-glam Levin Wines owner's local address book...
My favourite places: Natasha Lane from Manor Oxford

Property guru and city girl Natasha Lane is always on the hunt for the best spots in Bucks and Oxon - let's see what she's discovered...
Muddy meets: iconic photographer Nick Knight

He's worked with everyone from Alexander McQueen and John Galliano to Lady Gaga and Kanye West - so it's a surprise to find photography genius Nick Knight's newest exhibition is of flowers shot from his garden and showing at Waddesdon Manor! Blooming heck Nick, what's going on?
Muddy meets: Shlomo, beatboxer

He's worked with Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, and Rudimental, and now record-breaking beatboxer Shlomo has a new project on his hands - raising money for the NHS in association with theatres like The North Wall. Tell us about it, Shlo!
Where Willow Crossley goes

Renowned floral stylist, local gal and friend of Muddy, Willow Crossley, knows some stylish local spots that she thinks you'll love. Ready to take notes?
What I’ve learnt in lockdown

Love it or loathe it, lockdown has given us time to learn new skills but has it taught us something deeper? Muddy tapped five women juggling careers, babies and even a tumour, to tell all.
Muddy gets chefy with Olivia Burt

We catch up with the 'Masterchef: The Professionals' finalist to find out her backstage goss, favourite dishes and top spots to eat in London.
Muddy Meets Kristina Rihanoff

We caught up with the jaw-droppingly gorge (yes, even in no make-up after an hour of teaching hot yoga) Strictly pro turned yogini and entrepreneur at her super-slick studio, Soo Yoga in Northampton, to chat about her passion for helping others to prioritise their health and wellbeing.
Melissa Hemsley spills the beans…

It turns out the healthy cooking queen has culinary disasters too! Melissa spills the beans (then whips them up into a tasty frittata) on burnt pans, how to waste less food and keeping an endless supply of cookie dough in the freezer.
The 4 funniest people on social media

Fancy a giggle? These Instagram and Twitter accounts are happy to oblige.
Exclusive! Muddy meets…. Laurence Fox

The actor-turned-singer has been front page news of late. In this exclusive interview, he talks midlife crises, death threats and groupies with Muddy's Kerry Potter.
Muddy meets Josie Long

We caught up with (we reckon) the most positive comedian in the business about motherhood, MasterChef, making people laugh and her new tour, Tender.
Where you heading, Curtis?

From playing Dick Whittington in Wycombe Swan's panto to BBC's The Greatest Dancer the Love Island star has been busy!
Muddy meets… Forbes Masson

Versatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams' books to his kids to playing scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey in the RSC’s new musical adaptation of The Boy in the Dress.
How Helen Glover does it

Champion rower, mother, partner to Steve Backshall and all round marvel - Muddy meets Helen Glover to talk fitness, family and breaking her Olympic gold medal (oops).
Q&A with Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson

The Sussex resident, starring in a show for half term, talks books, performing, fave local attractions and buying a post office
Meet the woman who’s declared war on plastic

We like her style (in every sense). Beth Noy, the founder of Plastic Freedom, runs an online shop collating the coolest plastic-free brands around. She's got some brilliant- and achievable - advice for us all.
Muddy meets… The Oxfordshire Gardener

What would you ask an award-winning garden designer? What hand cream he uses, if his own garden ever looks rubbish and who's his favourite green-fingered celeb, obviously!
GBBO contestant, Priya O’Shea

We're chuffed that she's repping Leicester on this year's series of The Great British Bake Off. Here's everything you need to know about the amateur baker.
Dermot: It’s personal

Love ogling O'Leary? He's DJing at Ascot Races and Muddy's got all the goss on his *coughs* tooooit trousers, love of cats and mojitos with Madonna.
The toughest woman in sport

She's lost teeth and blacked out, but nothing will stop jockey Hollie Doyle getting back in the saddle. Muddy talks to racing's pocket rocket in the run up Ladies Night at Windsor Racecourse.
Celebrating celebrants

Just what does a celebrant do? Muddy spoke to a Sussex ceremony star all about the special occasions she's helped create
Muddy meets Terry

Terry Hall a fan of cream teas and the West Country - who knew? The ska legend talks shopping, selfies and what's on his playlist.
Diary of a Showgirl

Muddy meets Melissa James, who stars as sultry showgirl Dora Chance, in Emma Rice's racy, "life-enhancing" adaptation of Angela Carter's Wise Children, ending its debut UK tour in Coventry.
MUDDY MEETS SHAPPI

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi's new tour, her tips on how NOT to be funny and why you should do things that scare you (hell yeah!)
Lee Mead Q&A

The Joseph and Holby City star talks career, pinch yourself moments and wardrobe malfunctions to Muddy ahead of his My Story shows coming to Sussex
10 minutes with Brendan Cole

Former 'Strictly' bad boy Brendan Cole brings his 'Show Man' tour to Guildford's G Live in March. We grabbed 10 minutes to fire some quick questions his way.
‘It’s a real action-hero, ‘Marvel’-like play’

Super-stylish rising RSC talent Amber James on Gregory Doran's Mad Max-style futuristic dystopian Troilus and Cressida.
Horrible Histories talks to Muddy

The family favourite is back in Sussex. Muddy spoke to co-director Neal Foster about what grisly goings-on are in store
War Horse

Michael Morpurgo's story about a boy and his horse during WW1 is awe-inspiring. We caught up with lead actor Thomas Dennis.
The weird world of Craig David

What do Kestrel Kes, Louboutins and Willy Wonka have in common? Here are 10 things you didn't know about comeback king, Craig.
Sarah Parish’s Favourite Places

Ahead of June's Ginormous Teddy Bear picnic, the Broadchurch actress & co-founder of the Murray Parish Trust gives us her Hampshire hotspots.
Meet the RSC’s new Juliet

Grime culture, streetwear and knife crime; Verona takes on a London vibe in Erica Whyman's bang up-to-date new version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Jane Devonshire’s Faves

From The Cabinet Rooms to her mum's kitchen table, Hampshire's very own Masterchef winner gives us her hotspots.
Rising Star: Dinita Gohil

Muddy meets the Birmingham actor playing Viola in RSC's new production of Twelfth Night with Adrian Edmondson and Kara Tointon.
Spring Mischief: Part I

An interview with Oppenheimer playwright Tom Morton-Smith about his hotly-anticipated new play, The Earthworks, at the RSC’s The Other Place, Stratford until Sat June 17.
Funny girls

Stand-up comedy may be a male-dominated field but watch out fellas, these funny women are coming to Wells
Danielle Waterman

In Rio, she rubbed shoulders with Usain Bolt at dinner and jumped into the lift with Andy Murray. Back in the UK, Danielle Waterman caught up with Muddy Somerset on the phone
My favourite places: Republica’s Saffron Sprackling

Republica frontwoman Saffron Sprackling, most famous for nineties hits Ready to Go and Drop Dead Gorgeous is headlining ISFEST at Isfield in East Sussex this weekend – a fundraising event which features ten singers and bands with local connections. Saffron, who grew up in Sussex, spoke to Muddy Stilettos about her favourite places in the county. […]
Muddy meets: Devine Betty’s & Rockabilly Rose

The greatest wonder of the them all is that the stars of your dinner party could ever align. Why would the melee of choosing the right (and impressive) menu, co-ordinating cooking times, giving good front of house, floral arrangements AND keeping certain guests off the cooking sherry before 8pm cause any consternation – after all […]