Sophie Willan is the latest guest on foodie podcast, Dish from Waitrose, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE.

The Alma's Not Normal star spills the beans on all soprts of subjects ranging from winning three BAFTAs; dating apps; becoming a mum; Bolton dynasties; Lancashire butter pie; and tequila rose. She also talks about her upcming book and discusses her upcoming book; The Great British Sewing Bee and a new role for Netflix.

Get a taste of the interview from these quotes below.

Dish from Waitrose is available on all podcast providers.

SOPHIE ON HER 3 BAFTAS

“I know, it's greedy, really. They're in my living room- at the minute, but I'm having an office built in the garden, so they'll be bobbing in there. It's good to remember when you're writing- and you think, this is s***. It also helps when you're hungover. And you look over at them. And you go, I'm not a complete f****** idiot.”

SOPHIE ON DATING APPS

“I split up with someone. I think that's when I saw you [Nick and Angela]. Yeah, but I went on Feeld, put DTF. I tell you what, I had the busiest 2 weeks of my life. It was exhausting. And then I went on the normal apps- and then I met Carniel, which could have been a civilised date- but I actually got really pissed- you know, by accident. You know, you're a bit nervous. Yeah, and I got a bit drunk, and then we were walking back, and I just suddenly needed a piss, and everything had closed, and I was, I just, and then I ran to, I just, this big building, I wasn't really looking, and I just squatted, and he went, “That's the Houses of Parliament!” I couldn't believe he called again after that. As I left, I went, "Oh, probably never see each other again, but great to meet you." Then he messaged me. So that was quite nice, actually. And now he's in the house.”

“This is the problem. You put DTF - and then before you know it, you're decorating a nursery.”

SOPHIE ON BECOMING A MUM

“I mean, I thought I would really struggle- and I've just normally struggled- which I think is good, isn't it? And I'm glad I've done it later. I think if I'd have done it younger, I'd have found it really difficult. But he's, I'm very lucky. He's a very chilled out baby. Which I don't know where he's got that from. But he's lovely. He's got that Caribbean- energy as well. So it's like a Caribbean and a northerner.”

“You know, just there's not much sleep- at the moment. Yes, but then it's difficult 'cause we're both working- at the minute. So, but you work it out, don't you? Last night I did the night shift. He [the baby] woke up at 1, screamed till 3:30. He wants just comfort. You know, we all want comfort- at 1am, don't we really?”

SOPHIE ON HER NEW BOOK

“I am writing a book. Um, actually great- because writing a series is really difficult. It's non-fiction- and it's memoirs- but it's short stories- and it's going to be dedicated to Elijah. It's for my adult son. So, it's a series of like think pieces and bits of advice. From my own personal experiences- that I'd like to share with him that I can't share with him as a child- because it'd be nice for him to have boundaries. I didn't have boundaries- so I knew everything. But I think not having boundaries gives you a bit of a wisdom and an understanding of other people's experience- outside your own. But then it is good to have boundaries, otherwise you have to have a lot of therapy. So, you know, so I want to dedicate this book to him.” 

“So, I've written a few chapters of it so far and I've planned the whole thing out. You know, just loads of different things. There's one, be good to the gays and the dolls- and then I do a whole bit on, you know, well, me coming up through the queer circuit and then the Pink Pound- and our responsibilities- as allies and all of that. I think for having a son, you do feel a responsibility, I think, to kind of- you know, share your perspective- as a woman as well.”

SOPHIE ON ‘ALMA’S NOT NORMAL’

“I had it with Alma, Alma's Not Normal. So obviously you're writing it for everyone. You want it to have a universal appeal- but it's also a love letter to certain people. So, Alma's Not Normal was a love letter to care experience people- and, you know, people like my mum- and things like that.”

SOPHIE ON HER NEW NETFLIX ROLE

“I got this Netflix, uh, series. It's a drama role. This is why I dyed my hair, because- I thought it'd be sensible, you know. Yeah, I wanted to just be a bit more serious, not Alma. So, I thought it'd make me look different- you know. But that's quite a long process. That's like 2 and a half months filming. It's a big series.”

SOPHIE ON ‘THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE’

“Sewing Bee's fab. It's just the lovely production company. Esme and Patrick are the judges. They're both fabulous. And they're quite a funny little double act, you know. They're always bickering and- then they'll be out doing karaoke together and stuff- like that. It's just fantastic. Just a really fun, camp- lovely show. And all the contestants, you get really attached to them. You know, as the time goes on- you know, you're really rooting for them.”

“Mind you, some of the contestants do get really- emotional. There was one contestant on, she had partial sight in 'cause she'd lost her sight in. And, but she was chatting very passionately and she's a wonderful woman. I think it's gonna end up on Love of Huns or something- you know- it's a moment. She's going, you know, “Just because I've lost a bit of my sight, it's not stopping me, so I feel fantastic, duh, duh, duh.” And then we get, I'm looking at that thing and I went, “This is fantastic. So why have you picked, you know, um, streaky bacon as your pattern?” And she went, “What?” I said, “Streaky bacon as your print.” She went, “It's roses.” I was like, “No, it's streaky bacon.” She'd covered this bag in a print with streaky bacon. Yeah, but she thought it was roses because she'd lost a bit of her sight. I was like, “Listen, Lady Gaga did it!” I said, “You are punk, you know- this is fabulous.” And then she reclaimed it then, she felt fabulous.”

Picture: Harriet Langford Studio