Routes

• The Quiet Coach: Ice Plunges, Cue Cards, and Comedy with Suzi Ruffell

  What happens when a self-confessed show off who was made to feel stupid at school becomes a bestselling author and one of the UK's most loved comedians? In this Quiet Coach episode, Suzi Ruffell opens up about her journey from struggling with severe dyslexia to writing a book that surprised even herself. She reveals how she actually writes her standup, working from single word cue cards and improvising stories on stage rather than scripting every line, and shares the lovely moment her publisher told her "I don't care how you spell things, I care about your story," which opened up a whole new world for someone who'd been told they couldn't write.Expect candid chat about letting go of the good gigs before your ego gets unbearable, the travel essential ear plugs that deaden sound without blocking it completely, and why there's always a whippet draped across her on the sofa at home. Plus, Suzi's train snack of choice is refreshingly sensible (fruit salad and biscuits with endless cups of tea), she's got strong opinions about audiobooks for thrillers versus physical books for gentler reads, and she shares the rhythms of tour life from weekly Tuesday morning podcast recordings with best mate Tom Allen to winding down with ice plunges she can only manage for thirty seconds.

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• Suzi Ruffell: Tea, Trains and Edinburgh Festival Tales

  From childhood holidays in caravans with cousins to selling out Edinburgh Festival shows and traveling the country on tour, Suzi Ruffell's life has been shaped by journeys both literal and creative. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the award winning comedian and Sunday Times bestselling author chats with Jenni about her love of train travel, how she became a standup storyteller, and why Edinburgh Festival is basically "clown town on a train."Suzi reflects on her early years in Portsmouth, those magical trips to Disney World (courtesy of her dad's lorry selling connections), and how she went from drama school graduate working in a pub to building a comedy career with nothing but open mic nights and determination. She also shares behind the scenes tales of writing her book on trains around the country, the mixed bag of Edinburgh Festival experiences, and that chaotic dash across Switzerland involving three trains, one double decker, and an hour to spare before the Lionesses Euro final.Expect laughter, honest chat about imposter syndrome, and some proper train enthusiasm too, including why Suzi loves the disconnection of rail travel, her elaborate system for working on trains (involving ear defenders and a privacy screen), and that time she accidentally blagged her way into a FIFA party with Maisie Adam. Plus, find out what it's like when your five year old daughter thinks you're the coolest person alive, even if your shows would be better with songs and dances.Discover The Best Places to Visit in The UK by Train with LNER

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• The Quiet Coach: Why the Journey Beats the Destination with Stephen Mangan

  In this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER, Jenni Falconer sits down with actor, comedian and presenter Stephen Mangan to talk about his travel obsessions, from panic buying enough fruit to open a market stall to running 40 miles a week just to stay on top of his snack habit. A devoted Quiet Coach fan who can't understand why anyone would want to hear someone else's phone conversation, Stephen proves he's got strong opinions about train etiquette but absolutely no self control when it comes to blueberries, protein shakes, and post recording gift baskets.He shares the travel traditions that have become non negotiable in his life, from listening to the entire White Album with his sons on the drive from Knock airport to his family's Irish hometown (no skipping allowed) to his transformation from minimalist packer to someone who now travels with his own pillow, multiple heart monitors, and possibly his own milk supply if he doesn't trust the destination. There's warmth and honesty as he admits he's not really someone who travels to arrive somewhere, he genuinely loves the journey itself, whether that's dreaming about spending weeks walking the Southwest Coast Path or simply settling on a train with a book knowing he's got time to read. It's a funny, surprisingly relatable listen that proves even someone who presents Landscape Artist of the Year still needs to be constantly on the move, even if they can't quite explain why.

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• Stephen Mangan: Snakes, Ant Hills and Interrailing Chaos

  This week on Routes from LNER, Jenni Falconer is joined by the brilliant Stephen Mangan, an actor, author and all round storyteller with a lifetime of travel mishaps and memories. From childhood road trips to County Mayo with fifty two cousins waiting at the other end, to ferry crossings, car sickness and cassettes on loop, Stephen paints a vivid picture of holidays that felt like travelling halfway around the world. The tales only get wilder, including sleeping on an anthill in Lisbon, nearly drifting out to sea in Portugal and waking up to a snake or possibly a rope on the roof of his tent in California.Stephen also reflects on the journeys that shaped his career, from his early theatre years in Nottingham, where he first felt the thrill of being paid to act, to his interrailing adventures and a thirty three hour train across the Rockies that remains one of his favourite trips. He shares how travel opened his world long before mobile phones, why running is his favourite way to explore new places and what it is really like touring the UK for Landscape Artist of the Year.This is a warm, funny and surprisingly tender episode that celebrates curiosity, independence and the pure wonder of seeing new places from a train window. Stephen’s stories prove that even the toughest travel moments become the ones you never forget.Discover The Best Places to Visit in The UK by Train with LNER

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• The Quiet Coach: Finding Stillness on the Move with Ella Eyre

  In this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER, Jenni Falconer sits down for a calm catch-up with singer-songwriter Ella Eyre to talk about her favourite travel rituals, go-to comfort snacks, and the little luxuries that make touring life bearable. From her love of skincare routines and Yorkshire Tea-dipped jammy dodgers to her trusty travel kettle for those American hotels that never have one, Ella proves she’s got the art of the journey nailed.She shares the travel moments that shaped her most, from life at boarding school in Somerset to the inspiration she found in Japan’s culture, food, and impeccable knives. There’s plenty of warmth and humour too, as she reveals her obsession with crisps, her deep affection for off-menu podcasts, and why she can’t travel without her own pillow that smells like home.And in true Quiet Coach style, Ella reflects on the lessons travel has taught her, staying calm when things go wrong, adapting quickly, and always finding light at the end of a delayed connection. It’s a soft, funny, and surprisingly honest listen that proves even global pop stars need a good biscuit, a face mask, and a plan B plug adapter.

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