The Apple & The Tree
The Apple & The Tree is a podcast where a parent and their adult child ask each other about the parts of their shared history they've always wanted to know more about. These are deep, intimate conversations covering love, grief, shame, sexuality, religion, addiction, and identity. Recorded in the guests' own homes, the show feels like an invitation to sit alongside them. At the end of each episode, host Richard Coles and the guests unpack what's been shared to discover if the apple really does fall far from the tree.
Episodes
Laura and Anne: I Felt and Looked Like an Alien and I Couldn't Leave the House
Laura, an alopecia advocate, and her mother Anne, who has severe eczema, discuss their life-altering experiences with visible differences. Recorded in Laura's kitchen, the pair recount Laura's struggle with hair loss from age 13 and Anne's lifelong battle with eczema. They touch on how ADHD influenced their, at times, chaotic family life and explore societal perceptions of beauty and normalcy. Lau
Hannah and Brett: When I Fell Pregnant Everyone Prepared Me For The Worst
Welcome to The Apple and the Tree with host, Richard Coles. In Episode Five of this new series, we're in Milton Keynes to meet Hannah and her dad, Brett.In this charged and emotional episode, Hannah and Brett share a very real conversation about their respective health challenges and the impacts they have on their families. Hannah, who has albinism, talks about the support she received from her pa
Lisa and Lesley: Dad's Been Gone Longer Than He Was Here
Welcome to The Apple and the Tree with host, Richard Coles. In Episode Four of this new series, we're in Central London to meet Lisa and her mum, Lesley.Lisa and Lesley’s deeply personal and revealing conversation covers their family history, Lesley's challenging pregnancy, and Lisa's childhood. They talk very openly about the impact on both of them of Lisa's father's death 23 and acknowledge how
Fiona and Steven: I Don’t Want Me Not Being Around To Ruin My Son’s Life
Welcome to The Apple and the Tree with host, Richard Coles. In Episode Three of this new series, we're in Manchester to meet Fiona and her dad, StevenIn 2017 Fiona - then aged 34 - began experiencing symptoms of breathlessness and a dry cough which were later identified as early signs of Pulmonary Fibrosis, a terminal disease. She is married with a young son, Harry. Fiona and her dad Steven, 71, s
Rebekah and Pamela: The Post Office Told Me £10000 Was Missing
Welcome to The Apple and the Tree with host, Richard Coles. In Episode Two of this new series, we're in Liverpool to meet Rebekah and her mum, Pamela.As an ex-Subpostmistress, Pamela faced an armed robbery while pregnant - later bankruptcy loomed due to shortfalls occurring in her Post Office due to a faulty accounting system. Meeting in Rebekah’s Liverpool home, the pair discuss Pamela's unexpect
Alex & Doreen: If We Do Not Amputate, You Will Die
Welcome to The Apple and the Tree with host, Richard Coles. In Episode One of this new series, we're in Hampshire to meet Alex and his mum, Doreen.This is a deep and heartfelt conversation where mother and son talk of Alex’s late father, his own struggles with alcohol, and the severe illness that almost killed him.In 2013 Alex lost all four limbs having barely survived Strep A sepsis - since when
Simon Rimmer: I Was Absent For So Much
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Seven of this new series, we're in Manchester to meet celebrity chef, restaurant owner and 2017 Strictly contestant Simon Rimmer and his daughter, sales and marketing specialist, Flo.In a deeply personal, funny and very moving conversation they talk about missing out on your child’s earliest years, the pleasures and
Gillian McKeith: It's A Privilege To Have A Life
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Six of this new series, we're in Central London to meet nutritionist, author and TV presenter Gillian McKeith and her daughter, actor, dancer and singer, Afton.In a far-reaching and very personal conversation they talk about pregnancy and nearly losing your baby, what school is like when your mum is known as “poo la
Tamer Hassan: When You Left, I Was Devastated
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Five of this new series, we're in Central London to meet Football Factory, Game of Thrones and Kick-Ass actor Tamer Hassan and his daughter, salon owner and Love Island star, Belle.In a funny and deeply personal conversation they talk about going through IVF, their own very different childhoods, difficulties in rela
Hilary Whitehall: You Can't Have It All - It's A Myth
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Four of this new series, we're in Central London to meet actress, author, podcaster and photographer, Hilary Whitehall and her daughter, documentary producer, Molly Wilkinson.In an intimate, revealing and free-flowing conversation, they talk about struggling with motherhood, the myth of “having it all”, the unrealit
Michael Gove: Everything Makes Me Anxious
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Three of this new series, we're in Westminster to meet former Conservative Cabinet Member and current Editor of The Spectator, Michael Gove and his son, University student, Will.In a bright, pacy and free-flowing conversation, they talk about growing up with a Tory politician for a dad, the impact of Brexit on famil
Les Ferdinand: You Could Fit In The Palm Of My Hand
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode Two of this new series, we're in Hertfordshire to meet football coach, pundit and former professional footballer, Les Ferdinand and his daughter, actor and sports event consultant, Lauren.In a deep-thinking and free-flowing conversation, they talk about the cost of following your dream, childhood, celebrity, family,
Vanessa Feltz: Love Is The One Thing That Isn't Rationed
Welcome Back to The Apple and the Tree with our new host, Richard Coles!In Episode One of this new series, we're in St John's Wood in North London to meet TV presenter, radio host, author, and journalist Vanessa Feltz and her daughter, childhood anxiety therapist, Saskia Joss.In an emotional and free-flowing conversation, they talk about pregnancy, childhood, adventure, celebrity, family, mother/d
A Special Episode with Ben and Liz
If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard on the show, call Marie Curie’s Support Line for free on 0800 090 2309. Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to suicide. You can also call Samaritans for free anytime on 116 123.Welcome back to Season Two of The Apple and The Tree presented by our new host, Richard Coles. In this episode, Richard meets Ben Jones and his mother, Liz Jone
11: A special episode with Livi Deane
This episode is sponsored by Cancer Research UK. In this special episode we’re in Horsham in West Sussex to meet Livi Deane and her mum, Sarah. Aged just 12, Livi was diagnosed with a rare retinoblastoma, becoming only the second person ever in the UK to have the disease that was over the age of five. Desperate not to lose her eye, Livi went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy and spent a year in re
10: Jamie & Jacqui
In Tunbridge Wells in Kent we meet Jamie and his mum Jacqui. Jamie is an online fitness instructor and global body-building competitor who wanted to talk to Jacqui about his decision to revert to Islam and marry a muslim woman. From a young age Jamie had obsessive tendencies, he hated school, became a heavy drinker and even spent time in prison in Thailand. Jacqui wanted to know if he recalled his
9: Julie, Leo, & Tom
In Waltham Abbey in Essex we meet Julie, her son Tomor and his elder sister, Leonora. Julie’s late husband Bill arrived in the UK as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia and was a kind and loving father who, over time, became gripped by a gambling addiction which ultimately caused him to take his own life in a terrifying way. Leonora, Tom and Julie have all been through counseling since his death
8: Jasmine & Patricia
In Putney, South West London, we meet mum Patricia and her daughter Jasmine, who was adopted from China as a baby. Jasmine has always wanted to ask Patricia, who suffered the loss of her birth daughter at a very young age, about how and why she decided to pursue a transracial adoption and how she feels about the process now. Patricia, who suffers from ataxia, a disorder that affects coordination,
7: Ashley & Denise
In Mitcham in South London we meet Ashley and his mum, Denise. Ashley is hugely proud of his mum, a woman who, for years, has worked tirelessly to help her community even through her cancer diagnosis and subsequent mastectomy. Denise split with Ashley’s dad when he was very young and Ashley wants to talk about the times he felt unsafe without a male parent in the house and explore why Denise still
6: Iman & Shahla
In Brighton we meet Iman and her mum, Shahla. Iman wanted to know more about her mum’s childhood and what it was like to move from Pakistan to England as a teenager. The family suffered the loss of Iman’s father during lockdown after a long and complicated illness. Iman felt this devastating event had changed their relationship and wanted to explore this with her mum, as well as talk about the mis
5: Ally & Wendy
In Reading in Berkshire we meet Ally and her mum Wendy. As a teenager, Ally discovered she had MRKH, a rare congenital disorder that means she was born without a vagina, womb or cervix. Understandably, this was extremely difficult for Ally and her mum to deal with and Ally lived through some wild years with difficult relationships and risky behaviour. Now an advocate and spokesperson for the MRKH
4: Alex & Sue
In Forest Hill, South East London, we meet Alex and his mum Sue. In 2020, shortly after he turned 30 Alex was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease after suffering for months with twitches and loss of strength in his hands. He’s now 33 and is a wheelchair user. Alex wanted to ask his mum about the impact of his MND diagnosis on the family, how she felt when both he and his elder brother came out as
3: Lois & Julie
Recorded in our studios in Central London, we meet Julie and her daughter Lois. Julie was born in Scotland, trained as a singer, brought her children up in South London and now lives in Surrey. Lois wanted to ask her mum about her own childhood, where she was abandoned by her father and her mother attempted to burn the house down with the children locked inside. Lois has never spoken to her mum ab
2: Laura & Ana
In Flitwick in Bedfordshire, we meet Ana and her daughter, Laura. Ana was born in Romania and moved to the UK when she was just 20 and expecting a child. Laura wanted to talk to her mum about her life in Romania, the shame culture the country still suffers with and how her parents built the good life that they all now enjoy. Ana talks about the racism and prejudice she has faced - and sometimes st
1: Sam & Lak
In Tottenham, North London, we meet Sam and his dad, Lak. Sam wanted to talk about growing up gay in the Indian community and his dad's reaction to his coming out. Lak knew his son would always remember his reaction and he treated the news with acceptance and understanding, something which Sam says is still rare across South Asian culture - although he wonders if there was a clue in Lak’s Mariah C
Introducing... The Apple & The Tree
Launching on 19th April, Vogue Williams hosts The Apple and The Tree, a brand new podcast where a parent and their adult child get to ask each other about the parts of their shared history they’ve always wanted to know more about, but never given themselves the time to do so. These are deep, intimate and revealing conversations that move through love, grief, shame, sexuality, religion, addiction,
