I was in this room in The River Café three years ago, writing to Ridley Scott to ask if he’d be the first guest for a podcast idea I’d had about food and memories.

Ridley wrote back saying, ‘Yes Ruthie but I’m directing Gucci.’

A year later, ‘Yes Ruthie but I’m directing Napoleon.’

A year later, ‘Yes Ruthie but I’m directing The Bee Gees.’

Then a few days ago, whilst sitting in the River Cafe garden with his family, he drew a beautiful drawing on the wine list with the words: ‘Ruthie, how about next Tuesday?’

Like knowing where I was when I first saw one of his movies, I know that in years to come I’ll remember exactly where I was when I sat with Ridley Scott, talking about food and memory, food and family – food and love.

Ruthie’s Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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Quite often, people say to me, ‘I couldn’t possibly have you to dinner, you’re the chef of the river café, cooking for you would be overwhelming.’ That’s how I feel about introducing Sir David Hare. How do you write for one of the greatest writers of our generation? Whether he's scripting acclaimed plays like Skylight, Plenty, Stuff Happens, or movies like The White Crow, Denial, or The Reader, David is nothing short of a master of the written word.

But I do think David and I have much in common. We both like being hosts; me, in The River Cafe, and David at his home, where he understands the theatre of sitting at a table. We both know that if food brings a table to life, so do the people around it.

Today, we are here together in the River Cafe to talk about food, memories, theatre, travel and more. It would be natural to feel overwhelmed, but David makes it easy, and I just feel delighted, and lucky, to have him here.

Ruthie's Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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Tina Fey has been on Ruthie's Table 4 before and she is, in fact, our first returning guest.

When we first met, she spoke about food being a major part of her life, but she only brought one half of her team. The other half, Jeff Richmond, is here with us now. A composer, producer, director, Jeff is Tina's creative partner, and he's her husband. He says he does all the cooking.

Tina and Jeff have collaborated on almost everything, and now they're here in London to open the Mean Girls Musical at the Savoy theatre. I will be there on opening night.

Today we're going to talk about working with someone you love, music and comedy, cooking and eating together, and more...

Ruthie’s Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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Jane Hartley was the American ambassador to France and Monaco, and now to the Court of Saint James. In the two years she has spent in the United Kingdom so far, Jane has had two monarchs, three prime ministers, four chancellors, and a late-stage pandemic.

She has the qualities necessary for the role in abundance: leadership, resilience, duty. I know her as a close friend, and though I always introduce Jane as Ambassador Hartley, my nickname for her is Miss Sparkle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without sequins on a sweater, dress, earrings, or even the shoes she’s wearing today.

Now, we’re going to get together to talk about work, duty, family and food. I know she will be informed, and I know she will sparkle.

Ruthie’s Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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A few weeks ago, I was invited to a gala dinner at the National Theatre. The host of my table, Yana Peel, said she was sitting me next to a young filmmaker who had recently won a BAFTA. Then I met an artist whose work had just been exhibited at Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Los Angeles, and is about to be shown at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Then I met a champion volleyball player who, aged 18, represented Britain in the 2012 London Olympics. Today in The River Cafe, I'm about to talk with all three as Savanah Leaf incredibly, is them all. The London-born, California-raised athlete turned artist, who still only 30, has just won the BAFTA for Best British debut Director for her powerful film Earth Mama.

The executive chef of The River Cafe Sian Owen is joining us, now we are five. A Cook, an artist, a director, an athlete and me. Women rule.

Ruthie’s Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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If you find yourself on a mountain needing a ski jacket, going to a party needing something beautiful to wear, or in Paris or Milan craving perfect fish, the man to meet is Remo Ruffini, CEO and Chairman of Moncler co-owner of Langosteria restaurants in cities all over the world.

Remo is dynamic, elegant and a visionary, putting sustainability at the heart of the company.

His leadership is a manifestation of Moncler’s ethos, dreaming big and bringing those dreams to life.

Today I'm in Milan for Design Week. Moncler has taken over the central train station to launch its latest campaign, An Invitation to Dream, curated by Jefferson Hack. I'm in Remo’s home celebrating fashion, innovation, inspiration and daring to dream.

Ruthie’s Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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We've only just met, but I'm confident Claire Saffitz and I will be friends

Claire shares the challenges of baking and life in general. She's a star in a new era of food writers who are experts in their knowledge, passionate about their craft, rigorous about their work.

Claire majored in history and literature at Harvard, then one day, almost by accident, she became the host of her own cooking show.

She has written two cookbooks, Dessert Person and What's For Dessert, both New York Times bestsellers.

I've come to New York to meet Claire - we have a lot to discuss.

This episode of Ruthie's Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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My brother, Michael Elias, a writer and director tells me when visitors come to the set of a film, nothing stops. The only exception is if they are athletes.

Maybe it’s because everyone thinks, if pressed, they could act, sing or dance, but never run a race, ski downhill or score a goal. When Gary Lineker, one of the great footballers of our time, walks into The River Cafe everything stops.

He is one of the very few footballers never to have received a red or yellow card — consistent with who he is: principled, respectful and fair — values we share.

We’re also both in the world of podcasts - his company Goal Hanger has 18 million listeners a month.

Gary and I also share the world of food.

Look at his Instagram account and you will see as many photographs of what he is cooking as the games he is analysing on Match of the Day.

Today, Gary is in The River Cafe kitchen with Joseph Trivelli making Potato Gnocchi with tomato sauce.

When he comes back I will definitely stop what I’m doing to talk to him about food, football, family and principles.

It’s a goal.

Ruthie's Table 4 is made in partnership with Moncler.

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