INTERVIEWER: Minty, can we start with you...how did POSH NOSH come about?

MINTY: Well, basically, Simon and I were in our restaurant, the Quill and Tassel at Bray, it was a Friday night, which is our busiest night, apart from all the others, obviously, and this man came in, and he looked like a fascinating man, you can tell, can't you, so I sat down next to him and got talking, the way you do...

SIMON: He wore a white tee shirt.

MINTY: He wore a white tee shirt, yes, and it turned out he was a BBC producer... and we got on like a house on fire. Cos I'm a bit of a people person, I like to flirt, to be honest...

SIMON: He had a blue suit, a white tee shirt, and deck shoes. I thought he was blind.

MINTY: And one thing led to another really and POSH NOSH was born.

INTERVIEWER: So what's the idea behind the series?

SIMON: Death duties.

MINTY: 'Extraordinary food. For ordinary people.'

INTERVIEWER: And how would you define 'extraordinary food'?

SIMON: Well, it's mine, isn't it.

MINTY: It's like this house. This house is extraordinary because it was built by hand, with love. For the first Earl of Marchmont in 1685. It's the same with our food, though it's not so old.

SIMON: We live in a country where supermodels are more important than fennel. Just think about that.

PAUSE

INTERVIEWER: So you want everyone in the country to create extraordinary food?

MINTY: That's right.

SIMON: That's right. Not everyone. We don't want fat people.

MINTY: What's 'fat' mean, though, darling?

SIMON: I think we all know what 'fat' means. It's a very short word.

MINTY: We just think it would be a better country if everyone shaved a little fennel on their bread and butter pudding.

SIMON: Basically, I'm interested in people who spend ten grand a year on food. If you're not prepared to spend that kind of money, what's the point of having a mouth?

INTERVIEWER: That's rather a lot though, isn't it? Many people don't have that kind of money to spend on food.

SIMON: Well, they can sell a painting then.

MINTY: We believe it's always worth spending that bit extra. Specially on buying your food from its native source.

SIMON: Always go to the source!

MINTY: Simon's just been on a spice buying trip to Morocco. They have all these spice boys in the markets...

SIMON: The spice boys are amazing. Go to the grand souk in Tangier and you can actually smell coriander in the spice boys' hair.

MINTY: That just doesn't happen in Tesco.

SIMON: They don't have spice boys in Tesco.

MINTY: No, that's what I'm saying. You have to go to the source.

INTERVIEWER: A lot of people would love to know what you think of the other tv chefs?

MINTY: I don't think of them as rivals. I think of them as friends, really.

SIMON: You don't know them!

MINTY: Potential friends, then.

INTERVIEWER: Who's your favourite, Simon?

SIMON: I don't watch television.

MINTY: You watch 'East Enders', darling.

SIMON: Apart from East Enders, obviously. I find it fascinating. They never drink wine.

MINTY: Simon loves wine.

INTERVIEWER: Do you have a recommendation for us?

SIMON: Yes. Drink a lot of wine.

MINTY: Didn't you have a thing with Nigella at Oxford?

SIMON: One was young.

MINTY (to camera): Bad luck, Nig! He's mine now!

SIMON: Don't say 'Nig'.

MINTY: Sorry.

SIMON: I called her 'Gella'.

INTERVIEWER: So how did you two meet then?

MINTY: It was when Simon had The Tawny Owl at Henley. In those days - it seems hard to believe now - I was working for this company that did laundry for restaurants...tablecloths, napkins and so on. It was a very classy company, obviously it was, because they don't have tablecloths in Kentucky Fried Chicken!

SIMON: How do you know?

MINTY: You can see through the window.

SIMON: Fair enough.

MINTY: So I came in the restaurant, with my big bag, and you're always very nervous with a new client, and Simon was there, waving his hands at this haddock custard cos he wasn't happy with the texture. I don't think it had been properly exasperated. And he was wearing this beautiful yellow silk shirt, and he had this lovely voice, and I thought, oo, that's the man I want to marry.

INTERVIEWER: And what was your first memory of Minty, Simon?

SIMON: I don't have one.

MINTY: He's a terrible tease. But I love him.

SHE PUTS HER HAND IN HIS. HE FREEZES.

SIMON: I'd like a drink now.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you very much.