Pop star Niall Horan is the newest guest to appear on the UK’s popular podcast Dish from Waitrose. Sitting down with presenters Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, the Irish singer songwriter shared stories filled with humor, kitchen mishaps, and honest thoughts about spending fifteen years in the public eye.
From School Plays to Stadiums
Horan looked back on where his love of music first began, remembering a school performance of Oliver Twist. “I was probably an overconfident 10 year old... and then got up there and bricked myself,” he laughed. “Now I’m an annoying 33 year old. Some things never change.” Even with those early nerves, the experience helped set him on a path that would eventually take him from boyband superstardom to a thriving solo career.
Thinking about his move into solo work, Niall explained how his mindset has changed over time. “I like the idea of going to work being ‘Pop Star Niall’ and then come home and not be ‘Pop Star Niall.’ I’m knackered. Look at the bags!”
Home Life and Hating Avocados
After spending years constantly travelling, Horan shared that he is now enjoying a quieter chapter of life with his girlfriend and their dog. “I long to be at home a lot more than I used to,” he said, also mentioning that he has recently taken an interest in gardening. “I know the names of about five or six flowers now.”
Still, one thing that will not be on his menu anytime soon is avocado. “Hate avocado... it’s a textural thing,” he admitted. He also joked about American breakfast combinations that mix sweet and savoury foods. “You got big fat streaky bacon dripping and then you just like have strawberries. I just don’t really get it.”
High Stakes Performances
Niall also shared what it felt like to perform for Joe Biden, describing the invitation as something he initially did not believe. “I thought it was a joke... I thought my manager was winding me up,” he said when recalling the White House performance. Meeting the President also left an impression on him. “You know those Irish people that you shake their hand and they don’t let go? He’s kind of... stare you down and connect.”
Dish from Waitrose can be streamed across all major podcast platforms.
