The chef, 60, took over presenting duties as Steph, 41, and Ashley, 36, tried to dash to the Leeds studio after spending the night partying at the Attitude Awards.
The duo managed to arrive – but 30 minutes late – after grabbing a taxi when their train from London to Leeds was delayed by an hour.
Ashley took to Instagram to share a series of snaps documenting their stressful journey and told of how she had to quickly chuck on her outfit and appear on the show make-up free.
She wrote: ‘What an eventful day resulting in me channelling my inner Pamela Anderson and doing Steph’s Packed Lunch with no makeup on.
Last minute change: Simon Rimmer was forced to step in to host Steph’s Packed Lunch on Thursday after Steph McGovern and Ashley James got held up in traffic on a nightmare journey
The chef, 60, took over presenting duties as Steph, 41, and Ashley, 36, tried to dash to the Leeds studio after spending the night partying at the Attitude Awards
‘Woke up at 4am to feed Ada, so I could leave the house and get my train into London at 5am.
‘Got on the 7:03am train from London to Leeds and all was going swimmingly until the train stopped just before Grantham.
‘The delay went from 35 mins, to an hour… Luckily we had a bit of time so I did my call about the show’s topics with the @packedlunchc4 production team on the phone.
‘I messaged @stephlunch and she was on the same train as me! I mean it’s one thing me not doing the show – but there’s literally no Steph’s Packed Lunch without Steph!
‘Suddenly the train is cancelled and terminating at Grantham. 90 minutes until we’re live.’
Ashley said they had to jump in a taxi from Grantham but the driver could only take them 30 minutes on their journey as he had another passenger to pick up.
‘We get dropped off at a service station – have a quick wee and buy some crisps – and we jump in another taxi! 30 mins to go,’ she continued.
‘I have to pump and spill breastmilk over myself. There’s traffic on the A1 so we take the back roads.
‘Steph started the show from the back of the car. And we made it… half an hour in!
The duo managed to arrive – but 30 minutes late – after grabbing a taxi when their train from London to Leeds was delayed by an hour
Beauty: Ashley took to Instagram to document their stressful journey and told of how she had to quickly chuck on her outfit and appear on the show make-up free
Chaotic journey: She wrote: ‘What an eventful day resulting in me channelling my inner Pamela Anderson and doing Steph’s Packed Lunch with no makeup on’
Back together: Ashley posed for a snap with Nazir Afzal, Steph and Simon after her stressful journey in
Glamorous evening out: Steph has been in London for the Attitude Awards on Wednesday night
‘The drama Mick, I love it! *Gavin and Stacey reference*.’
Thirty minutes into the rebranded ‘Simon’s Packed Lunch’, Steph ran into the studio wearing her coat and carrying her shoulder bag.
She shouted: ‘I’m back’ as the crew behind the cameras cheered .
Steph asked Simon: ‘Have you had a good time?’
To which he replied: ‘Yes. You know what, it is fun.’
Steph said: ‘Do you know what? I saw you doing an interview in the car and I thought ‘he’s actually really good at this, isn’t he?’ It’s dead annoying.’
Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4, stream or watch live weekdays from midday on Channel 4
