Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster Regé-Jean Page
Apr 1, 2026
A film star chats about his new rom‑com set in sunlit Tuscany and why the landscape makes escapism feel real. They swap on‑set anecdotes from studios to seaside shoots and even learning bits of Italian. Food takes centre stage with dream meals of carpaccio, seaside fish and chips, tiramisu, and a caipirinha sunset vibe.
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Immersing In Tuscany To Learn A Character
- Regé-Jean Page described learning Italian and living in Tuscany while filming You, Me & Tuscany to make his Italian-British character feel authentic.
- He spent months in Rome and Tuscan fields, practicing Italian lines and immersing in local life before shooting began.
Rom-Com As Optimistic Escape
- Page framed rom-coms as tools for escape that show 'the world as it could be' and used his film to offer hopeful realism.
- He aimed for Tuscany to feel visitable and real so audiences could leave inspired to travel.
Real Restaurant Owner Became Film's Food Supplier
- Food was central on set: a restaurant owner in Tuscany replaced the props food with real dishes and ended up cooking for much of the film.
- Italian chefs' disapproval led to authentic food and better on-screen meals.