Kitchen Cabinet: Oct 21

Series Four of Kitchen Cabinet begins next week and Annabel Crabb kicks things off by sitting down with former Prime Minster Bob Hawke in Sydney.

Also coming this season are Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Leader of the opposition Bill Shorten, Labor MP Anna Burke, Liberal MP Warren Entsch plus Trade Minister Andrew Robb and former Liberal senator Mary Jo Fisher.

No mode of transport is left unexploited as Annabel Crabb travels to meet Australia’s longest serving Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke in his harbour side home in Sydney.

Bob and his wife Blanche D’Alpuget greet Annabel at the door and immediately take her on an unexpected house tour during which Bob – who is soon to celebrate his 85th birthday – makes Annabel test out a piece of gyrating gym equipment, perhaps one of the secrets to his eternal youth.

“Bob’s Barramundi” is on the lunch menu and Bob has enlisted his step son Louis Pratt to be his “Fish Concierge”.

In the dining room, with built in fish tank, Annabel and Bob discuss the former PM’s relationship with foreign leaders, why being popular in politics isn’t rocket science, his thoughts on what drives politicians today and his biggest political regret.

Bob and Annabel then retire to his roof top for a spot of golf with dessert.

Candid, funny and insightful, this episode is a cracking start to Series Four of Kitchen Cabinet.

Tuesday, 21 October at 8pm on ABC.