Queen Camilla's favourite jacket potato topping is tuna mayonnaise, according to Ben Newman, the TikTok-famous vendor known as Spud Man. She enjoyed one during a visit to Tamworth last year to meet Newman, who runs a food trailer in St Editha's Square.
Spud Man's rise to fame
Newman, who sports a pink mohawk, has over four million followers on TikTok. His food trailer has become a destination for jacket potato lovers, who come from far and wide to try his creations.
He has now written a second recipe book, Spud Man's Spuds for all Seasons, for fans to try at home. The book contains 40 recipes, some classic and some more unusual, all tied to times of year such as Bonfire Night and Christmas.
Family tradition and new book
Newman's first book, Spud Man's Spudtacular Baked Potato Cookbook, was an instant Top 10 UK bestseller. He hopes the new book will attract more fans to the simple delights of a jacket potato.
Popular toppings among his customers include curry, chilli, and cheese and beans. Newman, 41, says his nine children favour the "pizza topping" recipe featuring pepperoni, mozzarella and vegetables.
Working with potatoes is a family tradition spanning four generations. His grandfather Bernard was a market gardener in Bedfordshire, and his father was a potato merchant.
Success through social media
Newman credits social media for his success. "Social media undoubtedly has given me this success," he explains. "Without it we may not have even survived as there used to be eight pitches here in the square selling food and now there is just me."
His eldest son Dylan introduced him to TikTok in 2021. "We started posting silly videos just coming out of the pandemic and the whole thing just snowballed," he says.
Newman also manages advanced kidney disease, having endured three unsuccessful transplants. He is on regular dialysis from home using a portable machine, which allows him to travel. He works Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and employs two others full-time plus casuals for festivals.
His celebrity customers include Hollywood actors Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, singers Teddy Swims and Tom Walker, and Gordon Ramsay's daughter Tilly. Spud Man's Spuds for All Seasons (HarperNorth, £14.99) is out now.
