In a delightfully unscripted moment that captivated viewers, actress Sheridan Smith found herself unexpectedly ‘outed’ during a live broadcast of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen. The star, appearing as a guest on the popular culinary show, inadvertently let slip a secret she had been keeping from her own mother—the arrival of a new four-legged family member.
A Birthday Surprise Spoiled on Live Television
The charming revelation unfolded as Smith chatted amiably with host Matt Tebbutt in the studio, while celebrity chefs including Poppy O’Toole prepared dishes in the background. Conversation had turned to Smith’s latest theatrical venture, Woman In Mind, before naturally segueing to more personal matters. It was then that the actress disclosed she had welcomed a new dog into her home, a fact she had deliberately concealed from her mum.
“Mum doesn’t know!” Smith exclaimed with a gasp, before adding with a laugh, “Oh no, you’ve outed me.” She confirmed to Tebbutt, “Yeah, I’ve got a new dog, and my mum doesn’t know.”
An Unfortunate Timing for a Secret
The timing proved particularly awkward when Tebbutt enquired if her mother would be tuning in. Smith confirmed she was indeed watching, revealing it was her mother Marilyn’s birthday the following day. “It’s her birthday tomorrow,” the actress admitted, waving towards the camera. “I’ve bought myself a dog.”
In a gesture of damage control, host Matt Tebbutt looked directly into the lens to offer a belated birthday greeting. “Happy birthday, Marilyn. Don’t worry about the dog – it’s lovely,” he assured the watching mother. Smith could only respond with a chuckle and an “Oh, no!” as the reality of her spilled secret sank in.
Puppy Makes Her Television Debut
The segment took an even more adorable turn later in the programme when Sheridan Smith formally introduced her new canine companion to the nationwide audience. She revealed the puppy, named Winifred, was just four months old. As cameras showed the actress cradling the young dog, Matt Tebbutt playfully announced, “Puppy alert! Here we are. Marilyn meet Winifred.”
Smith, stroking her new pet, offered a final, laughing apology to her mother through the television screen: “Mum, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
A Relatable Moment of Maternal Fear
The incident sparked a moment of shared humour and relatability among the guests. When another participant on the show mentioned they too had hidden a dog purchase from their mother, Smith laughed and pondered aloud, “Why are we scared of our mums?”
The conversation even turned to host Matt Tebbutt’s own pet preferences. When asked if he fancied getting a dog himself, he explained that while he liked them, his lifestyle wasn’t suitable. “I would get a dog, but I’m away quite a lot, so I have got my cats,” he said. “I love my cats.”
The entire episode provided a warm, humorous, and thoroughly human interlude during the usual flow of cooking demonstrations and celebrity interviews, proving that sometimes the best television moments are the completely unexpected ones.
