Latest news with #BenNewman
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Spudman thanks Ipswich recovery service after A14 breakdown
A TikTok chef who broke down on a dual carriageway late at night has thanked a recovery service as well as police for their help in getting him whose real name is Ben Newman, has more than 4.3 million followers and is known as a street vendor selling jacket potatoes in Tamworth, attending the Suffolk Show near Ipswich, he revealed on his social media page that his van had broken down on the A14 late on Thursday. Jack Parker, owner of RB Commercial based in Ipswich, helped Spudman home and said his team was always happy to help. Spudman was first helped to a service station near Sproughton by Suffolk Police and said on TikTok he "wasn't expecting a tow" from thanked the officers for their efforts in a video on Friday."We called out a recovery firm, they originally said they'd be half an hour and we paid a deposit, then they said they're going to be two-and-a-half hours," he added in his video."These guys (RB Commercial) just turned up randomly because they saw us on the side of the road and they are fans." Mr Parker explained he had seen Spudman's TikTok and decided to help. "Because we work that road a lot I knew roughly where he was just from his video," he said."At that time as well, lots of people were just turning up madly to the services where he was and taking pictures with him."The poor bloke just worked hard for two days and wanted to get home." Mr Parker sent two of his drivers down to the service station and after some discussions it was decided they would take Spudman back to Tamworth, where they arrived at 03:00 BST on on his TikTok, Spudman added: "We had an amazing [Suffolk] Show."Shame about the van, these things happen... it's going to need a new engine."Mr Parker said Spudman was "a really nice bloke, really sound" and stressed he would "help anyone" in need. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
TikTok star Spudman serves 5,000 jacket potatoes at Suffolk Show
TikTok chef Spudman said the Suffolk Show was the "best two days of the year" for his business after selling thousands of jacket potatoes to whose real name is Ben Newman, used 5,000 potatoes to produce more than 3,300 portions from his food truck during the two-day agricultural event at Trinity Park in Ipswich, more than 4.2 million followers on TikTok, did Spudman's presence help or hinder other food vendors at the show? With the average cost of a jacket potato from Spudman being £8, the social media star would have made an estimated £26,000 worth of sales at the Newman, who took time to pose for selfies with fans, said the most popular order at the show was his cheese and beans jacket potato, but his pulled pork offering also "absolutely flew out"."We prepared for it to be busy but this was manic, it was the best two days of the year so far," he added."Everyone was warning me that the event gets like 75,000 people through the gates, but you always take that with a pinch of salt, but it was packed."It's a brilliant show and the people of Suffolk are lovely - I will absolutely come back." 'It's been quieter' Jill Hales, of Jilly's Jacket Potatoes, told the BBC her number of customers had "definitely gone down" this complimentary of Spudman, Mrs Hales said she had to throw away 75 potatoes after not being as busy as she had anticipated."It has been quieter on the potato front, I must admit, and I do wonder if a lot of people have gone over to the Spudman instead of coming to me," she said."We used to have a bit of a rush at tea time, but that didn't happen and friends on the other side [of the event] said they didn't have any customers by 14:00 BST because [Spudman] had affected them."He is a really nice man and he came and introduced himself, but I am going to be at the Norfolk Show and if he is there then I would ask for my money back and not go." 'He gave us a shoutout' Shaun Sabiny, from the Highland Crispy Duck, said the arrival of Spudman in the county had attracted more people to the Suffolk Show and more customers to his added Spudman had been great for the event by attracting large crowds and promoting other traders on his social media pages."Him being here has worked to my benefit because he put a shoutout [about us] on his [social media] feed and we had a queue after that, so it's great, and he is a great guy," he said."It's crazy, the guy is literally serving jacket potatoes with anything else that your local cafe would, so it's completely different and I don't see any competition at all."At the end of the day we are all traders here and we're all here to achieve the common goal, which is make money and give the good people some good food." 'Spudman was great for show' Kevin Reade, of Reade's Hog Roast Event Caters, said he would usually sell about £10,000 worth of food over the two days of the he spoke to the BBC he said takings were slightly down compared to previous years, but stressed that Spudman was "great for the show"."I think it's a bit of a gimmick, but he is a really nice guy and I met him this morning and he had one of my hog roasts and said it was excellent," he said."Even my grandson wanted a picture taken with him, how bad is that? I have been doing this for 40 years but he has never wanted one with me." Spudman told the BBC he wanted to use his platform to help elevate other small businesses."We are here to support the other traders, we make videos with them, we eat their food, and we try and support as many of them as we possibly can," he said."If you go on my TikTok there are videos from other traders - I love going into other businesses and showing my followers something other than jacket potatoes."We are here to promote, we're not here to take anything away from other people - it's not about us." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
TikTok star Spudman faces angry backlash as popular business divides town
Spudman, real name Ben Newman, has fans and critics in Staffordshire - where he sells baked potatoes from a van - but he remains optimistic of more success. A popular jacket potato seller who skyrocketed to fame on Tiktok is facing an angry backlash after winning a battle against council bosses who wanted to move his trailer. Ben Newman known as "Spudman" who has racked up a giant 4.2million followers on TikTok and 560,000 on Instagram, had nowhere to run his business after the council booted him off his pitch last year. People have flocked from abroad to enjoy Ben's jacket potatoes, stacked with toppings, which he serves from his van. And he rejoiced recently when he overcame Tamworth Borough Council's ban to continue trading in the market town. Yet, local café owners claim his customers use their toilets and sit down to eat his potatoes at their tables and chairs as the bitter row rumbles on, reports the Mirror. Ben, 40, told reporters his detractors are jealous of his success. He said this week: "There are a couple of cafés around the market square but the problem is the owners sit there all day and are not so busy, and they see me nice and busy and it's 'green eyes'. "Their cafés have increased trade on the back of my success. I put tables and chairs out for my customers, which get full, and I tell them to use public toilets but I can't stop them going elsewhere." The tattie entrepreneur had to move his trailer last year to allow the pedestrianised area to be refurbished by the council and claimed he felt "destroyed" when he was told that he would have to trade from a side street as the square was filled with flower beds. The plans sparked an outcry from Spudman's devoted fans and a petition garnered more than 113,000 in less than two weeks. It led to Tamworth Borough Council's recent U-turn, a move which has irked other local traders in and near the market square. Coleen Mills, who owns the Side Walk Café which faces the market place on St Editha's Square, told Mail Online: "I don't know 'Spudman' personally but it is annoying that his customers come along with their jackets and eat them at my place when the tables and chairs outside his trailer are full. "They've also been using our toilet facilities, but I've put a stop to that now. But when I've moved people on I've been given a lot of verbal abuse, which is very unfair." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sue Vaughan, who owns the Market Café, also complained about "Spudman's" customers using her facilities without permission. She continued: "I've had his customers using my loos, when they should be for mine only, and I've now had to padlock them. "He needs to sort out his own toilets or tell his customers to use public ones. They're also sitting on my tables and chairs outside eating his food, which is out of order." But Ben, who is a dad, continues to draw in punters, with people often queuing in the market square for his spuds. Sarah Vickers, a fan and also manager of the town's Cosy Café, described "Spudman" as a "good advert" for Tamworth. "He's a good advert for Tamworth and he does a lot to help the community. He gives money for good causes and, like my sister, he has kidney dialysis. We're a very busy café here and he's bought more people to town, and on days he's not open his customers often come down to us," Sarah told Mail Online. A Tamworth Borough Council spokesman said: "The council investigates all relevant complaints received through our official complaints process."
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Spud Man mania gridlocks Gwynedd village delighting fans and disappointing others
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info For a few hours, an entire seaside village in Gwynedd ground to a standstill. The sun was out, the beach looked welcoming, but that wasn't the reason: people had travelled for miles to queue for a jacket potato. Places traded for a reported £5 as spud lovers waited their turn in Dinas Dinlle, near Caernarfon. It was worth it: a local mum wailed she was 'gutted' when queue security told her the potatoes had run out. All were there to meet a dad-of-nine with a pink mohawk – and to have the privilege of being served a jacket potato from his van. Ben Newman, aka Spud Man, happens to be a TikTok sensation with a huge social media fanbase. He was in Dinas Dinlle not to cultivate his following but to support a good cause. As a former kidney dialysis patient at Royal Derby Hospital, he was keen to back a fundraising cause centered on a unique dialysis facility at Dinlle Caravan Park. In 2008, the hospital's trust set up a dialysis treatment unit in a static caravan at the park. The idea was to facilitate holidays for dialysis patients who would otherwise struggle to leave home for more than a day or two. Health officials came up with the idea after discovering many of their patients visited Gwynedd on holiday. The scheme is massively popular – but the old static caravan is now showing its age. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community Hospital supporters now need to raise £80,000 to buy and equip a new static. So far more than £23,000 has been donated. 'We don't want to lose this amazing provision which means so much to many of our patients and their families,' said treatment technician and chief fundraiser Toni Stanley. (Image: Dinlle Caravan Park) Promising a 'spud-tacular day' at the caravan park, Spud Man fans descended on Dinas Dinlle in their droves. Some locals weren't impressed – but Spud Man was, extolling the 'gorgeous beach' as he posed for pre-event photos. Afterwards he posted a TikTok showing a boy receiving a freebie. The reason? The youngster was pitching into the latest trend – 'bring your own bag'. On this occasion it was a full packet of Doritos on which a potato was served with lashings of cheese and baked beans. Freebies are par for the course – Spud Man always gives free jacket potatoes to people aged over 70. To raise money for Kidney Research UK – a cause close to his heart – he staged a 'free day' in January giving away potatoes to everyone. Some fans come from as far afield as New Zealand. As always, the waiting crowds at Dinlle Caravan Park were good natured – queuing for Spud Man potatoes has been likened to the atmosphere at a Taylor Swift concert. One mum said she was dragged to the event by her 'Spud Man-obsessed' daughter. (Image: Dinlle Caravan Park) Even so, one visitor said things became a little manic at times. 'That queue was wild right at the back,' he told Spud Man. 'There were kids offering £5 to jump the queue 'You need to raise your prices as I had to do a double take on your prices – £5 for a filled spud! On Anglesey I would pay £8 for that with a extra 50p for crispy onions!' Spud Man has been baking potatoes in Tamworth, Staffordshire, for more than 20 years. Since starting his TikTok account in 2021, often livestreaming his customer interactions, his popularity has soared. He now has 4.4m followers on TikTok, 1.7 million on Facebook and more than 487,000 on Instagram. It being Spud Man's first visit to Wales, followers cancelled all appointments. 'Can't wait to see you!!!!,' said a Ffestiniog heritage railway volunteer online. 'It's my dream to have a jacket potato and meet you!!! (Image: Dinlle Caravan Park) Sadly, the pre-event messaging didn't reach everyone. On social media, bereft fans mourned the missed opportunity, begging him to return to Wales and bring his van to places like Wrexham, Mold and Prestatyn. 'Please come to Anglesey at some point soon,' said one woman. 'Lots if us would love it, and you would too!' Another added: 'You'll have to do a tour of Wales so we all get the chance to experience some of your amazing food xx.' Agreeing, a woman said: 'Would love Spud Man to come to Llandudno x.' In more hope than expectation, a man pleaded: 'Even Rhyl would be nice...' On the day, and at a pre-event bingo night, Dinlle Caravan Park collected £5,134.56, all of which will be donated to the fundraiser. At last weekend's event, hospital dialysis staff were on hand to demonstrate the scheme's benefits. The appeal's JustGiving page can be found here. Thanking Spud Man, a spokesperson said he had proved that 'good food and good deeds go hand in hand'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Animal rights group criticises ‘cowardly' ITV coverage after Broadway Boy horror fall
A heavy fall denied Broadway Boy a shot at glory as he led the Grand National but initial fears for his life eased later as he got to his feet and was returned to the stables. Viewers immediately expressed horror at the fall, with animal rights campaigners later criticising ITV for failing to give the incident enough coverage. Ben Newman, of Animal Rising, attacked ITV coverage in a press release, accusing the broadcaster of a 'cowardly refusal to replay the 25th fence where Broadway Boy fell, while commentators gushed over racing's welfare standards'. After the coverage had finished, ITV confirmed via their X account that both Broadway Boy and another faller Celebre d'Allen had returned to the stables for further assessment. Broadway Boy had been among several fallers despite a host of welfare-led improvements at the course in recent years. He fell at the 25th fence having led the race throughout. Concern was also immediately raised for jockey Tom Bellamy, who also initially failed to move after the awkward fall. But following extensive attention on site, officials later confirmed Bellamy had 'been taken to Aintree University Hospital for further assessment' while Broadway Boy had 'walked on to the horse ambulance and will return to the stables for further assessment'. As a result, all 34 horses had returned to the stables. More will be known on Broadway Boy's conditions as he undergoes further tests and observations overnight. Celebre D'Allen had also required immediate medical attention before walking on to the horse ambulance to go back to the stables. Safety measures to limit fatalities and injuries have never been greater at Aintree, which have contributed to an overall fall in deaths. But radical animal rights campaign groups seized upon Broadway Boy's fall to express fresh dismay. Two years ago, the steeplechase was delayed by 15 minutes when animal rights protesters gained access to the course, leading to more than 100 arrests. There were no delays on Saturday and the horses set off at 4pm – an earlier start time introduced as part of the new safety measures. The race was won by Nick Rockett, ridden by jockey Patrick Mullins and trained by his father Willie. This year, the entire festival has seen one horse death, when Willy De Houelle, ridden by former Grand National winner Rachel Blackmore, fell in the second race of on Thursday.
