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Sunday Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday Post
Crust almighty! Meet the national pie tester out to create bonkers bakes
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Meet Scotland's real-life Desperate Dan who has been 'sweating gravy' in his quest to create the perfect pie. Stuart McNeill proved he's not all puff and no stuffing by being named the UK's first supermarket pie tester last week after a countrywide search by grocery chain Aldi – and he has some wacky (some might even call them pie in the sky) concepts for the ideal bake. The 35-year-old proved a choux-in for the job, beating 100 other hopefuls to take the coveted title after wowing judges in a contest during National Pie Week. © Aldi / Sandy Young McNeill, a high school woodwork teacher from Falkirk, impressed with his passionate and creative entry, which included a hand-drawn concept for a SpecialPIE, complete with its own 'middle aisle'. Just like his famous comic strip hero Dan, he can't get enough of his favourite food – meat pies. And now he has grand designs on several revolutionary bakes, including the 'double-decker'– a vertically stacked pie like a Big Mac but with the fillings separated by layers of pastry rather than a bun. He is also working on a prototype for a Sunday roast pie, encased in Yorkshire Pudding. 'I have yet another in the pipeline called the Figure Of Eight, which is basically two different flavoured small pies that are fused together,' he said. Speaking about his win, McNeill said: 'As soon as the competition was announced, I had six different friends send me the link encouraging me to apply. 'Even the kids at school were telling me to go for it. They thought the idea of their teacher becoming a professional pie tester was brilliant.' The competition was designed to find one lucky Scot to taste and review a new range of Aldi pies. As one of his first tasks, McNeill was sent a case of 72 varieties to try out. 'Even Desperate Dan would struggle with that,' he said. 'I was sweating gravy for a week afterwards.' © Aldi / Sandy Young McNeil credits his love of pies to years of following his beloved Falkirk Football Club. He said: 'A WhatsApp group I have with my mates is meant to be about football, but nine times out of 10, we're discussing who had the best pie at the match.' Stuart was presented with his official Pie Tester trophy ahead of Falkirk's final home game of the season. His five-month-old son Ben even joined a pre-game pie party and was crowned 'Assistant Pie Tester' for the day. McNeill said: 'If being made Aldi's first ever pie tester wasn't enough, Falkirk beat Hamilton and secured promotion to the Premiership League that day – it really was one for the books. 'Now I'm just excited to get stuck in and be reviewing all the different flavours. It's an honour to help represent Scotland's proud pie tradition.' As Aldi's chief pie tester, Stuart will now critique pies based on crust quality, filling consistency, and flavour balance. His reviews will help guide fellow customers when choosing from the range and shape future pie offerings. McNeill said it was his unique 'SpecialPIES' concept that clinched it with supermarket bosses. 'They are like normal pies, but have a middle aisle of their own, formed of a dividing wall of pastry which allows for a unique pie combo-flavour,' he explained, adding: 'The people at Aldi love my ideas but said that unfortunately they would be a 'logistical nightmare' to produce.' Graham Nicolson, group buying director at Aldi Scotland, said the company was thrilled to have found someone who takes the nation's favourite dish 'as seriously as we do'. He said: 'We were blown away by the standard of entries but Stuart's passion and tasting insights, including his 'SpecialPIE' concept, proved he has the perfect mix of creativity and crust credentials for the task at hand.'
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
JoJo Siwa drops biggest hint yet about relationship with ‘soulmate' Chris with new video – as fans work out HE filmed it
FANS think JoJo Siwa has dropped the biggest hint yet about her relationship with "soulmate" Chris, as she releases her latest video. The pair sparked rumours their friendship was developing into a romance as they snuggled and cuddled in the CBB house. 4 4 After leaving the famous compound, JoJo, 21, and former Love Island star Chris, 32, claimed they were "platonic soulmates" but didn't reject the suggestion there could be romance further down the line. The Dance Moms star also dumped her partner Kath Ebbs just hours after leaving the Celebrity Big Brother house. Now fans are convinced they've spotted the biggest clue yet that proves the pair are more than "just friends". It came after JoJo shared a video of herself eating a traditional English roast dinner. In the clip she is seen with a Yorkshire Pudding on her head, and fans are convinced they can see Chris in the mirror in the background filming her. One fan wrote: "Chris is defo filming this!" This one said: "I spy Chris!" LOOKING FOR CLUES Over the last week fans have been busy looking for clues about the status of their relationship. One of them, was the fact they have both been spotted wearing each others clothes. JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes spotted using 'secret code' to say 'I love you' outside of CBB - did you see it-? As JoJo departed London on Monday for the US, she was wearing Chris' grey jumper he wore on CBB through Heathrow Airport. Chris was then seen wearing JoJo's bracelet on his arm, which she wore in the Celeb Big Brother house. Taking to Reddit, one eagle-eyed fan posted: "There's all the romantic TikTok's that JoJo's liked, there's JoJo wearing Chris' clothes to the airport while he wears her bracelet, there's the This Morning interview where they heavily implied that something could happen between them in the future, there's that flirty clip with the leg taps, there's JoJo posting a compilation of her time in the house that's mostly of Chris etc etc etc. "There's just SO SO much that hints at their relationship NOT being platonic. Guys you know the bracelet chris has been wearing in the house and since leaving? that was originally jojo's right? "She went back to the states wearing his hoodie and beanie, and he's walking around London wearing her bracelet. "I just went back and checked and it looks like she's wearing it in the first few days in the house so she must have given it to him at some point." 4 CRACKING THE CODE Meanwhile, JoJo and Chris have been already called out by fans for saying 'I love you' in code. It came when the pair filmed a TikTok video for the ITV 's This Morning social media channel, where fans spotted their heart-warming trait. As they answered a question on their dream Big Brother co-star past or present - responding with each other - fans noticed how Dance Moms alum Jojo tapped Chris twice on the shoulder. He returned the favour and performed the gesture on her leg. The actress and dancer then did the same on his jeans as she said: "Fairly obvious we would pick each other." JoJo Siwa and Kath Ebbs' relationship We look back at JoJo Siwa's romance with Kath Ebbs: JoJo Siwa went public with hers and Kath Ebbs' relationship in January 2025. The Dance Moms star had been introduced to 27-year-old Australian content creator Kath by a mutual friend called G-Flip six months earlier. JoJo had split with her girlfriend Dakayla Wilson in November 2024 and it is believed she hooked up romantically with Kath soon after. Speaking in March at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo said of her relationship: 'I am so happy. I am in a very mature relationship, and it's beautiful. It's taught me so much about life. 'It's taught me so much about love and respect, and it's a beautiful thing. 'It's different in more ways than I can count. I wouldn't even know what to say the biggest is 'cause just everything is so different and special.' Kath even claimed they had talked about marriage together. However, JoJo's romance with Kath abruptly hit the skids on April 25, 2025, at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party. JoJo dumped Kath at the bash after spending 19 days in the CBB house - where she had grown close to Love Island star Chris Hughes.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
JoJo Siwa drops biggest hint yet about relationship with ‘soulmate' Chris with new video – as fans work out HE filmed it
FANS think JoJo Siwa has dropped the biggest hint yet about her relationship with "soulmate" Chris, as she releases her latest video. The pair 4 JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes have kept fans guessing over the true nature of their relationship Credit: REX 4 The pair struck up a VERY close friendship in the CBB house Credit: ITV 4 Fans think they can spot Chris filming this video Credit: TikTok/@itsjojosiwa After leaving the famous compound, The Dance Moms star also Now fans are convinced they've spotted the biggest clue yet that proves the pair are more than "just friends". It came after JoJo shared a video of herself eating a traditional English roast dinner. more on chris and jojo In the clip she is seen with a Yorkshire Pudding on her head, and fans are convinced they can see Chris in the mirror in the background filming her. One fan wrote: "Chris is defo filming this!" While another added: "Another clue they ARE more than friends - Chris in the background!" This one said: "I spy Chris!" Most read in News TV LOOKING FOR CLUES Over the last week One of them, was the fact they have both been spotted wearing each others clothes. JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes spotted using 'secret code' to say 'I love you' outside of CBB - did you see it-? As Taking to Reddit, one eagle-eyed fan posted: "There's all the romantic TikTok 's that JoJo's liked, there's JoJo wearing Chris' clothes to the airport while he wears her bracelet, there's the This Morning interview where they heavily implied that something could happen between them in the future , there's that flirty clip with the leg taps, there's JoJo posting a compilation of her time in the house that's mostly of Chris etc etc etc. "There's just SO SO much that hints at their relationship NOT being platonic. Guys you know the bracelet chris has been wearing in the house and since leaving? that was originally jojo's right? "She went back to the states wearing his hoodie and beanie, and he's walking around London wearing her bracelet. "I just went back and checked and it looks like she's wearing it in the first few days in the house so she must have given it to him at some point." 4 Chris is now wearing JoJo's bracelet she brought into the Celeb Big Brother house Credit: TikTok CRACKING THE CODE Meanwhile, JoJo and Chris have been already called out by fans It came when the pair filmed a TikTok video for the ITV's This Morning social media channel, where fans spotted their heart-warming trait. As they answered a question on their dream Big Brother co-star past or present - responding with each other - fans noticed how Dance Moms alum Jojo tapped Chris twice on the shoulder. He returned the favour and performed the gesture on her leg. The actress and dancer then did the same on his jeans as she said: "Fairly obvious we would pick each other." JoJo Siwa and Kath Ebbs' relationship We look back at JoJo Siwa's romance with Kath Ebbs: JoJo Siwa went public with hers and Kath Ebbs' relationship in January 2025. The Dance Moms star had been introduced to 27-year-old Australian content creator Kath by a mutual friend called G-Flip six months earlier. JoJo had split with her girlfriend Dakayla Wilson in November 2024 and it is believed she hooked up romantically with Kath soon after. Speaking in March at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo said of her relationship: 'I am so happy. I am in a very mature relationship, and it's beautiful. It's taught me so much about life. 'It's taught me so much about love and respect, and it's a beautiful thing. 'It's different in more ways than I can count. I wouldn't even know what to say the biggest is 'cause just everything is so different and special.' Kath even claimed they had talked about marriage together. However, JoJo's romance with Kath abruptly hit the skids on April 25, 2025, at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party. JoJo dumped Kath at the bash after spending 19 days in the CBB house - where she had grown close to Love Island star Chris Hughes.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
15 of the best places for a roast dinner in the UK
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK) In Britain, the Sunday roast is sacrosanct. Gathering together around a beautifully cooked joint of meat, with lashings of gravy, vegetables and billowing Yorkshire puddings, is, for many, the weekend's social highlight. And where better to do to this than the pub? Not only do you avoid the washing-up but, centuries after the French dubbed Brits les rosbifs, you get to enjoy the roast at its most modern. In recent decades, Britain's best pub chefs have, by focusing on seasonal ingredients, rare-breed meats and painstaking preparations of roast potatoes or root vegetables, brought a fresh glamour to this Sunday afternoon ritual. Throw in good beer, well-chosen wines and compelling meat-free options, and you have a meal that — in stark contrast to sometimes sad, home-cooked attempts — is a true celebration of British food. Here's a selection of the best in the game: characterful pubs serving champion roasts. Cheshire chef Gary Usher's North West restaurant group, Elite Bistros, serves contemporary dishes elevated by classical cooking skills. His first pub, a convivial village local in rural Cheshire, embodies that rigorous MO. Expect a classy, caramelised apple puree with your stuffed pork Sunday roast while, in its depth of flavour, the beef's glossy, red wine gravy speaks volubly of patient stock reduction. Roasts from £19.50. Sustainability is a key tenet at this attractive Whitechapel pub-with-rooms. It supports growers using regenerative farming practices; principles the pub adheres to in its rooftop garden and at its small Deptford farm. Produce from both, found in everything from chutneys to fresh herbs, is woven through its menus. Served with reimagined trimmings, such as Yorkshire Pudding and swede mash, Sunday roasts might include Soanes chicken, beef with a helping of horseradish cream or a meat-free goat's cheese, squash and sweet potato wellington. Roasts from £22. Sharpen appetites walking the shores of Strangford Lough, then head to this warm, clubbable gastropub. A former farmhouse, its polished wood interior retains several original features: flagstone floors, open fires, a central stove. Among various accompaniments, roasts of shorthorn beef or fresh market fish are served in a delicious, double-carbs bonus with both mashed and roast potatoes. Two courses, £32. A boho hive of activity (pottery classes! live jazz!), the Mariner also serves a knock-out roast. Run by the Med restaurant team from neighbouring Brighton, the kitchen brings a cheffy élan to its roast chicken (brined for prime juiciness), or pork belly (dry-aged to create super-crispy, aerated crackling), or a meat-less smoked beetroot and mushroom wellington. Laine Brew Co. beers star at the bar (try its Sonar IPA), alongside ales from many of the best Sussex craft breweries. Roasts from £16. A chef with German and Japanese roots, Nina Matsunaga's deft command of global influences has earned this stylish inn's restaurant a place on the 2024 Good Food Guide among the UK's 'Best Sunday Roasts'. But during the Sunday lunch service, it's Nina's partner James Ratcliffe, a local lad from farming stock, who shines in his sourcing of stand-out Hereford beef or Herdwick lamb from the farms surrounding Sedbergh, on Cumbria's Yorkshire Dales border. Roasts £21.50. Cardiff schooled in seasonal, ingredient-led cookery at restaurants including London's St John, chef Tom Watts-Jones now runs three pubs (see also, Aberthin's Hare & Hounds and Bristol's Clifton), that share a similar ethos. At the Heathcock, feast on Torgelly Farm lamb or Welsh Black sirloin with duck-fat potatoes and fresh Glamorgan vegetables. In summer, Sunday barbecues are held in the large rear garden, serving barbecued meats with salads that utilise produce from the pub's kitchen garden. Roasts around £24. A handsome slab of 1930s architecture, the Rutty is, today, a friendly city-centre enclave for Sheffield's arty, creative set, renowned for its quirky interior, jukebox edicts (see, the banned bands list) and terrific beer. Its Sunday specials include a changing roast and vegan option, such as falafels made from roasted veggies. On the meat-front, think braised beef shin and sliced rump with exemplary gravy and home-style Yorkshire puddings, cooked in trays before portioning. Roasts from £14. Reopened in 2020 by two local friends, chef Mathew Reeder and Michael Singleton, this smart pub-with-rooms on Harpenden Common has fast gained a reputation for ambitious cooking. The Sunday roast menu may include sharing options, such as Aylesbury duck leg or lamb Scotch Egg, alongside plates of, say, 42-day aged beef sirloin, with duck-fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, salt-baked carrot and buttered cabbage. Two courses, £39. Sharing is caring, they say. That may explain why this Peckham favourite brings a glow to London's heart. It's legendary for its (generally, two-person) sharing roasts of, for example, spit-roast chicken or lamb saddle with mint and pine nut sauce, served with roast potatoes and perhaps creamed cavolo nero. The elegantly stripped-back aesthetic (scrubbed tables, blackboard menus, hip art), a lovingly assembled wine list focused on smaller producers and bottled beers from benchmark London brewery, Kernel, seal this appealing deal. Sharing roasts from £50. With its terraced garden, Tyne Valley views and colourful interior (check the chamber pots dangling from the bar ceiling), this historic drover's inn outside Hexham has much to recommend it, even before you get to its stellar food. The Rat enjoys national acclaim among in-the-know foodies, and it makes a big deal of Sunday roasts, offering four meats from local farms such as Nunwick or Dukesfield Hall. Two-courses £26.50. Descending into Ryburn Valley from the M62 motorway, you quickly leave hectic modern Britain behind. All ancient beams, flagged floors and roaring fires, the 14th-century Bridge Inn is a particularly atmospheric refuge. Perfectly conditioned regional cask ales, including several Timothy Taylor beers, accompany generous, tasty chicken or beef roasts. Trimmings include beef-fat potatoes and (yes!) cauliflower cheese. Two courses, £21.50. When exploring the Brecon Beacons or famously bookish Hay-on-Wye, don't miss the Griffin: one of the modern era's classic gastropubs. On Sundays, there are few better places to be than at a large, well-spaced table in the Aga Room, feasting on brown crab rarebit before a roast beef or, for the non-meat eaters, maple-glazed celeriac. The Griffin wine list is interesting, too, with up to 20 by the glass or carafe. Sunday lunch, two courses, £35. Popular with walkers, day-trippers and discerning locals, this buzzy Peak District spot is both a proper pub, where regulars natter at the bar over pints from local Distant Hills Brewing, and a dining destination, thanks to chef Luke Payne. His Sunday menu might range from dishes such as overnight braised lamb shoulder with all the trimmings to sea bream chowder or a carrot and tender-stem tart for special Sunday appetites. Roasts from £20. In the glorious views from its snazzy beer garden or the regional ingredients on your plate, this inn is woven into the rural splendour of the Scottish Borders. Roast beef is served weekly alongside seasonal, roast-adjacent dishes such as pork loin with Dauphinoise potatoes, orange butter & hazelnut roasted carrots and apple compote. Walk lunch off on the four-mile Blackadder Loop or by exploring this pretty conservation village. Roasts around £20. Set in a verdant nook by the village church, its beer garden bordered by a stream, this 15th-century inn is idyllic. The bar area particularly is a historic gem, complete with log-fire hearth. In both food and drink (St Austell Brewery beers, local gins, meats from butcher, Philip Warren), St Kew showcases Cornwall's best produce. A typical Kew roast might include sirloin with Yorkshire pudding, garlic and thyme roasties, cauliflower cheese and greens. Roasts around £20. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
