Food influencer Will Hughes – aka What Willy Cook – is the face of Waitrose’s new content series Food Lovers Uncut (online, monthly), which promises to “deep dive into the homes of famous food fanatics”.
“Forget glossy, perfectly styled celebrity kitchens,” states the press release – but that’s exactly what’s found in episode one, featuring Sex Education and SAS Rogue Heroes star Connor Swindells.
Hughes arrives at the pristine pad with some sweet treats – available at Waitrose, of course. They’re appreciated by Swindells, fresh from an 11-day no sugar diet. Not that the glucose rush has much effect on the actor, who remains impassive throughout.
The undeniably likeable Hughes rummages through Swindells’ fridge, finding yoghurt, kefir and kimchi (“so you’re a big gut health guy”) and tomatoes (“something I don’t like, because it’s weird”).
The pair make a sandwich from lamb, gravy and Swindells’ homemade pickled onions, and later unpack a big haul from the supermarket.
There’s a cursory look around the dwelling – a pomegranate on the shelf is sniffed, and an incredibly sharp knife tested.
While not quite reaching the discomfort-by-design levels of Chicken Shop Date, there are some delightfully awkward moments – like a hesitant handshake and Swindells’ explanation that an artwork is “a gift from my wife’s ex-boyfriend” to which Hughes confusedly asks “To you?”.
It would be hard to argue Swindells comes across as someone “obsessed with food” as billed (he likes lemon pasta, he says) or if it really provides a “glimpse behind the scenes”. But it’s more engaging than Waitrose’s increasingly knackered podcast Dish, and more clippable for socials.
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