What was your first-ever job? I worked for the Village Veterinary in Belsize Park as part of voluntary service at school. It was a clever way of avoiding the Combined Cadet Force. It was pretty mucky - sick animals tend to lose control of bodily functions.

What was the first music single you bought? When I was a kid I tended to listen to classical music. My first foray into the popular genre isn't something I'm particularly proud of... I think it was some kind of album of pan pipe renditions of 1980s hits.

How do you describe your job to your mates? A jack of all trades. No day is the same and sometimes it's hard to actually list what I do. I invariably jump from one topic to something completely different, potentially punctuated by a bit of recipe creation.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? My job is incredibly varied. I love the fact that because of Stewed! I've had the chance to write recipes and have a cookbook published and sold across the country. I also run cookery workshops. It's also very rewarding to see Stewed! pots in supermarkets all round the country. To think I started it all in a farmers' market is brilliant. The icing on the cake comes when we get fantastic reviews by customers. What is your motto in life? If you don't try, you'll never know!

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be? Two weeks a year when I could just concentrate on today and live 100% in the present, as opposed to constantly thinking about two, four or six months ahead.

Do you have any phobias? I'm pretty scared of heights. It's not the height that's scary, it's more the sense I might actually jump off!

If you could pick a celebrity to join your staff who would it be? A comedian like Miranda Hart or Eddie Izzard. There's nothing like a bit of humour in the office.

If you could change one thing in grocery what would it be? I would love it if the drive towards ever-cheaper food in the British grocery industry was stopped in its tracks. Good food costs money, and with inflation and the increasing cost of goods, it's becoming harder and harder to create delicious products at low prices.

What luxury would you have on your desert island? A daily massage. Massage is one of those things that makes me relax completely and forget any worries.

What animal best reflects your personality? A dog. Loyal, trusting, keen to sniff out new territory and a lover of food.

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