Latest news with #Preston
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How Preston's Spud Bros became TikTok stars with jacket potatoes
"You can never get sick of spuds," says Jacob Nelson, one half of the Spud Bros, whose fun videos of jacket potatoes loaded with various fillings have garnered them over seven million followers worldwide across all their social 30, and his 22-year-old brother Harley run their business from an old tram carriage in Preston's Flag have been tuber-based offerings on the site since 1955 when Ernie Rhodes set up his hot potato cart before passing it on to Keith son Keith junior "became an absolute legend for Preston," Harley said. When Keith died, Harley and his dad Tony bought the business. "We started in 2020 with the second [Covid-19 pandemic] lockdown, Tony said. "Me and Harley were there and we opened the hatch and there wasn't a soul around. "I turned to Harley and said 'what have we done?'." But then older brother Jacob, aka Jake, came on board."Jake's vision was to create a global brand from a small potato truck and inspire the youngsters that you can do anything," dad Tony seems to have all gone according to plan. Millions have watched the videos from the tater tram and the Spud Bros now boast 4.2 million TikTok followers and more than seven million followers worldwide on all their credit their dad, the "Spudfather" for their unlikely fame as he was the one who started the TikTok account, gaining 60,000 followers with his "dad dancing" and "dressing up in some questionable costumes"."We rebranded to Spud Bros in 2023, and I think within two or three days of posting our second video, it went viral," Jacob said."It just snowballed from there." The Lancashire lads have recently joined YouTube and already have more than a million subscribers."We post 'day in the life' and 'behind the scenes' long-form videos," Jacob said. "We've got Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, so we're across all platforms and producing 500 million views a month - and that's just from a potato."The support from everybody is unreal and we're forever grateful."It is hard work, but we just keep going, doing Preston proud, we love it."They are known for their generosity, giving away free potatoes to the first in the queue - and there's always a for anyone wanting to know the most popular topping? Garlic butter, cheese, beans "our famous tram sauce" and crispy onions - and the potatoes are sourced from local farmers. They are also hoping to replace their original Flag Market tram with a new unit the size of two shipping containers and plan to have shops in London, Liverpool and "we're also going global, we're going to Amsterdam".But their hearts will always remain in their home city - and they've just been announced as the front-of-shirt sponsor for Preston North End for 2025-26."Everything that we do is for Preston," Jacob said. "Even though we are collaborating with some of the biggest influencers out there like Mr Beast and Will Smith, we will always come back to Preston."With hard work, passion, vision, you can achieve anything." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Kitchen fitter sues customer for libel after being branded 'worst I have ever seen' and an 'absolute joke' in online review
A kitchen fitter is suing a customer for libel after they posted a scathing online review branding him the 'worst I have ever seen'. Joiner Benjamin Johnson has resorted to the High Court after Stephen Helm said he was an 'absolute joke' and told others to 'avoid' him. On a website for tradesman reviews, Mr Helm claimed Mr Johnson 'damaged everything' and said he was 'the worst fitter I have ever seen'. Mr Johnson, based in Preston, claims customers cancelled scheduled jobs after seeing the post – costing him £19,000. In early 2022 Mr Johnson's firm, Johnson's Joinery, was hired by Mr Helm to work on his kitchen. That April, the pair argued about the 'standard' of Mr Johnson's fitting, which resulted in him stopping, a preliminary hearing was told. Mr Helm and Mr Johnson then agreed a settlement. The homeowner uploaded a review of Johnson's Joinery the following month to a website allowing users to discuss nearby businesses. The post, left online for 17 months, read: 'The worse [sic] fitter I have ever seen, ruined everything he touched, didn't do a full day. Damaged everything and can't draw a straight line... Lazy, dirty and dangerous health concerns regarding his work... Ben Johnson [and father the plumber] are to be avoided at all costs. 'He refunded our deposit and admitted liability by doing that however wouldn't pay the extras to rectify and remove everything he did and doesn't care about the impact to our home. 'Avoid, avoid, avoid... Absolute joke, embarrassing and when questioned for consumer rights claim said his feelings were hurt as we were questioning his character. Should not be in business so avoid.' Mr Helm is arguing he was sharing the 'truth and honest opinion'. He is also seeking damages for breach of contract. Richard Spearman KC, who dealt with the preliminary hearing, said: 'Looking at the review in the round, it seems to me that it plainly contains some statements of opinion and some statements of fact.' Mr Johnson said: 'I'm sick and tired of customers who think they can do what they want and think they can get away with it. 'I've lost two jobs that came up to about £19,000 because of this. 'I asked him [Mr Helm] to take it down and he said no, I had no choice but to take him to court to take it down.' The case continues.
Times
a day ago
- Business
- Times
Kitchen fitter branded ‘worst ever seen' sues for defamation
A kitchen fitter is claiming nearly £20,000 in damages after a homeowner posted a scathing online review that described his work as the 'worst I have ever seen'. In a move that could have a lasting impact on the building trade, Benjamin Johnson has gone before a High Court judge to bring a defamation claim against his former client. After a judge granted permission for the claim to proceed, Johnson said he was suing because he was 'sick and tired' of customers who 'can do what they want and think they can get away with it'. The dispute centres on comments by Stephen Helm, the disgruntled homeowner, who publicly stated that Johnson was an 'absolute joke' and warned others to 'avoid' using him. On a website for reviews of tradesmen, Helm claimed that Johnson 'damaged everything', adding that he was 'the worst fitter I have ever seen'. Johnson, who is based in Preston, told the court that the review remained online for more than 17 months and that as a result customers cancelled jobs, which left him £19,000 out of pocket. The dispute broke out after Helm hired the fitter in 2022 to carry out work on his kitchen. The preliminary hearing in the High Court was told that the two then rowed about the standard of Johnson's work and he stopped the job. As a result, Helm and Johnson agreed a financial settlement but the next month the homeowner posted a review of Johnson's Joinery onto a website for comments on local businesses. • No mate of mine: the perils of reviewing a handyman Helm's review said: 'The worse [sic] fitter I have ever seen, ruined everything he touched, didn't do a full day. Damaged everything and can't draw a straight line. Cut into the units which didn't need touching. Plasterboarded the walls and we lost 10cm for no reason.' In addition, Helm described the fitter as 'lazy' and claimed that there were 'dangerous health concerns regarding his work as he pushed pipes into the waste pipe for washing machine and dishwasher and sealed with silicone which backed up waste from toilet into the machines'. He advised readers of the review site to 'avoid avoid avoid', saying that Johnson was an 'absolute joke, embarrassing and when questioned for consumer rights claim said his feelings were hurt as we were questioning his character. Should not be in business so avoid'. Johnson launched court proceedings in 2023 and in response to the claim, Helm has argued that he was sharing the 'truth and honest opinion'. If Helm can prove that his criticism of the fitter was true and that he honestly believes his comments were accurate, Johnson's defamation claim will fail. Helm has also launched a counterclaim seeking damages for breach of contract in respect to the works carried out. Judge Spearman ruled that the wording of the review 'plainly contains some statements of opinion and some statements of fact' as he allowed the claim to proceed to a full trial.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Developer's bid to ditch Fulwood affordable housing demand
Plans to create a gated luxury housing estate in suburban Preston risk being derailed by a demand to build affordable housing elsewhere in the city, it has been proposed redevelopment of the former Harris Park Orphanage site, off Garstang Road in Fulwood, was given the go-ahead by councillors almost three years high-end scheme would see the historic plot's 11 Grade II-listed buildings converted for residential use, along with the creation of 16 brand new properties.A total of 37 homes were set to be developed on what was now known as the Harris Knowledge Park. 'Uncertainty' The housing blueprint was approved by Preston City Council's planning committee in November firm behind the proposal successfully argued the project would not be financially viable if 30% of the properties had to be offered under the discounted affordable homes category and the stipulation was applicant, Eden Grove Investment Properties Limited was told that "reasonable contributions" towards developing affordable properties on another site would be required if the Harris Park estate ultimately made more profit than was expected at the the city council has now been asked to write off even that prospect after it was claimed the resultant "uncertainty" was making the project unattractive for the developer and investors needed to get the blueprint off the drawing board, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Harris Orphanage opened in 1888 and cared for more than 2,200 youngsters over the course of the 94 years which it Polytechnic – the forerunner to the University of Central Lancashire – acquired the site in 1982 before disposing of it 24 years later. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly Come Dancing's ‘super-spoiler' earns MORE than stars are paid by leaking result as he's unmasked for first time
STRICTLY Come Dancing's "super-spoiler" is raking in a record fee from the BBC series - without even stepping foot on the dancefloor. The well-informed Lancashire male, who leaks the weekly Results Show outcomes on his website and page on X, has now also been unmasked for the first time. 6 6 6 Dave Thorp is the individual who, with the help of his show moles, lets slip the nail-biting elimination during Strictly 's annual run. The spoilers sometimes delight fans eager to be first to the intel, yet others are left devastated as their BBC One viewing experience is marred by the revelations, which come a day ahead of transmission. The software engineering student, 45, has been in situ as the show's resident spoiler for more than a decade - and rakes in a reported £5,000 per month for the privilege. And it appears Preston-based Dave, who has previously denied working for the BBC, is set to continue his Strictly spoiler lifestyle. A source told how he has links with an insider who tells him who is in the Dance Off - filmed on Saturdays but aired to the public on Sundays - and who is given the boot. They claim he has had no threats from show bosses and told MailOnline: "The money Thorp is making from giving away the Strictly results is ridiculous. "He can sometimes earn up to £5,000 a month when the show is airing. "On a bad month it's around £3,000, but that's not bad money for simply revealing a result and writing a bit of text around it. "He has someone involved on the show leaking him the results and Strictly have no clue who it is. Iconic Olympian Mo Farah in talks to join Strictly Come Dancing as BBC bid to clean up scandal-hit show "They used to think it was audience members but Thorp still found out which celebrities had been voted out during the lockdown series, which was filmed at Elstree Studios without an audience.' "But bosses don't seem too concerned as they haven't tried to stop him. "He's had no legal threats or even just a polite request to stop spoiling the result. "So I imagine he'll just keep on going." Love Island All Stars 2025 official line-up Love Island All Stars is back on TV for season 2. Here we take you through the line-up of all the Islanders who are in the villa so far. Scott Thomas - season 2 (2016) - QUIT Marcel Somerville - season 3 (2017) - OUT India Reynolds - season 2 (2017) - OUT Gabby Allen - season 3 (2017) Elma Pazar - season 5 (2019) Curtis Pritchard - season 5 (2019) Kaz Crossley - season 5 (2019) - OUT Olivia Hawkins - season 10 (2023) - OUT Nas Majeed - season 6 (2020) - OUT Luca Bish - season 8 (2022) Catherine Agbaje - season 10 (2023) Ronnie Vint - season 11 (2024) Bombshells Each series brings with it a string of hot single bombshells making their epic entrance into the villa. Here's who has joined the villa so far: Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu - season 8 (2022) Casey O'Gorman - season 9 (2023) and All Stars (2024) Ron Hall - season 9 (2023) - QUIT Tina Stinnes - season 2 (2016) - OUT Grace Jackson - season 11 (2024) Harriet Blackmore - season 11 (2024) Montel McKenzie - season 10 (2023) - OUT Sammy Root - season 10 (2023) Danielle Sellers - season 3 (2017) - OUT Omar Nyame - season 11 (2024) Samie Elish - season 9 (2023) - OUT Chuggs Wallis - season 7 (2021) - OUT DETAIL REVEAL Dave previously addressed his unique role on his Strictly spoiler website. He answers a series of Frequently Asked Questions from followers - including how he obtained his spoilers in the first place. In a candid confession Dave wrote: "I work closely with a number of other spoiler sources and together we source moles for the various shows who are willing to tell us the results." He then insisted he had no connection to the BBC itself and said: "I'm not a BBC employee either presently or formerly and have no connection with the show (if I was I would have been fired a long time ago for breaching the official secrets act or whatever the BBC equivalent is). "I'm just a Strictly fan who finds it ludicrous that in a day and age where information can be transmitted globally in the blink of an eye, that the BBC would still think it is a good idea to pre record the results show of their flagship reality TV show and broadcast it a whole day after the event." 6 6 6
