Hundreds of jacket potato lovers flood Milton Keynes for TikTok star Spudman’s giveaway
TikTok star Spudman gave away hundreds of free jacket potato meals to hungry fans in Milton Keynes in partnership with London Northwestern Railway.
Huge crowds descended on Milton Keynes’ outdoor market on Saturday, February 21, as viral TikTok star Spudman gave away hundreds of free jacket potatoes. The act came in partnership with London Northwestern Railway (LNR) to celebrate the launch of a brand-new train fleet on the Trent Valley Line.
Ben Newman, more commonly known as Spudman, rose to fame after uploading interactions with customers queuing for loaded spuds at his van in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
The street food vendor’s visit to the city came as part of a wider collaboration with LNR, where he is set to give away 730 jacket potatoes at three locations along the Trent Valley line - Milton Keynes, Crewe and Tamworth.
Ben Newman (Spudman) said: “I was always going to come to Milton Keynes after meeting everyone at BLUDFEST last summer, and with family down the road it's a place that has always been on my list to come back to properly!
“LNR’s brand-new trains are making journeys to Milton Keynes much more comfortable, so it’s even easier for my fans to visit.”
The number of giveaways marks the introduction of brand-new Class 730 trains onto the Trent Valley railway line which connects destinations in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire and London.
David Watkin, commercial director at London Northwestern Railway, said: “We’ve been blown away by the reception of our partnership with Spudman, helping to build awareness of our new trains on the Trent Valley Line.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many fans claim their free spuds or try the limited-edition dish, with a share of the proceeds going towards Andy’s Man Club.”
Fans who missed out on a free jacket potato, were encouraged to try a separate new dish from the food vendor, with a fifth of the profits going to Andy’s Man Club, a charity providing support groups for men struggling with mental health issues. In total, Milton Keynes locals raised hundreds of pounds for the cause.
Lucas Whitehead, head of partnerships at Andy’s Man Club, said: "A huge thank you to London Northwestern Railway for supporting ANDYSMANCLUB during their campaign alongside Spudman.
“This gives us an opportunity to get in front of a wide variety of people in the heart of their communities in the hope that they will take up our support should they need it."