1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:02,969 Poppy O'Toole: This is the kind of thing that I bring when I 2 00:00:02,970 --> 00:00:07,440 Poppy O'Toole: go on road trips because I'm obsessed with eating. I 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,730 Poppy O'Toole: should love it. Just getting messy, being silly, and being 4 00:00:11,730 --> 00:00:15,749 Poppy O'Toole: able to isolate, ride my bike around country roads. I 5 00:00:15,750 --> 00:00:18,900 Poppy O'Toole: was a bit feral. My little brother and sister definitely 6 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:22,680 Poppy O'Toole: inspired me because they were constantly on TikTok, constantly on social 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,850 Poppy O'Toole: media, and I was like, " Oh, hello? Give me attention. 8 00:00:27,690 --> 00:00:30,989 Poppy O'Toole: I'm cool too," so then I was like, "Oh, I might have a go at this." 9 00:00:30,990 --> 00:00:34,289 Alex Legouix: This is Show On The Road, brought to you by 10 00:00:34,289 --> 00:00:38,760 Alex Legouix: Autotrader. We're driving famous faces on a personalized road trip, 11 00:00:38,790 --> 00:00:41,790 Alex Legouix: visiting the places that help shaped them and hearing how 12 00:00:41,790 --> 00:00:45,089 Alex Legouix: the locations turn them into who they are today. We've 13 00:00:45,090 --> 00:00:48,539 Alex Legouix: matched each celebrity with a car chosen specifically for them. 14 00:00:48,870 --> 00:00:52,920 Alex Legouix: So join me, Alex Legouix, as we get this show 15 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,170 Alex Legouix: on the road. I'm going to have to find a drive- 16 00:00:55,170 --> 00:00:57,660 Alex Legouix: through after this next chat as I've got a feeling this 17 00:00:57,660 --> 00:01:01,140 Alex Legouix: conversation is going to make me hungry. Today's guest is 18 00:01:01,140 --> 00:01:04,230 Alex Legouix: Poppy O'Toole. She's a chef with more than 4 million 19 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:07,410 Alex Legouix: social media followers, having made a name for herself as 20 00:01:07,410 --> 00:01:10,859 Alex Legouix: the potato queen, thanks to her huge variety of potato 21 00:01:10,859 --> 00:01:14,910 Alex Legouix: recipes. Since then, she's gone from strength to strength. Among 22 00:01:14,910 --> 00:01:17,880 Alex Legouix: other things, she's a co- host of BBC Three's Young 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,170 Alex Legouix: MasterChef. Poppy's followers might have come for the potato recipes, 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,889 Alex Legouix: but they stay for her warm, upfront and funny approach 25 00:01:25,889 --> 00:01:28,289 Alex Legouix: to cooking. We're about to go for a drive in 26 00:01:28,289 --> 00:01:32,280 Alex Legouix: the surrounding areas of Bromsgrove where Poppy grew up, and the 27 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,580 Alex Legouix: car we've matched her with is a Smart Fortwo Pure. 28 00:01:36,209 --> 00:01:38,161 Poppy O'Toole: No way. This is amazing. 29 00:01:38,161 --> 00:01:38,162 Alex Legouix: You like? 30 00:01:38,162 --> 00:01:38,163 Poppy O'Toole: Is this for me? 31 00:01:38,163 --> 00:01:38,673 Alex Legouix: Yeah. 32 00:01:49,770 --> 00:01:50,160 Poppy O'Toole: Oh- 33 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:50,490 Alex Legouix: Come in. 34 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:55,590 Poppy O'Toole: My God. I love little toy Smart cars. They're the best. 35 00:01:55,590 --> 00:01:55,801 Alex Legouix: They're so cute. 36 00:01:55,801 --> 00:01:59,041 Poppy O'Toole: Oh my God. Thank you. This is brilliant. 37 00:01:59,041 --> 00:02:04,259 Alex Legouix: Hi. It's so dinky. 38 00:02:04,259 --> 00:02:13,350 Poppy O'Toole: It's so dinky. I love it. This is the best thing ever. I have always just loved these. There was one car 39 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:15,240 Poppy O'Toole: that I always wanted when I was younger, but I 40 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,090 Poppy O'Toole: still haven't got one. I don't know why. I'm well excited. 41 00:02:18,150 --> 00:02:19,679 Alex Legouix: Have you had a good day so far? 42 00:02:19,860 --> 00:02:21,480 Poppy O'Toole: Yes, thank you. It's a bloody lovely day, isn't it? 43 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,039 Alex Legouix: I know. Should we go on a- 44 00:02:23,369 --> 00:02:24,720 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, let's go on a journey. 45 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:25,290 Alex Legouix: Adventure. 46 00:02:25,350 --> 00:02:26,520 Poppy O'Toole: I've got snacks. 47 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,561 Alex Legouix: Yeah, it's a bag of snacks. 48 00:02:28,561 --> 00:02:30,660 Poppy O'Toole: There's a whole bag of snacks. So I don't know 49 00:02:30,900 --> 00:02:32,580 Poppy O'Toole: if you want to share some snacks, but this is 50 00:02:32,580 --> 00:02:35,070 Poppy O'Toole: my kind of... If I'm going on an adventure, I 51 00:02:35,070 --> 00:02:36,119 Poppy O'Toole: pack too many things. 52 00:02:36,179 --> 00:02:39,480 Alex Legouix: Okay. And what sort of things are on your snack list? 53 00:02:39,540 --> 00:02:43,290 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, so we start off with the best sandwich you 54 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:47,160 Poppy O'Toole: could ever have, which is a crisp sandwich. 55 00:02:47,220 --> 00:02:48,630 Alex Legouix: A crisp sandwich? 56 00:02:48,630 --> 00:02:49,290 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah. So I've got- 57 00:02:49,290 --> 00:02:49,830 Alex Legouix: Of course, going with the potato thing. 58 00:02:49,830 --> 00:02:52,589 Poppy O'Toole: Absolutely. So I've got bread and butter, because you can't make a 59 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:55,770 Poppy O'Toole: crisp sandwich too early, because the crisp goes soggy in 60 00:02:55,770 --> 00:02:58,379 Poppy O'Toole: the butter. So we've got bread and butter, and then 61 00:02:58,379 --> 00:02:59,761 Poppy O'Toole: we've got our crisps to add to it, so that can- 62 00:02:59,761 --> 00:03:01,260 Alex Legouix: And what flavor crisps? 63 00:03:01,260 --> 00:03:02,160 Poppy O'Toole: I'm a salt and vinegar. 64 00:03:02,220 --> 00:03:03,930 Alex Legouix: Yeah, me too. Oh my God, all over. 65 00:03:03,930 --> 00:03:06,690 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah. Sometimes a prawn cocktail if I'm feeling a bit 66 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:10,859 Poppy O'Toole: extra, but mainly a salt and vinegar kind of girl, me. 67 00:03:16,949 --> 00:03:18,659 Alex Legouix: So we're on the outskirts of... 68 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:19,920 Poppy O'Toole: Alvechurch. 69 00:03:19,950 --> 00:03:21,239 Alex Legouix: Yes. Why here? 70 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:23,940 Poppy O'Toole: So I went to middle school here and then this 71 00:03:23,940 --> 00:03:30,180 Poppy O'Toole: is where my family lives around. It's all similar areas. 72 00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:32,730 Poppy O'Toole: They're all quite close to each other, where everyone is. It's a 73 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,179 Poppy O'Toole: lovely little village, and just outside of it, one of 74 00:03:36,180 --> 00:03:37,530 Poppy O'Toole: my first jobs here. 75 00:03:38,550 --> 00:03:39,990 Alex Legouix: So who was little Poppy? 76 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:48,300 Poppy O'Toole: Basically exactly the same, also food obsessed, and just... I 77 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:51,119 Poppy O'Toole: went back to my middle school to go and do a talk, one 78 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,609 Poppy O'Toole: of the pupils asked, " Oh, what were you like at 79 00:03:53,609 --> 00:03:57,300 Poppy O'Toole: school?" And I was like, "I don't know. I think I was quite outgoing. 80 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:01,200 Poppy O'Toole: I think I was quite funny," and then my old 81 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,889 Poppy O'Toole: teacher went, " Yeah, she was a very awkward and different 82 00:04:04,889 --> 00:04:06,000 Poppy O'Toole: student," and I was like- 83 00:04:06,540 --> 00:04:06,721 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 84 00:04:06,721 --> 00:04:10,170 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, I've got a whole different impression to what I thought I was like. But yeah, 85 00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:13,560 Poppy O'Toole: I think in terms of that, I was quite outgoing, 86 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,690 Poppy O'Toole: but in a... I don't know. I don't know what 87 00:04:15,690 --> 00:04:20,040 Poppy O'Toole: the thought, in a different way, I didn't really care about 88 00:04:20,309 --> 00:04:24,719 Poppy O'Toole: what anyone else was doing or thinking or... 89 00:04:24,719 --> 00:04:26,669 Alex Legouix: Well, that sounds pretty healthy to me. 90 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,558 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, but I don't know if I took that a 91 00:04:28,559 --> 00:04:30,720 Poppy O'Toole: bit too far and just didn't care about anything at all. 92 00:04:32,670 --> 00:04:36,060 Alex Legouix: That's fair enough. Do you have fond memories of growing up? 93 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,320 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, absolutely. I'd love to go back. Do it all again, I think. 94 00:04:40,349 --> 00:04:40,859 Alex Legouix: Would you? 95 00:04:40,860 --> 00:04:46,320 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah. Really good fun. I just had just random wild 96 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,390 Poppy O'Toole: things going on all the time. I'd be playing in 97 00:04:48,420 --> 00:04:51,870 Poppy O'Toole: mud, I'd be in puddles. Again, would love to do 98 00:04:51,870 --> 00:04:54,719 Poppy O'Toole: that now, but it's not quite as socially acceptable for a 30- year- 99 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,820 Poppy O'Toole: old to be doing it. I should love it. Just 100 00:04:56,820 --> 00:05:01,559 Poppy O'Toole: getting messy, being silly, and I used to ride my 101 00:05:01,559 --> 00:05:05,039 Poppy O'Toole: bike around country roads. I was a bit feral. 102 00:05:05,549 --> 00:05:07,440 Alex Legouix: So is it quite a nice area to grow up? 103 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:09,779 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, it's a lovely place. It's really, really nice. It's got 104 00:05:09,779 --> 00:05:13,979 Poppy O'Toole: lots of parks, lots of green areas. Teenage years, went 105 00:05:13,980 --> 00:05:17,339 Poppy O'Toole: in towards Bromsgrove, that's where all my friends were. So there 106 00:05:17,339 --> 00:05:21,210 Poppy O'Toole: was only a couple of us really from Alvechurch side 107 00:05:21,599 --> 00:05:24,359 Poppy O'Toole: in our friendship group, so we would always just be in 108 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:28,350 Poppy O'Toole: Bromsgrove at that point. But it was lovely. There was a 109 00:05:28,710 --> 00:05:33,389 Poppy O'Toole: little bakery, little butchers, and me and my family were obsessed 110 00:05:33,389 --> 00:05:38,279 Poppy O'Toole: with cooking, so we'd always be at the butchers and always 111 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,889 Poppy O'Toole: be doing that sort of stuff. So we were just always 112 00:05:40,889 --> 00:05:41,550 Poppy O'Toole: in the village. 113 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:42,360 Alex Legouix: Nice. 114 00:05:42,810 --> 00:05:43,800 Poppy O'Toole: Lovely little village. 115 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:46,440 Alex Legouix: Yeah. Nice. What's it like to come back? 116 00:05:46,950 --> 00:05:49,560 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, I love it. I'm regularly back now. 117 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:49,650 Alex Legouix: You are? 118 00:05:50,428 --> 00:05:52,650 Poppy O'Toole: Yes. I don't live too far away. I live in 119 00:05:52,650 --> 00:05:57,359 Poppy O'Toole: Birmingham now, so I'm always around. It just feels nice 120 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,230 Poppy O'Toole: to be here. We can be near my family, my 121 00:06:01,230 --> 00:06:04,710 Poppy O'Toole: little brother and sister, both of our families, my partner's, 122 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:08,971 Poppy O'Toole: Tom's family anyway, and it's just more relaxing. 123 00:06:08,971 --> 00:06:09,721 Alex Legouix: And you've got doggies? 124 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:14,160 Poppy O'Toole: And we've got lots of doggie now, yeah. We've got too 125 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,789 Poppy O'Toole: many dogs. We've got three dogs now. We've got two pugs, 126 00:06:18,089 --> 00:06:21,839 Poppy O'Toole: one is nine and called Kipper, one is seven and 127 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,589 Poppy O'Toole: called Crypto. And now we've got a puppy, a German 128 00:06:25,589 --> 00:06:28,679 Poppy O'Toole: Shepherd, who is a few weeks old. Well, 14 weeks old. 129 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:29,969 Alex Legouix: Oh, it's just too cute. 130 00:06:29,969 --> 00:06:34,769 Poppy O'Toole: I'm so excited. He's called Red and he is absolutely adorable. 131 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,729 Alex Legouix: Were you an animal person when you were growing up? 132 00:06:39,270 --> 00:06:42,360 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, obsessed with animals. I've always been obsessed with dogs. 133 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,060 Poppy O'Toole: I used to pretend I was a dog very regularly, 134 00:06:45,990 --> 00:06:47,940 Poppy O'Toole: but to a point where my mum had to actually 135 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:50,428 Poppy O'Toole: stop me because I would eat out of a bowl 136 00:06:50,428 --> 00:06:52,529 Poppy O'Toole: on the floor, I'd drink water out of a bowl 137 00:06:52,529 --> 00:06:55,289 Poppy O'Toole: on the floor. We didn't have dogs. My nan and 138 00:06:55,290 --> 00:06:59,670 Poppy O'Toole: grandad had a Doberman. But I've always been, but an unhealthy 139 00:06:59,670 --> 00:07:02,849 Poppy O'Toole: obsession with them, I love them, just more than anything 140 00:07:02,849 --> 00:07:04,169 Poppy O'Toole: else, any dog. 141 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:13,650 Alex Legouix: Yeah, I do. They're so cute. This is really nice around here. 142 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:16,920 Poppy O'Toole: It's beautiful, isn't it? There's the canals. The canals are great. 143 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:17,851 Poppy O'Toole: I love a canal. 144 00:07:17,851 --> 00:07:22,110 Alex Legouix: There's canal boats over there. So tell me more about where 145 00:07:22,110 --> 00:07:22,469 Alex Legouix: we are. 146 00:07:22,469 --> 00:07:25,469 Poppy O'Toole: So we are now in Barnt Green, and it's a bit 147 00:07:25,469 --> 00:07:27,989 Poppy O'Toole: posh actually, I think even footballers live here. 148 00:07:28,649 --> 00:07:31,530 Alex Legouix: Oh. So can you describe this area for us? 149 00:07:31,530 --> 00:07:36,690 Poppy O'Toole: So this is another little village, it's very green and 150 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:40,559 Poppy O'Toole: rural as well. We've got reservoirs, we've got canals, a 151 00:07:40,559 --> 00:07:44,699 Poppy O'Toole: couple of local pubs. And this was where my first 152 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:49,530 Poppy O'Toole: school was and this is where, again, a lot of 153 00:07:49,530 --> 00:07:56,010 Poppy O'Toole: my friends and family are around here. And this is 154 00:07:56,010 --> 00:07:58,050 Poppy O'Toole: prevalent in my life, I think Barnt Green is one 155 00:07:58,050 --> 00:08:01,259 Poppy O'Toole: of those places, and my grandparents used to live not 156 00:08:01,259 --> 00:08:04,440 Poppy O'Toole: too far, just basically in Barnt Green. 157 00:08:05,459 --> 00:08:07,770 Alex Legouix: Is this where you worked in the pub, in Barnt Green? 158 00:08:07,770 --> 00:08:11,670 Poppy O'Toole: No, so I never worked anywhere in Barnt Green, it's 159 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:17,849 Poppy O'Toole: too posh for me, Barnt Green. So I worked at a care home in Alvechurch, 160 00:08:17,849 --> 00:08:20,460 Poppy O'Toole: which we go through kind Barnt Green to get towards. 161 00:08:21,690 --> 00:08:22,020 Alex Legouix: Yeah, we're going to go there. 162 00:08:22,379 --> 00:08:24,810 Poppy O'Toole: But this pub that I think we're going to, called 163 00:08:24,810 --> 00:08:29,790 Poppy O'Toole: the Barnt Green Inn, was a staple in my everyday 164 00:08:29,790 --> 00:08:34,050 Poppy O'Toole: life. My mum and her friends spent a lot of 165 00:08:34,050 --> 00:08:37,379 Poppy O'Toole: time here, and my uncle, everyone, my nan, my grandad, 166 00:08:37,380 --> 00:08:39,120 Poppy O'Toole: this was the place to be. 167 00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:42,179 Alex Legouix: Ah, the Barnt Green Inn. 168 00:08:42,330 --> 00:08:44,819 Poppy O'Toole: Yes. It's changed a few times. When I was younger 169 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,828 Poppy O'Toole: it used to be a Toby Carvery. 170 00:08:47,309 --> 00:08:48,750 Alex Legouix: That's an amazing building. 171 00:08:48,750 --> 00:08:50,848 Poppy O'Toole: It's incredible, isn't it? I don't know what it used to 172 00:08:50,849 --> 00:08:52,829 Poppy O'Toole: be. Sorry, I'm literally videoing it. I don't know what it 173 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,030 Poppy O'Toole: actually used to be back in the day. But we spent 174 00:08:57,030 --> 00:09:00,059 Poppy O'Toole: a lot of time in here and really brilliant memories, 175 00:09:00,059 --> 00:09:00,960 Poppy O'Toole: it was so much fun. 176 00:09:01,140 --> 00:09:04,170 Alex Legouix: It sounds like you have some really lovely memories of 177 00:09:04,170 --> 00:09:05,040 Alex Legouix: your childhood. 178 00:09:05,130 --> 00:09:09,930 Poppy O'Toole: Yes, really, really good. Basically just causing chaos with adults. 179 00:09:10,020 --> 00:09:12,479 Poppy O'Toole: It was great. I used to do cartwheels around the front of 180 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:15,000 Poppy O'Toole: here, just literally. 181 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:18,179 Alex Legouix: This is all great fodder for your TikTok videos. I 182 00:09:18,179 --> 00:09:24,390 Alex Legouix: hope that you are doing cartwheels and dances. You were 183 00:09:24,390 --> 00:09:27,690 Alex Legouix: just basically in rehearsal for TikTok as a child. 184 00:09:27,690 --> 00:09:32,160 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, that was it. Could have been a very different 185 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:32,939 Poppy O'Toole: TikTok channel. 186 00:09:35,219 --> 00:09:37,800 Alex Legouix: So tell me more about this area and where we 187 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:38,581 Alex Legouix: are going next. 188 00:09:38,581 --> 00:09:43,440 Poppy O'Toole: Okay. So I was working in a care home in Alvechurch, 189 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,740 Poppy O'Toole: which is just not far from where my grandparents used 190 00:09:46,740 --> 00:09:48,690 Poppy O'Toole: to live, but they passed away at this point, but 191 00:09:48,690 --> 00:09:53,340 Poppy O'Toole: it wasn't both, it's just literally on the same road, and I was working in 192 00:09:53,429 --> 00:09:55,529 Poppy O'Toole: a pub as well. So I think we are en 193 00:09:55,529 --> 00:09:58,470 Poppy O'Toole: route to the care home. 194 00:09:59,490 --> 00:10:02,850 Alex Legouix: How old were you when you were here? 195 00:10:02,940 --> 00:10:06,660 Poppy O'Toole: I must have been about 16, maybe, and I was here for about a 196 00:10:06,660 --> 00:10:09,900 Poppy O'Toole: year or so, and I cried when I handed in 197 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:11,101 Poppy O'Toole: my resignation. 198 00:10:11,101 --> 00:10:12,211 Alex Legouix: Oh, really? 199 00:10:12,870 --> 00:10:15,300 Poppy O'Toole: Because I hate letting people down and I was like, " 200 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:19,740 Poppy O'Toole: I'm so sorry I've let you down." But this was 201 00:10:19,740 --> 00:10:24,270 Poppy O'Toole: just mad, I used to run home from school. Well, 202 00:10:24,270 --> 00:10:26,520 Poppy O'Toole: not even run home, I'd have a bag in the car, 203 00:10:26,549 --> 00:10:30,989 Poppy O'Toole: come straight here, do my shift here, always be late 204 00:10:31,049 --> 00:10:33,210 Poppy O'Toole: here because I was having tea and watching The Chase, as kind of an 205 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,730 Poppy O'Toole: excuse and sit down, and then I'd go to my 206 00:10:35,730 --> 00:10:37,920 Poppy O'Toole: second job, and that was every night. 207 00:10:38,099 --> 00:10:38,730 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 208 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,890 Poppy O'Toole: So that's what I mean, when I clocked out of school, I was like, 209 00:10:41,219 --> 00:10:42,660 Poppy O'Toole: I'm not doing my work, I'm just going to go 210 00:10:42,660 --> 00:10:45,719 Poppy O'Toole: to work and make money, and sit with old people and 211 00:10:45,719 --> 00:10:46,530 Poppy O'Toole: drink tea, it was great. 212 00:10:46,530 --> 00:10:50,340 Alex Legouix: Aw, that's really nice. I really like what you said 213 00:10:50,340 --> 00:10:55,708 Alex Legouix: about that realization as well that food brings people together, 214 00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:57,120 Alex Legouix: and it's so true, isn't it? 215 00:10:57,330 --> 00:11:01,828 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, absolutely. I always thought that, but when I was 216 00:11:01,830 --> 00:11:08,070 Poppy O'Toole: here, it really made a difference. You can just see 217 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:12,480 Poppy O'Toole: the normality of it, of food. Everyone does it every 218 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,599 Poppy O'Toole: single day, but if you take some time whilst you're 219 00:11:15,599 --> 00:11:19,200 Poppy O'Toole: eating to chat, or it can be something special and 220 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,259 Poppy O'Toole: it can make a massive difference. And that's where I 221 00:11:22,260 --> 00:11:26,580 Poppy O'Toole: just realized that food was definitely my love language for anybody. 222 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,010 Alex Legouix: Yeah. That's really nice. 223 00:11:30,030 --> 00:11:35,220 Poppy O'Toole: It's definitely something worth doing and I think if anyone is 224 00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:39,479 Poppy O'Toole: looking to do something that makes them feel like a 225 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,320 Poppy O'Toole: good person, it's definitely getting in and looking after older people. 226 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:49,590 Poppy O'Toole: It's sad, but very, very fulfilling. That's why I loved having 227 00:11:49,590 --> 00:11:54,059 Poppy O'Toole: conversations with them because they don't care who I was, it wasn't 228 00:11:54,450 --> 00:11:56,849 Poppy O'Toole: a thing, they just wanted to tell me their story 229 00:11:56,849 --> 00:11:59,309 Poppy O'Toole: and I was like, " Yeah, tell me. Absolutely, Gladys, go 230 00:11:59,309 --> 00:12:02,670 Poppy O'Toole: for it." And we'd just get ... as well, a lot 231 00:12:02,670 --> 00:12:05,880 Poppy O'Toole: of them did have dementia, so it would just be 232 00:12:06,809 --> 00:12:10,889 Poppy O'Toole: wild random stories just going off on curveballs and be like, " Yeah, 233 00:12:10,889 --> 00:12:14,999 Poppy O'Toole: go on. Yeah, tell me more. Then what happened?" And 234 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:19,410 Poppy O'Toole: it was just exciting for them as well, it was just really good fun. 235 00:12:19,410 --> 00:12:21,780 Poppy O'Toole: And I make a mean cup of tea, so they 236 00:12:21,780 --> 00:12:25,200 Poppy O'Toole: were always happy about that as well. One good thing 237 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,539 Poppy O'Toole: is that my partner is very good at remembering everything 238 00:12:27,540 --> 00:12:29,790 Poppy O'Toole: so he can remember all the stories from when I 239 00:12:29,790 --> 00:12:32,909 Poppy O'Toole: was there and stuff, and then has to remind me and I'm like, " Who? What?" 240 00:12:34,289 --> 00:12:34,890 Poppy O'Toole: And he knows it all. 241 00:12:35,458 --> 00:12:36,929 Alex Legouix: You've been together for a while then? 242 00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:39,420 Poppy O'Toole: Yes, we've been together since school. 243 00:12:39,420 --> 00:12:39,929 Alex Legouix: No! 244 00:12:40,530 --> 00:12:50,040 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, we met at high school and eventually got together 245 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:50,429 Poppy O'Toole: when we were 16. 246 00:12:50,430 --> 00:12:50,431 Alex Legouix: Oh my God. 247 00:12:50,431 --> 00:12:51,001 Poppy O'Toole: So we've been together for 13 years. Yeah. 248 00:12:53,969 --> 00:12:56,640 Alex Legouix: Oh, my word. I haven't done anything for 13 years. 249 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:02,700 Alex Legouix: That is a serious, committed... Wow. 250 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,958 Poppy O'Toole: It's quite nice growing up together, because now we know 251 00:13:07,710 --> 00:13:12,208 Poppy O'Toole: every single detail of everything that we've ever done, which 252 00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:12,780 Poppy O'Toole: is lovely. 253 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:16,530 Alex Legouix: Oh, that's so nice. Gosh. So he's really seen your 254 00:13:16,530 --> 00:13:17,968 Alex Legouix: journey as well then? 255 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:23,309 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, It's been wild. Absolutely wild. And he's been a 256 00:13:23,309 --> 00:13:26,070 Poppy O'Toole: big part of it as well in terms of helping 257 00:13:26,070 --> 00:13:29,250 Poppy O'Toole: and pushing me to do it, because it was never 258 00:13:29,940 --> 00:13:32,819 Poppy O'Toole: meant to be like. I never realized this was going 259 00:13:32,820 --> 00:13:33,211 Poppy O'Toole: to be my life. 260 00:13:33,211 --> 00:13:33,631 Alex Legouix: Yeah, of course. 261 00:13:33,660 --> 00:13:36,929 Poppy O'Toole: It was working in kitchens, I'd worked my way up 262 00:13:36,929 --> 00:13:41,458 Poppy O'Toole: to junior sous chef, and then because of the pandemic, lost 263 00:13:41,460 --> 00:13:44,458 Poppy O'Toole: my job, like a lot of people. And he was 264 00:13:44,759 --> 00:13:47,910 Poppy O'Toole: the one who was like, oh... My little brother and 265 00:13:47,910 --> 00:13:52,439 Poppy O'Toole: sister definitely inspired me because they were constantly on TikTok, constantly 266 00:13:52,439 --> 00:13:56,370 Poppy O'Toole: on social media. And I was like, " Oh, hello? Give 267 00:13:56,370 --> 00:14:00,000 Poppy O'Toole: me attention. I'm cool too," so then I was like, " 268 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,470 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, I might have a go at this," and he 269 00:14:01,470 --> 00:14:03,539 Poppy O'Toole: was like, " You should be doing... Yeah, go on, make 270 00:14:03,540 --> 00:14:06,389 Poppy O'Toole: a recipe, do something." And then he pushed me in 271 00:14:06,389 --> 00:14:10,620 Poppy O'Toole: the right direction with it a lot and eventually... Well, 272 00:14:10,620 --> 00:14:13,679 Poppy O'Toole: he's much better at editing videos than me, so it 273 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,740 Poppy O'Toole: used to take me a very, very long time to edit a video 274 00:14:16,740 --> 00:14:23,219 Poppy O'Toole: for my socials and now I'm like, " Babe?" He's on 275 00:14:23,219 --> 00:14:23,970 Poppy O'Toole: that now for me- 276 00:14:23,970 --> 00:14:24,840 Alex Legouix: That's incredibly useful. 277 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,910 Poppy O'Toole: Which is amazing. Very useful. 278 00:14:27,900 --> 00:14:31,710 Alex Legouix: We'll come into detail about your TikTok shortly, but we 279 00:14:31,710 --> 00:14:35,460 Alex Legouix: are now in what looks like a very beautiful little village. 280 00:14:35,580 --> 00:14:38,579 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, this is Barnt Green Village, this is Hewell Lane, 281 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,420 Poppy O'Toole: the high street. My first school was just down there 282 00:14:42,690 --> 00:14:48,000 Poppy O'Toole: and I used to basically make my mum, very demanding 283 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,760 Poppy O'Toole: child, I used to be like, " Mum, I'm not going 284 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,579 Poppy O'Toole: to school unless you get me a Three Cooks ham 285 00:14:53,580 --> 00:14:55,650 Poppy O'Toole: and coleslaw sandwich on the way to school." 286 00:14:55,740 --> 00:14:57,509 Alex Legouix: Oh, there it is. There's that ham and coleslaw. 287 00:14:57,540 --> 00:14:59,489 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, that's where it came through. So it used to 288 00:14:59,490 --> 00:15:04,350 Poppy O'Toole: be here, I think. Just there. Now I think it's a butchers, but 289 00:15:04,350 --> 00:15:08,580 Poppy O'Toole: that used to be my obsession. I'd make contracts the 290 00:15:08,580 --> 00:15:11,969 Poppy O'Toole: night before, going to school, I'd write them up, because 291 00:15:11,969 --> 00:15:13,260 Poppy O'Toole: at one point I wanted to be a lawyer. 292 00:15:13,410 --> 00:15:15,780 Alex Legouix: Right, first of all, contracts saying what? 293 00:15:15,780 --> 00:15:20,910 Poppy O'Toole: Saying to my mum, I'd put her name in, her full 294 00:15:20,910 --> 00:15:24,210 Poppy O'Toole: name, put my name in, will not be attending school 295 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,800 Poppy O'Toole: unless the certain rules are followed or something, I can't remember what 296 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,709 Poppy O'Toole: I used to put. A Three Cooks ham and coleslaw 297 00:15:31,710 --> 00:15:35,459 Poppy O'Toole: sandwich. I used to demand a Red Bull. 298 00:15:35,910 --> 00:15:36,720 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 299 00:15:36,779 --> 00:15:41,640 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, wild. This is when I was seven. I was just 300 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,270 Poppy O'Toole: naughty, really naughty, and a Crunchie or something like that. It'd 301 00:15:45,270 --> 00:15:49,620 Poppy O'Toole: be proper demanding of what I wanted. And then make 302 00:15:49,620 --> 00:15:52,919 Poppy O'Toole: her sign it the night before, and then I think 303 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,090 Poppy O'Toole: she'd go, " Yeah, yeah. Go to bed." Because I'd be like, " I'm only 304 00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:59,340 Poppy O'Toole: going to bed and going to school if you sign this." 305 00:15:59,340 --> 00:16:02,700 Poppy O'Toole: So I used to do that and then make her 306 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:05,190 Poppy O'Toole: go through with it the next day and bring out 307 00:16:05,190 --> 00:16:07,559 Poppy O'Toole: the contract saying, " You signed this last night." I must 308 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:10,019 Poppy O'Toole: have got her to do it at... You know when you're half 309 00:16:10,020 --> 00:16:12,479 Poppy O'Toole: asleep? Be like, " Mum, sign this. I need it for 310 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,310 Poppy O'Toole: tomorrow," and then just not tell her what it was. 311 00:16:14,310 --> 00:16:17,100 Poppy O'Toole: Or it would be a Maccies breakfast. 312 00:16:18,270 --> 00:16:18,930 Alex Legouix: Well, that's fair. 313 00:16:18,930 --> 00:16:20,880 Poppy O'Toole: Before school. I'd be like, " No, I'm going to go 314 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,280 Poppy O'Toole: and get my Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin, sweetie. Let's go." 315 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:27,120 Poppy O'Toole: Everything revolved around food. I just love eating food. 316 00:16:27,540 --> 00:16:27,541 Alex Legouix: Yeah. Okay. 317 00:16:27,541 --> 00:16:27,542 Poppy O'Toole: Love it. 318 00:16:27,542 --> 00:16:30,600 Alex Legouix: So we don't want to digress too much, but were you 319 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,530 Alex Legouix: always thinking about food and pleasures of food and what sort of things you wanted to eat and stuff? 320 00:16:34,530 --> 00:16:40,890 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah. It's always been my thing. 321 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:42,030 Alex Legouix: You enjoyed eating it? 322 00:16:43,020 --> 00:16:46,289 Poppy O'Toole: I enjoy it. I used to go to school with, I 323 00:16:46,289 --> 00:16:48,600 Poppy O'Toole: used to try and find the most different fruit I'd 324 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,230 Poppy O'Toole: ever seen. So pomegranate was a whole... It blew my 325 00:16:52,230 --> 00:16:55,530 Poppy O'Toole: mind, pomegranate did, because I'd never seen anything like it. 326 00:16:55,650 --> 00:16:57,510 Poppy O'Toole: So I'd go, I'd be like, " Mum, can I take 327 00:16:57,510 --> 00:16:59,130 Poppy O'Toole: a pomegranate in?" She'd be like, " You sure you want 328 00:16:59,130 --> 00:17:01,799 Poppy O'Toole: to take a whole pomegranate in school?" Yeah. So I'd 329 00:17:01,799 --> 00:17:04,500 Poppy O'Toole: go in, purely to be like, " Guys, look at this 330 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:11,070 Poppy O'Toole: pomegranate." I love experiencing food and showing people food and stuff. 331 00:17:11,070 --> 00:17:11,129 Alex Legouix: Wow. 332 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:15,510 Poppy O'Toole: So I'd be there, one by one individually picking out 333 00:17:15,510 --> 00:17:17,638 Poppy O'Toole: pomegranates, and trying to feed my friends. And a lot 334 00:17:17,638 --> 00:17:20,939 Poppy O'Toole: of them would be like, "Ugh, no," because it looks weird if you've never 335 00:17:20,940 --> 00:17:23,400 Poppy O'Toole: seen it before. Yes, I used to do that, or 336 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,500 Poppy O'Toole: just dragon fruit, kumquats, physalis. I used to go random 337 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:30,418 Poppy O'Toole: stuff because I'd just find them in the supermarket and 338 00:17:30,420 --> 00:17:32,310 Poppy O'Toole: be like, " I want to take this in school and eat it." 339 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:37,290 Alex Legouix: Are you the chef each evening? Are you the one 340 00:17:37,290 --> 00:17:37,950 Alex Legouix: that cooks? 341 00:17:37,980 --> 00:17:44,280 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, but you know what? I'm really bad now. Because 342 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,930 Poppy O'Toole: I'm always cooking potatoes, a lot of the times, and 343 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,359 Poppy O'Toole: especially with some of the recipes that I do, they're 344 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,359 Poppy O'Toole: sometimes not full dishes in some ways, it can just 345 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,688 Poppy O'Toole: be the best roast potato or the best this. So 346 00:17:57,690 --> 00:17:59,849 Poppy O'Toole: sometimes we end up just literally for dinner having a 347 00:17:59,850 --> 00:18:02,520 Poppy O'Toole: bowl of mash or a bowl of roast potatoes. 348 00:18:06,990 --> 00:18:08,040 Alex Legouix: So where are we now? 349 00:18:08,309 --> 00:18:11,339 Poppy O'Toole: So now we are entering Bromsgrove, and this is where 350 00:18:11,340 --> 00:18:13,770 Poppy O'Toole: I went to high school and this is the hub 351 00:18:13,830 --> 00:18:19,980 Poppy O'Toole: of everything in my life, I suppose. We're going towards 352 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,750 Poppy O'Toole: my second job, which I was working at at the 353 00:18:24,750 --> 00:18:26,820 Poppy O'Toole: same time as I was at the care home and used to run 354 00:18:26,820 --> 00:18:30,719 Poppy O'Toole: to, literally, and be late to everything. I'm a very 355 00:18:30,719 --> 00:18:33,929 Poppy O'Toole: late person in general, I'm not good at timekeeping, which 356 00:18:33,929 --> 00:18:36,450 Poppy O'Toole: again, wouldn't be great for a lawyer. Also not great for a chef though. 357 00:18:36,450 --> 00:18:39,090 Alex Legouix: I was going to say, it's not ideal probably for a chef. 358 00:18:40,859 --> 00:18:43,408 Poppy O'Toole: But yeah, so we're going to a pub called The Queen's 359 00:18:43,410 --> 00:18:46,559 Poppy O'Toole: Head, which I used to work at, and actually my partners 360 00:18:46,559 --> 00:18:49,769 Poppy O'Toole: have worked there as well for a small time. And 361 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,699 Poppy O'Toole: I started off as a waitress, then I became bar 362 00:18:53,699 --> 00:18:57,480 Poppy O'Toole: person, and then I eventually begged my way into the 363 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:03,839 Poppy O'Toole: kitchen. So getting into an actual kitchen was very exciting 364 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,178 Poppy O'Toole: for me to see, I suppose, again, it was to 365 00:19:06,179 --> 00:19:10,260 Poppy O'Toole: see if I really wanted to do this. I loved 366 00:19:10,260 --> 00:19:12,150 Poppy O'Toole: being front of house. I loved it. 367 00:19:13,650 --> 00:19:16,710 Alex Legouix: What was it like then to take that step up 368 00:19:16,710 --> 00:19:20,670 Alex Legouix: to the kitchen in that sort of environment? 369 00:19:20,670 --> 00:19:26,999 Poppy O'Toole: Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I begged and pleaded and they were like, " 370 00:19:27,059 --> 00:19:31,559 Poppy O'Toole: No." And then eventually, I took in a tart, I 371 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,691 Poppy O'Toole: made a salted caramel and chocolate and pecan tart. 372 00:19:36,691 --> 00:19:36,692 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 373 00:19:36,692 --> 00:19:41,428 Poppy O'Toole: And I was like, " Try this and tell me I 374 00:19:41,429 --> 00:19:44,039 Poppy O'Toole: shouldn't come and get into the kitchen," and they were like, " 375 00:19:44,190 --> 00:19:45,389 Poppy O'Toole: All right, just shut up and get in the kitchen." 376 00:19:45,389 --> 00:19:45,719 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 377 00:19:45,929 --> 00:19:49,860 Poppy O'Toole: So eventually I was allowed in, and then it just 378 00:19:49,890 --> 00:19:52,890 Poppy O'Toole: went from there. So then it was very pub food, 379 00:19:52,890 --> 00:19:57,900 Poppy O'Toole: it was scotch eggs, it was sandwiches, it was steak 380 00:19:58,590 --> 00:20:02,519 Poppy O'Toole: baguettes, proper pub grub. Then one day they left me 381 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:04,289 Poppy O'Toole: to do the whole... I think the chef didn't turn 382 00:20:04,289 --> 00:20:06,299 Poppy O'Toole: up or something, I did the whole service on my 383 00:20:06,299 --> 00:20:09,870 Poppy O'Toole: own. It was the worst day of my life. It was hell. 384 00:20:10,020 --> 00:20:14,698 Poppy O'Toole: I was 17 or 18, in a kitchen, which is getting ticket, it's 385 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:16,948 Poppy O'Toole: a sunny day, and I was like, " What am I 386 00:20:16,950 --> 00:20:21,059 Poppy O'Toole: doing here? This is not fun." And I went down, 387 00:20:21,150 --> 00:20:24,900 Poppy O'Toole: I went so down. It was taking half an hour 388 00:20:25,020 --> 00:20:27,030 Poppy O'Toole: to an hour for people to get a sandwich because 389 00:20:27,030 --> 00:20:28,051 Poppy O'Toole: it was just chaos. 390 00:20:28,051 --> 00:20:28,590 Alex Legouix: Oh, you poor thing. 391 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,340 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, it was horrible. But really quite good fun at 392 00:20:32,340 --> 00:20:35,850 Poppy O'Toole: the same time, I loved the thrill of it. But 393 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,979 Poppy O'Toole: I had to basically talk my way out of getting 394 00:20:40,980 --> 00:20:43,500 Poppy O'Toole: fired. I was like, " You left me in a kitchen 395 00:20:43,950 --> 00:20:46,350 Poppy O'Toole: with no help. What do you want me to do?" I was like, " 396 00:20:46,859 --> 00:20:50,010 Poppy O'Toole: I'm not qualified to be doing this," and eventually then 397 00:20:50,010 --> 00:20:51,419 Poppy O'Toole: they were fine with me, but I was like, " Oh, God." So 398 00:20:54,059 --> 00:20:56,880 Poppy O'Toole: that's where I learned those skills. And the chefs did 399 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,480 Poppy O'Toole: look after me. They used to teach me stuff, and 400 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,510 Poppy O'Toole: I started looking at doing apprenticeships whilst I was there 401 00:21:03,510 --> 00:21:05,580 Poppy O'Toole: and stuff, so that was it. 402 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,210 Alex Legouix: So talk to me about TikTok. How did that come about? 403 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:20,310 Poppy O'Toole: This is mad to think. So I was working in 404 00:21:20,310 --> 00:21:26,760 Poppy O'Toole: London, obviously things were happening in 2020, and I remember 405 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,599 Poppy O'Toole: it being really scary and listening to the news and 406 00:21:30,599 --> 00:21:32,790 Poppy O'Toole: all that sort of stuff. So I lost my job 407 00:21:32,790 --> 00:21:35,849 Poppy O'Toole: and that was like, okay, fine, cool. Lost my job. It's 408 00:21:35,850 --> 00:21:37,918 Poppy O'Toole: going to be all right. And then it was like, 409 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,560 Poppy O'Toole: and we're going into lockdowns and all this sort of stuff. 410 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,369 Poppy O'Toole: So I called my mum and I was like, " Mum, 411 00:21:44,369 --> 00:21:46,648 Poppy O'Toole: please can you come and pick us up?" And we 412 00:21:46,650 --> 00:21:48,388 Poppy O'Toole: went back and my little brother and sister were literally 413 00:21:48,388 --> 00:21:51,900 Poppy O'Toole: just constantly on their phones and I was like, " What are you 414 00:21:52,020 --> 00:21:54,660 Poppy O'Toole: doing? Why are you being so boring? Come and talk 415 00:21:54,660 --> 00:21:58,470 Poppy O'Toole: to me." And I started literally watching what they were 416 00:21:58,470 --> 00:22:00,660 Poppy O'Toole: watching. I was like, "Oh, this is addictive. This is really good fun, 417 00:22:00,660 --> 00:22:03,869 Poppy O'Toole: actually," and it was all dances. And then one cooking one 418 00:22:03,869 --> 00:22:07,258 Poppy O'Toole: came up and I was like, okay, it's interesting, you 419 00:22:07,259 --> 00:22:09,029 Poppy O'Toole: can do cooking on here. I literally thought it was 420 00:22:09,030 --> 00:22:15,750 Poppy O'Toole: just silly dances. And I wanted to have their attention 421 00:22:15,750 --> 00:22:18,690 Poppy O'Toole: mainly and make them think that I was mildly cool 422 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:22,198 Poppy O'Toole: and knew what TikTok was. So we went into the 423 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,000 Poppy O'Toole: kitchen, I got my little sister to help me, we 424 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,210 Poppy O'Toole: made some churros, or is it a tomato sauce? I 425 00:22:27,210 --> 00:22:30,090 Poppy O'Toole: can't remember which one we made first. And that was 426 00:22:30,090 --> 00:22:33,060 Poppy O'Toole: it, that was where it all began, and people started 427 00:22:33,060 --> 00:22:35,158 Poppy O'Toole: to enjoy it. I think I got one comment from 428 00:22:35,609 --> 00:22:38,188 Poppy O'Toole: a key worker at the time just saying, " Thank you 429 00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:40,438 Poppy O'Toole: for this recipe on this tomato sauce. It was a 430 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,799 Poppy O'Toole: lifesaver after a hard shift at work and the family loved 431 00:22:43,799 --> 00:22:47,520 Poppy O'Toole: it." And I was like, whoa, another way to connect 432 00:22:47,549 --> 00:22:51,208 Poppy O'Toole: with people through food and I don't even have to 433 00:22:51,210 --> 00:22:57,630 Poppy O'Toole: be there. This is mad. So then that just carried 434 00:22:57,630 --> 00:23:01,888 Poppy O'Toole: on and again, obviously not having anywhere to go or 435 00:23:01,888 --> 00:23:06,119 Poppy O'Toole: work, I felt really helpless in the whole situation of 436 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:07,320 Poppy O'Toole: it, which I know a lot of people did. And 437 00:23:08,310 --> 00:23:11,158 Poppy O'Toole: it was a very strange time, wasn't it? Looking back, 438 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,359 Poppy O'Toole: it's so bizarre. And so I just carried on cooking, just 439 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,869 Poppy O'Toole: cooking on there and just wanted to share some recipes. 440 00:23:18,869 --> 00:23:26,310 Poppy O'Toole: And gradually, people started following. And it wasn't until I 441 00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:31,619 Poppy O'Toole: did a few series, I did one of what a 442 00:23:31,619 --> 00:23:34,230 Poppy O'Toole: chef eats in a day sort of thing, so I would then do 443 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,240 Poppy O'Toole: three recipes a day, a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner, and people 444 00:23:40,289 --> 00:23:43,589 Poppy O'Toole: could then come and watch the recipe videos after. And 445 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,250 Poppy O'Toole: everything was going well, it was right. So I then 446 00:23:47,250 --> 00:23:52,050 Poppy O'Toole: did a recipe video that was a potato, and it 447 00:23:52,050 --> 00:23:53,879 Poppy O'Toole: was the first recipe video I had that got a 448 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,000 Poppy O'Toole: million views and I was like, right, okay, this is 449 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:02,250 Poppy O'Toole: huge. A million views. And then we went into a 450 00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:06,270 Poppy O'Toole: second lockdown in the November of 2020 and I was 451 00:24:06,270 --> 00:24:09,300 Poppy O'Toole: like, right, well, the one video that's done the best 452 00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:11,698 Poppy O'Toole: I've ever done is potatoes, so let's just give the 453 00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:13,770 Poppy O'Toole: people what they want. If they want to see some 454 00:24:13,770 --> 00:24:17,129 Poppy O'Toole: spuds, I've got loads of recipes for potatoes. So I 455 00:24:17,129 --> 00:24:21,928 Poppy O'Toole: did 25 days of potatoes and within... I started it 456 00:24:22,140 --> 00:24:26,369 Poppy O'Toole: off with, I think I had about 75, 000 followers or 457 00:24:26,369 --> 00:24:29,610 Poppy O'Toole: about 100,000 followers, and then a week in, I had 200, 458 00:24:29,820 --> 00:24:33,359 Poppy O'Toole: 000 followers. And I was like, wow, okay, people love 459 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:39,870 Poppy O'Toole: potatoes. And then I did, on day 20 or something, I did 460 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,890 Poppy O'Toole: a compilation video, put all the recipes in the background, 461 00:24:43,890 --> 00:24:48,359 Poppy O'Toole: and I just spoke over it, and I remember doing the 462 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,089 Poppy O'Toole: voiceover a few times and I was speaking normally and I was like, it's really 463 00:24:51,089 --> 00:24:54,688 Poppy O'Toole: boring, me just going, " Hiya, this is Potato TikTok," whatever. 464 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:57,330 Poppy O'Toole: So I was like, I'm going to do just a posh 465 00:24:57,330 --> 00:24:59,400 Poppy O'Toole: voice, hang on. And I was like, " Tom, just leave 466 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,250 Poppy O'Toole: me alone. Let me just do this because it's embarrassing. 467 00:25:02,250 --> 00:25:06,540 Poppy O'Toole: This is my drama GCSE D, it's coming out. I'm 468 00:25:06,540 --> 00:25:10,049 Poppy O'Toole: going to do a voiceover." And I did a posh voiceover it and it 469 00:25:10,049 --> 00:25:12,749 Poppy O'Toole: just worked. And I was like, yeah, that's quite funny actually. I like 470 00:25:12,750 --> 00:25:15,990 Poppy O'Toole: that. And I went, " Hello, and welcome to Potato TikTok," 471 00:25:16,770 --> 00:25:21,030 Poppy O'Toole: and it just blew up, and overnight, I got a 472 00:25:21,030 --> 00:25:22,170 Poppy O'Toole: million followers. 473 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:23,010 Alex Legouix: What? 474 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:28,168 Poppy O'Toole: From that one video. I'd seen a trend of people 475 00:25:28,170 --> 00:25:37,859 Poppy O'Toole: making DanceTok or ComedyTok or something, so I just was like let's do PotatoTok, PotaTok, and make this little 476 00:25:37,859 --> 00:25:42,179 Poppy O'Toole: corner of people to just fall in love with potatoes. 477 00:25:42,210 --> 00:25:45,509 Poppy O'Toole: And that was it. And then I had five more 478 00:25:45,509 --> 00:25:47,908 Poppy O'Toole: days of recipes to do and I was so scared. 479 00:25:47,910 --> 00:25:50,369 Poppy O'Toole: I was like, " I've now got a million followers. These 480 00:25:50,369 --> 00:25:53,250 Poppy O'Toole: recipes need to be really good. I don't know what I'm 481 00:25:53,250 --> 00:25:56,638 Poppy O'Toole: going to do." Because nothing I ever do is planned. 482 00:25:56,820 --> 00:25:59,698 Poppy O'Toole: I hadn't already thought through what recipes I was going 483 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,829 Poppy O'Toole: to do. I was just making them on the day and going, " Yeah, that works. 484 00:26:01,830 --> 00:26:04,619 Poppy O'Toole: That's going to be a nice recipe." So it was 485 00:26:04,619 --> 00:26:09,148 Poppy O'Toole: just from there. And luckily and thankfully, people have still 486 00:26:09,150 --> 00:26:12,810 Poppy O'Toole: carried on following and enjoying the stuff, the content. 487 00:26:14,970 --> 00:26:14,971 Alex Legouix: Wow. 488 00:26:14,971 --> 00:26:16,739 Poppy O'Toole: And now I'm at four point something million followers on TikTok. 489 00:26:16,739 --> 00:26:20,040 Alex Legouix: All of that is a mental story. 490 00:26:20,070 --> 00:26:21,960 Poppy O'Toole: It's just, it's absolutely bizarre. 491 00:26:23,190 --> 00:26:27,390 Alex Legouix: Your very first TikTok potato dish, what was that? 492 00:26:28,290 --> 00:26:33,840 Poppy O'Toole: Ever, ever? It was crispy cubes of potato, and I 493 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,049 Poppy O'Toole: made dinner, I'd done it, I'd recorded my stuff for 494 00:26:37,049 --> 00:26:40,230 Poppy O'Toole: the day, so I made a dinner for myself and 495 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,200 Poppy O'Toole: Tom and I'd done these crispy cubes of potato. He went, " 496 00:26:43,379 --> 00:26:45,478 Poppy O'Toole: Did you record that? Because they're delicious." And I was like, " 497 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,050 Poppy O'Toole: No, I haven't yet," and he went, " Record it now. 498 00:26:49,140 --> 00:26:51,300 Poppy O'Toole: Go and do that again." I was like, " Oh no, 499 00:26:51,300 --> 00:26:52,978 Poppy O'Toole: I don't want to make the potatoes." He's like, " Just do it," he was like, " 500 00:26:52,980 --> 00:26:57,059 Poppy O'Toole: People will love this." So I made them again. Again, 501 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:58,890 Poppy O'Toole: I have to give a lot of credit to Tom. 502 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,060 Poppy O'Toole: He knows what people want to see. And Tom was like, " You 503 00:27:03,060 --> 00:27:05,070 Poppy O'Toole: need to record this," so I recorded them. And it's just 504 00:27:05,070 --> 00:27:09,359 Poppy O'Toole: literally small cubes of potatoes, you par boil them, you 505 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:11,250 Poppy O'Toole: roast them off in the oven and then you just 506 00:27:11,250 --> 00:27:13,859 Poppy O'Toole: coat them with a little bit of Parmesan and a 507 00:27:13,859 --> 00:27:17,279 Poppy O'Toole: little bit of parsley, salt, pepper, bit of lemon if 508 00:27:17,279 --> 00:27:19,920 Poppy O'Toole: you fancy, bit of garlic, just toss them all together 509 00:27:20,190 --> 00:27:23,639 Poppy O'Toole: and that's it. So I recorded it and it was the first one to get a million. 510 00:27:23,639 --> 00:27:23,640 Alex Legouix: Amazing. 511 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:28,920 Poppy O'Toole: And that's another way that I learned that, oh, I want 512 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:32,670 Poppy O'Toole: to show people even more things that would be incredible, which 513 00:27:32,670 --> 00:27:33,510 Poppy O'Toole: seemed so simple. 514 00:27:34,138 --> 00:27:38,609 Alex Legouix: How do you cope with any negative comments or backlash? 515 00:27:39,090 --> 00:27:43,020 Poppy O'Toole: I had a point in the beginning because, like I said, I 516 00:27:43,020 --> 00:27:45,930 Poppy O'Toole: don't criticism, so I try and make sure everything's right 517 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:52,259 Poppy O'Toole: constantly. And so when people started being like, " That's disgusting," 518 00:27:52,259 --> 00:27:55,859 Poppy O'Toole: I was like, " Ah, this is the worst time," and 519 00:27:55,859 --> 00:28:03,570 Poppy O'Toole: I couldn't quite separate the two things. So it was 520 00:28:03,570 --> 00:28:05,940 Poppy O'Toole: like, well, and at some points I'd be like, " I don't want 521 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:07,349 Poppy O'Toole: to post this. I don't want to do this. I 522 00:28:07,349 --> 00:28:10,769 Poppy O'Toole: don't want to do this." But I then had a 523 00:28:11,580 --> 00:28:14,340 Poppy O'Toole: flick of a switch, I suppose, where I was like, people 524 00:28:14,340 --> 00:28:19,530 Poppy O'Toole: are only criticizing the food, doesn't matter. If someone doesn't 525 00:28:19,530 --> 00:28:23,280 Poppy O'Toole: like something, that's fine. Yes, it's annoying that they think 526 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,908 Poppy O'Toole: that they can say quite horrible things about it, but 527 00:28:27,299 --> 00:28:30,480 Poppy O'Toole: that's on them. Let them do their own thing. And 528 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,760 Poppy O'Toole: a lot of the time I do come back as well and be like, " 529 00:28:33,390 --> 00:28:36,000 Poppy O'Toole: Did you try it? Have you tried it? Did you 530 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,460 Poppy O'Toole: do the recipe and it didn't work? No." It's fine. 531 00:28:38,460 --> 00:28:41,340 Poppy O'Toole: You don't need to say that, yes, you don't like 532 00:28:41,580 --> 00:28:46,170 Poppy O'Toole: this certain thing, fine. But I now get to a point 533 00:28:46,170 --> 00:28:48,509 Poppy O'Toole: where I don't always read all of the comments. 534 00:28:48,510 --> 00:28:48,960 Alex Legouix: I was going to ask that. 535 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:55,050 Poppy O'Toole: Because there's been a lot of, you get the body 536 00:28:55,050 --> 00:28:59,040 Poppy O'Toole: shaming stuff, and I never thought I'd be in a position 537 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:00,359 Poppy O'Toole: where I was going to be a chef on social 538 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,520 Poppy O'Toole: media, but I definitely never thought I was going to 539 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:03,960 Poppy O'Toole: be in a position where I was going to have 540 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:08,190 Poppy O'Toole: to be an advocate for body positivity. 541 00:29:08,190 --> 00:29:10,950 Alex Legouix: So what do I do with this, I guess, almost 542 00:29:10,950 --> 00:29:14,160 Alex Legouix: role model position that I find myself in? What do I 543 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:19,500 Alex Legouix: do with this body positivity? How do I feel about 544 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:22,110 Alex Legouix: it myself? Let alone how am I meant to- 545 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:22,980 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, exactly. 546 00:29:22,980 --> 00:29:23,850 Alex Legouix: Pass on messages? 547 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,540 Poppy O'Toole: So I just would never be able to stand there 548 00:29:27,540 --> 00:29:31,770 Poppy O'Toole: and go, " Well, yeah, call me fat. Fine." No, shut 549 00:29:31,770 --> 00:29:34,890 Poppy O'Toole: up. You don't get to call anybody any horrible names. 550 00:29:35,130 --> 00:29:38,459 Poppy O'Toole: So get over it. And also, yeah, I'm a bit 551 00:29:38,460 --> 00:29:43,380 Poppy O'Toole: bigger, but fine. Who cares? I eat potatoes all day, 552 00:29:43,380 --> 00:29:48,930 Poppy O'Toole: what do you expect? I eat roast potatoes for dinner. But 553 00:29:48,930 --> 00:29:50,429 Poppy O'Toole: it's never been something that's really bothered me. But I 554 00:29:50,429 --> 00:29:54,209 Poppy O'Toole: remember the first few times I was like, oh, I 555 00:29:54,210 --> 00:29:57,330 Poppy O'Toole: had my finger on the post button and it's me in 556 00:29:57,599 --> 00:30:00,449 Poppy O'Toole: a bikini, I'm like, oh, it's a weird position because 557 00:30:01,530 --> 00:30:04,320 Poppy O'Toole: I don't care, I don't mind if people are looking 558 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,300 Poppy O'Toole: at it, but I've never put it out there for 559 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:08,580 Poppy O'Toole: anyone to look at and then judge me on and 560 00:30:08,580 --> 00:30:11,459 Poppy O'Toole: it's like, oh. And I had a few minutes where I was like, no, 561 00:30:11,580 --> 00:30:16,139 Poppy O'Toole: yes, no, yes. I was like, oh, my mum's friends. No. Yes. Oh, 562 00:30:16,289 --> 00:30:17,220 Poppy O'Toole: just go. Just do it. 563 00:30:17,220 --> 00:30:17,400 Alex Legouix: Yeah, wow. 564 00:30:17,910 --> 00:30:21,390 Poppy O'Toole: Just do it because it might help somebody else who 565 00:30:23,220 --> 00:30:27,090 Poppy O'Toole: thinks that way about themselves, and they should never think that. 566 00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:33,899 Alex Legouix: You talk about the comments and stuff on TikTok. For 567 00:30:33,900 --> 00:30:35,969 Alex Legouix: some reason, I suddenly just thought about the fact that 568 00:30:35,969 --> 00:30:41,520 Alex Legouix: in any other walk of life where, like if you 569 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,120 Alex Legouix: work in TV or radio or any of those things, 570 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:49,080 Alex Legouix: you have a support network and there would be someone 571 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:52,229 Alex Legouix: that helps you. In certain TV shows, there'd be a 572 00:30:52,230 --> 00:30:56,370 Alex Legouix: team of people that would help the stars with their 573 00:30:56,370 --> 00:31:00,600 Alex Legouix: mental health, dealing with things like that. There's no support, 574 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,430 Alex Legouix: is there, in the world that you are in? 575 00:31:04,050 --> 00:31:07,710 Poppy O'Toole: No, not really. I'm really lucky, I've got obviously my 576 00:31:07,710 --> 00:31:11,400 Poppy O'Toole: partner and family and everything who are all... And also 577 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,570 Poppy O'Toole: I've always just been a cocky, confident idiot half the 578 00:31:15,570 --> 00:31:20,970 Poppy O'Toole: time, which that's part of what's happened. But I did 579 00:31:21,540 --> 00:31:23,490 Poppy O'Toole: actually eventually go and get therapy. 580 00:31:24,179 --> 00:31:24,750 Alex Legouix: Oh, did you? 581 00:31:24,750 --> 00:31:33,030 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, because it slipped from affecting just being like, oh 582 00:31:33,030 --> 00:31:35,460 Poppy O'Toole: no, that comment was horrible, to me being in a 583 00:31:35,460 --> 00:31:38,550 Poppy O'Toole: bad mood, or me not being confident to do anything. 584 00:31:38,550 --> 00:31:41,219 Poppy O'Toole: So I was like, let's just do a little bit 585 00:31:41,219 --> 00:31:44,160 Poppy O'Toole: of work and see if it helps. And it did help, it just helped being like, 586 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:49,860 Poppy O'Toole: oh, I can't control that, that's one thing I can't 587 00:31:49,860 --> 00:31:52,830 Poppy O'Toole: control is what people have to say. And that was 588 00:31:52,980 --> 00:31:57,150 Poppy O'Toole: really good, really good for me. And then also just 589 00:31:57,150 --> 00:32:01,020 Poppy O'Toole: being able to control how much I invest into the 590 00:32:01,020 --> 00:32:04,498 Poppy O'Toole: people who are commenting as well and be like... The 591 00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:06,570 Poppy O'Toole: whole thing for therapy and the one big thing that I 592 00:32:06,570 --> 00:32:12,330 Poppy O'Toole: took away from it, I basically also got dumped by 593 00:32:12,330 --> 00:32:15,929 Poppy O'Toole: my therapist as well, because I wouldn't turn up on 594 00:32:15,929 --> 00:32:22,080 Poppy O'Toole: time and I couldn't commit constantly, because things would... With 595 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,800 Poppy O'Toole: this mad, weird, busy lifestyle that I have, I'd have 596 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:27,300 Poppy O'Toole: to, at the drop of a hat, be like, " I'm so 597 00:32:27,300 --> 00:32:30,060 Poppy O'Toole: sorry, a job's come in, I can't be there," and 598 00:32:30,990 --> 00:32:33,990 Poppy O'Toole: eventually she was like, " I think come back when you've 599 00:32:33,990 --> 00:32:36,840 Poppy O'Toole: got more of a routine that you can actually be there," and I was like, " 600 00:32:36,929 --> 00:32:42,840 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, valid. Sorry sweet." But the one thing, the main 601 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,780 Poppy O'Toole: thing that I took away from it, is you cannot change 602 00:32:45,780 --> 00:32:50,550 Poppy O'Toole: anybody, the only thing is you can change your outlook 603 00:32:50,550 --> 00:32:55,620 Poppy O'Toole: or your perception of what's happening. But there isn't any 604 00:32:55,620 --> 00:33:00,749 Poppy O'Toole: support for anyone in social media, especially, I feel terribly 605 00:33:00,750 --> 00:33:06,000 Poppy O'Toole: sorry for the younger people as well because, yes, I'm 606 00:33:06,060 --> 00:33:09,720 Poppy O'Toole: young in a sense, I'm 29, but I have got 607 00:33:10,740 --> 00:33:13,349 Poppy O'Toole: my partner who I've been with for years, I've got 608 00:33:13,349 --> 00:33:16,139 Poppy O'Toole: all my friends from when I was younger, I've had 609 00:33:16,139 --> 00:33:20,400 Poppy O'Toole: many jobs, I've had loads of different life experiences. These 610 00:33:20,970 --> 00:33:24,600 Poppy O'Toole: almost children get into this and have a huge platform 611 00:33:24,810 --> 00:33:28,650 Poppy O'Toole: instantly and it's like that, I couldn't deal with it 612 00:33:28,710 --> 00:33:32,309 Poppy O'Toole: when it happened to me, it was mad. So to 613 00:33:32,309 --> 00:33:37,170 Poppy O'Toole: be a teenager doing it, oh, it must be terrifying. 614 00:33:37,230 --> 00:33:40,500 Alex Legouix: That growth over such a short space of time. 615 00:33:40,500 --> 00:33:46,350 Poppy O'Toole: And back in my day when we just had Facebook, 616 00:33:47,460 --> 00:33:50,280 Poppy O'Toole: not everyone was documenting every single thing that they were 617 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,270 Poppy O'Toole: doing, or not everybody could see everything that you were doing. 618 00:33:54,510 --> 00:33:58,320 Poppy O'Toole: So it's a scary place, I think, for some people, 619 00:33:58,530 --> 00:34:02,219 Poppy O'Toole: especially for the younger generations, and I do hope there's something 620 00:34:02,220 --> 00:34:06,450 Poppy O'Toole: that can be put in place to... Trying to get 621 00:34:06,450 --> 00:34:08,250 Poppy O'Toole: rid of trolls and stuff like that, there needs to 622 00:34:08,250 --> 00:34:11,670 Poppy O'Toole: be something a bit stronger that is in place to 623 00:34:11,670 --> 00:34:15,660 Poppy O'Toole: help people. Because you can't just go around, and most 624 00:34:15,660 --> 00:34:17,489 Poppy O'Toole: people wouldn't go around normally in the street going, " Ugh, 625 00:34:17,850 --> 00:34:22,980 Poppy O'Toole: you are absolutely disgusting. You should die." People don't say 626 00:34:22,980 --> 00:34:26,370 Poppy O'Toole: that. And it's like, why do you think, just because 627 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:28,260 Poppy O'Toole: it's not face to face, you can? 628 00:34:29,550 --> 00:34:29,761 Alex Legouix: Yeah, it's incredible, isn't it? 629 00:34:29,761 --> 00:34:29,971 Poppy O'Toole: Bizarre. 630 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:37,860 Alex Legouix: Tell me about Junior MasterChef. 631 00:34:38,849 --> 00:34:42,360 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, Junior MasterChef is so good. So we had the 632 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:46,740 Poppy O'Toole: first season, was in January this year, and it was 633 00:34:46,799 --> 00:34:54,089 Poppy O'Toole: amazing. It's basically MasterChef, but cool because I'm on it. 634 00:34:54,089 --> 00:34:59,010 Poppy O'Toole: It's the most uncool thing anyone could ever say. But 635 00:34:59,010 --> 00:35:02,910 Poppy O'Toole: it's for 18 to 24 year olds, so they could go on the 636 00:35:02,910 --> 00:35:08,730 Poppy O'Toole: normal MasterChef, but this one, the tasks and the challenges 637 00:35:08,850 --> 00:35:14,340 Poppy O'Toole: fit that generation. We're making delicious pizzas, we're doing social 638 00:35:14,340 --> 00:35:17,518 Poppy O'Toole: media challenges, and all of the cooks on there are 639 00:35:20,700 --> 00:35:23,638 Poppy O'Toole: doing social media bits as well, a lot of the them 640 00:35:23,639 --> 00:35:27,150 Poppy O'Toole: were already experimenting in it, because this is a whole new 641 00:35:27,150 --> 00:35:31,020 Poppy O'Toole: world where people can have a very successful career in 642 00:35:31,020 --> 00:35:37,349 Poppy O'Toole: cooking without having to go and be 70 hours a 643 00:35:37,349 --> 00:35:39,959 Poppy O'Toole: week in the kitchen. And who wouldn't want that? Especially 644 00:35:39,960 --> 00:35:42,329 Poppy O'Toole: if it's your passion and you love food, I'm all 645 00:35:42,330 --> 00:35:42,900 Poppy O'Toole: for it. 646 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,799 Alex Legouix: What qualities do you look for in a young chef? 647 00:35:48,900 --> 00:35:52,080 Poppy O'Toole: Willingness to learn is a big one, I think you 648 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,210 Poppy O'Toole: have to be, in a chef. Because a lot of 649 00:35:54,210 --> 00:35:56,340 Poppy O'Toole: the time you go into it and think you know 650 00:35:56,340 --> 00:36:00,089 Poppy O'Toole: what you're doing, and then someone will show you there's 651 00:36:00,090 --> 00:36:01,620 Poppy O'Toole: a better way or something, and you have to be 652 00:36:01,620 --> 00:36:07,110 Poppy O'Toole: able to adapt and take that on board. Just, really cliche, a 653 00:36:07,110 --> 00:36:09,600 Poppy O'Toole: passion for food or just to enjoy it or to 654 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:15,419 Poppy O'Toole: just show me that you know what you are trying 655 00:36:15,420 --> 00:36:18,569 Poppy O'Toole: to get to, even if something doesn't work. Making mistakes 656 00:36:18,570 --> 00:36:21,509 Poppy O'Toole: and stuff, they're going to happen, but there's that wanting 657 00:36:21,690 --> 00:36:27,000 Poppy O'Toole: to be perfect almost, I suppose. And some energy. You 658 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,920 Poppy O'Toole: need spark to be a good cook. You need to 659 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:33,120 Poppy O'Toole: be ready to change everything up at the blink of an eye. 660 00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:36,449 Poppy O'Toole: You've got to be a problem solver, especially as a 661 00:36:36,450 --> 00:36:39,390 Poppy O'Toole: chef. Problems are always happening and you've got to be 662 00:36:39,390 --> 00:36:43,200 Poppy O'Toole: able to do it so quickly that no one gets 663 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,889 Poppy O'Toole: told off. So anyone who can go from a disaster 664 00:36:46,889 --> 00:36:49,680 Poppy O'Toole: to just something that's edible is good enough for me, 665 00:36:49,889 --> 00:36:53,760 Poppy O'Toole: I'm happy with it. And then also just knowing flavors 666 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:59,700 Poppy O'Toole: and seasonings. It's one thing to give me a dish 667 00:36:59,700 --> 00:37:01,860 Poppy O'Toole: that's got a mild mistake in, but if you under 668 00:37:01,860 --> 00:37:04,740 Poppy O'Toole: season, that's the real big one, that's the problem. 669 00:37:11,489 --> 00:37:16,529 Alex Legouix: Okay, so this is Bilston Market, is that what it's called? 670 00:37:16,590 --> 00:37:24,479 Poppy O'Toole: Yes. Beautiful Bilston Market. This place is a huge part 671 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:25,320 Poppy O'Toole: of my childhood. 672 00:37:25,349 --> 00:37:26,189 Alex Legouix: Oh, wow. 673 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:26,640 Poppy O'Toole: It's like a proper- 674 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,470 Alex Legouix: That's proper old school. 675 00:37:28,500 --> 00:37:31,739 Poppy O'Toole: Yes. This is where I used to get my shoes, 676 00:37:31,860 --> 00:37:36,060 Poppy O'Toole: my clothes, my tomatoes, and my pork baps. This was 677 00:37:36,060 --> 00:37:38,910 Poppy O'Toole: the place to be. And we'd always get a parking 678 00:37:38,910 --> 00:37:41,760 Poppy O'Toole: fine, because my nan literally used to park in here, 679 00:37:42,090 --> 00:37:44,580 Poppy O'Toole: or on these double yellows, and she'd be like, " We're only running in 680 00:37:44,580 --> 00:37:47,129 Poppy O'Toole: for a second," and we'd be there for hours. It's 681 00:37:47,129 --> 00:37:50,280 Poppy O'Toole: the best. It's so good. I loved it here. It used to 682 00:37:50,430 --> 00:37:53,340 Poppy O'Toole: have the best tomatoes I've ever had in my life. 683 00:37:53,340 --> 00:37:56,580 Poppy O'Toole: And so my nan used to come in, so her family are 684 00:37:56,580 --> 00:38:00,750 Poppy O'Toole: all from Dudley, so we would come up and on 685 00:38:00,750 --> 00:38:03,509 Poppy O'Toole: a Thursday was when the fruit and veg market was 686 00:38:03,509 --> 00:38:05,699 Poppy O'Toole: here, I think. So my nan would actually get me 687 00:38:05,699 --> 00:38:08,609 Poppy O'Toole: out of school and me, my nan and my mum would 688 00:38:08,610 --> 00:38:11,969 Poppy O'Toole: come here, come and get her mum, so my great- 689 00:38:11,969 --> 00:38:15,059 Poppy O'Toole: grandmother, and we'd all come to Bilston Market. So it was four 690 00:38:15,059 --> 00:38:18,030 Poppy O'Toole: generations all coming to Bilston Market and it was amazing. 691 00:38:18,090 --> 00:38:21,719 Alex Legouix: Gosh, so your nan was actually also quite pivotal in 692 00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:22,740 Alex Legouix: getting you into- 693 00:38:22,799 --> 00:38:23,219 Poppy O'Toole: Huge. 694 00:38:23,219 --> 00:38:23,850 Alex Legouix: This world? 695 00:38:23,879 --> 00:38:29,760 Poppy O'Toole: She was a big cook. My uncle would be over 696 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,880 Poppy O'Toole: on Sunday, me and my mum would be there, and 697 00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:34,980 Poppy O'Toole: it would be a big thing to have a Sunday 698 00:38:34,980 --> 00:38:38,429 Poppy O'Toole: roast. And every night there'd be something new, she'd be 699 00:38:38,429 --> 00:38:41,460 Poppy O'Toole: getting out Delia's books and starting to do something. So 700 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:43,650 Poppy O'Toole: she was always cooking and there was always something on 701 00:38:43,650 --> 00:38:47,280 Poppy O'Toole: the stove. We'd go down the lanes, we'd go just 702 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:50,939 Poppy O'Toole: foraging for stuff and make jams. So she really got me 703 00:38:50,940 --> 00:38:54,240 Poppy O'Toole: into the kitchen. So I'd be chopping or peeling or 704 00:38:54,509 --> 00:38:59,730 Poppy O'Toole: cooking or baking constantly, just to do something. Do you 705 00:38:59,730 --> 00:39:00,689 Poppy O'Toole: want some snacks? 706 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:01,319 Alex Legouix: Yes. 707 00:39:01,350 --> 00:39:03,900 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, cool. I do as well. Okay, right. 708 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,719 Alex Legouix: Well, it's a good time because we can eat our 709 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:08,969 Alex Legouix: snacks as we finish our episode. 710 00:39:08,969 --> 00:39:11,820 Poppy O'Toole: Would you like a crisp sandwich? 711 00:39:11,969 --> 00:39:12,719 Alex Legouix: Yes, please. 712 00:39:12,750 --> 00:39:15,121 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, cool. I've got salt and vinegar as well. 713 00:39:15,121 --> 00:39:15,270 Alex Legouix: Oh, amazing. Yes. 714 00:39:15,270 --> 00:39:16,680 Poppy O'Toole: My bread's got a bit squashed. 715 00:39:16,709 --> 00:39:16,949 Alex Legouix: That's fine. 716 00:39:17,429 --> 00:39:19,620 Poppy O'Toole: But it's going to be fine. So there's some crisp 717 00:39:19,620 --> 00:39:19,920 Poppy O'Toole: for you. 718 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:20,489 Alex Legouix: Thank you. 719 00:39:20,489 --> 00:39:22,379 Poppy O'Toole: Crush them up as you want. I don't know how 720 00:39:22,380 --> 00:39:22,741 Poppy O'Toole: you want your crisp sandwich. 721 00:39:22,741 --> 00:39:26,220 Alex Legouix: Okay. Well, that's not something I've had for about 20 years, at least. 722 00:39:26,219 --> 00:39:26,669 Poppy O'Toole: Really? 723 00:39:27,389 --> 00:39:27,749 Alex Legouix: Yeah. 724 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,360 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, we're going to be living the dream today then. 725 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,729 Poppy O'Toole: This is going to be amazing. So I've got my best 726 00:39:32,730 --> 00:39:38,250 Poppy O'Toole: buttered bread, and I thought just a half, I think, for today would be... 727 00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:39,030 Alex Legouix: Yeah. Okay. 728 00:39:39,420 --> 00:39:42,060 Poppy O'Toole: So this is all buttered up. This is the kind 729 00:39:42,060 --> 00:39:44,760 Poppy O'Toole: of thing that I bring when I go on road trips 730 00:39:44,790 --> 00:39:50,339 Poppy O'Toole: because I'm obsessed with eating. So you got to do... Oh my God, 731 00:39:50,969 --> 00:39:58,410 Poppy O'Toole: what are these? Ah, I brought the wrong crisps. Ah, they're baked. 732 00:39:58,410 --> 00:39:58,411 Alex Legouix: Whoa. 733 00:39:58,411 --> 00:39:58,681 Poppy O'Toole: No. 734 00:39:59,940 --> 00:40:02,700 Alex Legouix: Have you though? Or is that what... That might be 735 00:40:02,700 --> 00:40:03,840 Alex Legouix: what our producer put in. 736 00:40:04,410 --> 00:40:05,850 Poppy O'Toole: No, this is fully me. 737 00:40:05,850 --> 00:40:06,151 Alex Legouix: This is what you did? 738 00:40:06,151 --> 00:40:10,919 Poppy O'Toole: Oh, no. I went to the supermarket and I just picked 739 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:13,500 Poppy O'Toole: the one that was green instead of looking at the actual 740 00:40:13,500 --> 00:40:17,129 Poppy O'Toole: label. Well, let's try it. Let's see. Baked. Oh, no. 741 00:40:17,129 --> 00:40:24,299 Poppy O'Toole: I don't know how I feel about this. There's not many as well. Bloody hell. No 742 00:40:24,299 --> 00:40:26,070 Poppy O'Toole: wonder they have the healthy version, they only give you about 743 00:40:26,070 --> 00:40:29,160 Poppy O'Toole: five crisps to eat, isn't it? This is rubbish. We'll 744 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:30,480 Poppy O'Toole: see. We'll see what it's like. 745 00:40:32,610 --> 00:40:33,120 Alex Legouix: Okay. 746 00:40:33,690 --> 00:40:36,450 Poppy O'Toole: And then you can squash it. You've got to get the... 747 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:40,320 Alex Legouix: Yeah. Okay. I understand that. There's something about humans loving the 748 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:41,610 Alex Legouix: crunch, isn't there? 749 00:40:43,049 --> 00:40:43,050 Poppy O'Toole: I'm distraught. 750 00:40:43,050 --> 00:40:48,629 Alex Legouix: And so before we start eating, I've really enjoyed learning 751 00:40:48,629 --> 00:40:50,700 Alex Legouix: more about your world and your life. 752 00:40:51,930 --> 00:40:52,320 Poppy O'Toole: Thank you. 753 00:40:52,350 --> 00:40:54,000 Alex Legouix: How has it been for you? 754 00:40:54,570 --> 00:40:56,549 Poppy O'Toole: I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's been lovely to see 755 00:40:56,550 --> 00:40:58,800 Poppy O'Toole: some of the places that... You know when you go 756 00:40:59,010 --> 00:41:02,040 Poppy O'Toole: past places and sometimes you do it every day? Like 757 00:41:02,250 --> 00:41:05,069 Poppy O'Toole: going around like Barnt Green and Alvechurch, I do that 758 00:41:05,430 --> 00:41:07,980 Poppy O'Toole: mildly regularly because my family still live there. But then 759 00:41:07,980 --> 00:41:11,640 Poppy O'Toole: going through and actually thinking about the things that happened 760 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:15,450 Poppy O'Toole: in those places, oh, it's so cute. It's so cute and 761 00:41:15,450 --> 00:41:20,129 Poppy O'Toole: it's so like... Oh my God, why am I literally tearing 762 00:41:20,130 --> 00:41:21,930 Poppy O'Toole: up a little bit? But it's just cute to look at 763 00:41:22,350 --> 00:41:24,570 Poppy O'Toole: where things are, you know what I mean? And have a little 764 00:41:24,570 --> 00:41:25,589 Poppy O'Toole: bit of history behind them. 765 00:41:25,830 --> 00:41:27,299 Alex Legouix: What do you think has made you emotional? 766 00:41:29,100 --> 00:41:31,350 Poppy O'Toole: I think it's just looking back and actually thinking about 767 00:41:31,350 --> 00:41:40,979 Poppy O'Toole: what... I never realized how much... Oh my God. Stop. This 768 00:41:40,980 --> 00:41:42,058 Poppy O'Toole: is ridiculous. 769 00:41:42,150 --> 00:41:42,750 Alex Legouix: Take your time. 770 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:47,969 Poppy O'Toole: How much food and people and how the things I 771 00:41:47,969 --> 00:41:51,150 Poppy O'Toole: did when I was younger, I'd never really looked at them 772 00:41:51,150 --> 00:41:54,989 Poppy O'Toole: to be an influence, I suppose, but they are, and 773 00:41:54,989 --> 00:41:55,620 Poppy O'Toole: that's weird. 774 00:41:56,130 --> 00:42:00,539 Alex Legouix: And you've told some really compassionate stories about people who 775 00:42:00,540 --> 00:42:05,520 Alex Legouix: obviously mean an awful lot to you and they've really 776 00:42:05,550 --> 00:42:08,430 Alex Legouix: molded who you are today. 777 00:42:08,430 --> 00:42:11,069 Poppy O'Toole: Yeah, absolutely. I think that's what it is. Especially talking 778 00:42:11,070 --> 00:42:15,419 Poppy O'Toole: about my grandparents as well, because my nan was a really 779 00:42:15,420 --> 00:42:20,070 Poppy O'Toole: big influence. Very lovely. And she enjoyed a crisp sandwich as 780 00:42:20,070 --> 00:42:23,040 Poppy O'Toole: well. Just looking at all of this is sweet. And then being 781 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:26,580 Poppy O'Toole: here as well, literally, being in Bilston Market, eating a 782 00:42:26,580 --> 00:42:29,340 Poppy O'Toole: crisp sandwich. It's just lovely to think about it. And 783 00:42:30,420 --> 00:42:33,659 Poppy O'Toole: I think she'd be very shocked at what's happened, all 784 00:42:33,660 --> 00:42:38,100 Poppy O'Toole: because she used to do a good Sunday roast. Anyway, 785 00:42:38,130 --> 00:42:44,160 Poppy O'Toole: here's the crunch. It's still quite good actually. 786 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:45,540 Alex Legouix: It is really good. 787 00:42:48,509 --> 00:42:50,790 Poppy O'Toole: Okay, I take it back. The baked crisps work. 788 00:42:51,150 --> 00:42:59,129 Alex Legouix: Thank you. Thanks so much to Poppy O'Toole for giving me such 789 00:42:59,130 --> 00:43:02,700 Alex Legouix: a great insight into her life. You can see exclusive 790 00:43:02,700 --> 00:43:05,640 Alex Legouix: footage of the drive by heading to the Autotrader socials. 791 00:43:05,940 --> 00:43:08,639 Alex Legouix: Look at the episode page for links. You'll also be 792 00:43:08,639 --> 00:43:10,830 Alex Legouix: able to see the Smart car that we drove around 793 00:43:10,830 --> 00:43:14,310 Alex Legouix: in and be in for a chance of actually winning 794 00:43:14,310 --> 00:43:19,950 Alex Legouix: it. Check out @AutotraderUK on Instagram to find out how to win 795 00:43:19,950 --> 00:43:22,410 Alex Legouix: the car. And if you are looking for a new 796 00:43:22,410 --> 00:43:26,880 Alex Legouix: vehicle, you can find your perfect match at autotrader. co. 797 00:43:27,150 --> 00:43:30,239 Alex Legouix: uk. This is a new show and I'd love you 798 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:33,450 Alex Legouix: to follow on your favorite podcast platform. Like what you 799 00:43:33,450 --> 00:43:36,510 Alex Legouix: hear? Rate and review, and make sure you tell your 800 00:43:36,510 --> 00:43:39,840 Alex Legouix: friends so you don't miss an episode. Show On The 801 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:42,660 Alex Legouix: Road is a Fresh Air Production for Autotrader.