A Surbiton mother-of-two has become a star of the small screen after appearing alongside Jamie Oliver in his latest TV advert.
Sainsbury’s worker Kate McBain has taught people in Surrey about healthy eating and cooking for the past three years and is now a member of Jamie Oliver’s “Try Team”.
She already teaches cookery lessons in local schools, does fruit-themed story sessions in Kingston libraries and does demonstrations with young mothers to encourage healthy eating.
She has appeared on the advert with 11 other women making burgers on barbecues in a park, and was due to film her second advert at a top secret location this week.
It is not the first time Mrs McBain has had a brush with fame.
In 2007, she appeared on documentary The Truth About Food and coached a family in Barnes on healthy eating.
She has also worked with Jamie Oliver before, while based at the Sainsbury’s head office, and said she was not star struck working alongside the TV chef.
She said: “It’s inspiring. He’s a total professional and he’s very patient and good to talk to. The difference between doing the demonstrations in schools and on the TV is that it’s got to be perfect on the TV.”
Her proud teenage daughter has even boasted about her mother’s new-found fame on her Facebook web page.
Mrs McBain began her Sainsbury’s career 15 years ago writing recipe cards, before becoming a community and health adviser.
Since doing the job, she has already noticed a change in people’s attitudes to food.
She said: “It is becoming increasingly cool to be able to talk about healthy eating. Even when I’m in schools some of the young lads want to know about it because Jamie has made cooking cool.”
Mrs McBain will be holding Fruity Stories reading and fruit tasting sessions at Tolworth library on Saturday, July 25, and Old Malden library on Friday, July 31.
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