Tag: Channel 4

Scottish dessert sauce business competes for spot on Aldi’s shelves in Channel 4 series

  • Mairi Hawkes, founder of Lismore business Slainte Sauces, beat hundreds of hopefuls to appear on the show with her ‘adult dessert sauces’
  • Six-part series sees food and drink suppliers compete to be listed in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide
  • Aldi’s Next Big Thing, ‘Party’ episode, will air on Channel 4, Tuesday 16 April at 8pm 
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Self-proclaimed islander, Mairi MacFadyen, from Isle of Lismore, will appear on the Channel 4 series Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Tuesday, 16th April, 8pm. 

Mairi is the founder of Slainte, a boozy dessert and savoury sauce company for grown-ups. Sauces include Rum & Salted Caramel, Whisky with Raspberry & Vanilla and White Chocolate & Raspberry Martini – all containing 25% alcohol. 

Hosted by Anita Rani, of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the six-part series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories including dinners and baked goods, as well as exciting new category additions: party, world, and confectionery. 

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Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, who deliberates on factors such as price, packaging, shopper demand, and the ability to scale up, before shortlisting contestants down to just two.   

The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie. The three then taste test the improved products, before Julie decides the winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores.   

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “Gone are the days of simple cheese and pineapple sticks, as people are opting for more exciting, extravagant party foods. It’s certainly a category that invites experimentation!”  

Translating to ‘cheers’ in Scottish Gaelic, Slainte, pronounced ‘Slan-cha’, is Mairi’s pride and joy, and she is now looking to claim a spot on Aldi’s shelves.  

Mairi, who makes all the sauces herself, says: “There are no words to describe how big this is for me. I keep pinching myself – is this real? I really want a big contract, I can actually see my sauces in Aldi. I can see myself going in there, taking photos of them. It would really change my life.“ 

The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores. 

The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website, which includes a wide selection of groceries from meat to dairy products and everyday essentials, in a bid to help shoppers support British businesses. 

To find out if Slainte’s Boozy Dessert Sauces made it on to Aldi’s shelves, watch Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4 on 16th April. The series will air every Tuesday at 8pm until 7th May.  

‘When the Words Away Went’

STROKE ASSOCIATION talks APHASIA

Nearly half Scots have never heard of aphasia, despite 350,000 people living with the condition in the UK.

  • New research from the Stroke Association reveals a huge lack of public awareness and knowledge of aphasia – a language and communication disorder most commonly caused by stroke
  • Of the Scots who have heard of aphasia nearly one in two (46%) are unclear as to what it is
  • Almost two thirds (68%) of Scots lack confidence in spotting the common effects of aphasia. 
  • To address this and raise awareness of aphasia, the charity has produced a documentary ‘When the Words Away Went’ available to watch on
    stroke.org.uk/film or stream on Channel 4 from Friday 26th May

New research from the Stroke Association reveals nearly half of the Scottish  public (45%) have never heard of aphasia*, despite it affecting over 350,000 people in the UK.

Aphasia is a language and communication disorder – with stroke being the biggest cause. The condition often has a profound effect on someone’s ability to speak, read, write and/or use numbers.  There are 128,000 stroke survivors living in Scotland and over a third (40%) will experience aphasia after their stroke. 

The new research* from the UK’s leading stroke charity highlights that most Brits don’t know about the disorder, and the huge impact it has on people’s lives. Moreover, nearly half (46%) of those who have heard of aphasia are unclear as to what it is.  

To help raise awareness of aphasia, the Stroke Association has launched ‘When the Words Away Went’, a documentary about three stroke survivors living with aphasia embarking on their journey to find their voice and rebuild their lives. 

The documentary aims to equip people with the knowledge, understanding and confidence to support those living with aphasia. Currently, most people (72%) lack confidence in recognising its symptoms and less than half of people (42%) would feel confident in communicating with someone with the disorder.

Whilst aphasia does not affect intelligence, the majority of Scots (68%) think being able to speak or communicate well is a sign of intellect, which can create huge barriers for those with aphasia. In fact, a fifth of adults (20%) also admit that, if they met someone who had problems communicating, they would assume that person had a learning difficulty. 

John Watson, Associate Director Scotland of the Stroke Association said: “Aphasia is very common, affecting over a third of stroke survivors, so it’s disheartening to see such low awareness and knowledge of aphasia amongst the general public. 

“Most of us can’t imagine living with aphasia, but it makes everyday tasks like getting on the bus or talking to a friend daunting, made worse by misconceptions that people with aphasia lack intelligence. This can often lead to anxiety and depression, feeling excluded from society and difficulties with personal relationships.

“We want to encourage everyone to watch our new documentary ‘When the Words Away Went’, featuring stories from three inspiring stroke survivors impacted by aphasia, so the public can better understand the condition and become an ally to those affected. Together we can help make the lives of those living with aphasia a little bit easier.” 

The research also highlights other common misconceptions around aphasia including, over a fifth (25%) of Scots Brits believing that aphasia only affects someone’s ability to talk and one in ten people mistakenly thinking that aphasia can’t improve.

Tom Middlemass, 59, from Edinburgh – featuring in the documentary said: “When you have aphasia, you find people shout at you when they talk to you. You get that all the time.  

“People need to know that those with aphasia are not dumb. There’s a person behind that voice who is struggling. It’s very hard to get these words out. It exhausts you.”

“The Stroke Association is here for everyone affected by aphasia, providing support and an important reminder that there is hope. Aphasia can and does improve, and with the right help people with aphasia can live normal lives.”

Watch the ‘When the Words Away Went’ online at stroke.org.uk/film or stream on Channel 4 now.

To find out more about aphasia and how you can support those affected, visit https://www.stroke.org.uk/aphasia.

Channel 4 The Simpler Life – the location behind hit TV show

The true star of the show: the stunning Devon farm you can visit for a holiday

The home of the hit TV show, “The Simpler Life” is a beautiful farmstead, Libbear Barton, in North West Devon that you can visit for a holiday.

The property comprises four luxury, self-catered holiday lets accompanied by a beautiful, heated indoor pool, soft play and playground. Set in 40 acres of the stunning rolling hills of North Devon that viewers fell in love with, the stunning Georgian farmhouse and barn conversion cottages sleep up to 40 people.

Max Manners, Libbear Barton’s General Manager said: “Tuesday night’s premier of The Simpler Life on Channel 4 left viewers in no doubt that living in the countryside is not for everyone.

“But even the most city-centric of us still love to occasionally escape there on holiday. We specialise in family friendly holidays for those who enjoy the outdoors but want to know that there is plenty to do indoors too should the weather not be perfect…which it occasionally is not!”

But if you are looking for the “simpler life” experience you won’t find it here. Having undergone a recent refurbishment, viewers would have difficulty recognising the accommodation.

Gone are the sparse, candlelit bedrooms and stripped back furnishings you would find in an Amish community. Instead, you can expect to find stylish, modern, country homes offering the highest level of comfort.

Despite the departure from the Amish tradition of eschewing modern life, Max and Alex Manners, who run the site, still aim to create a business that is as sustainable as possible. Solar powers a large proportion of the sites’ energy requirement with the rest supplied through green renewables.

The water supply is delivered from an on-site borehole and windblown trees provide fuel for heating in the winter months.

The couple also aspire to a level of self-sufficiency.

“We have been inspired by what the contributors were able to achieve in a short time”, explains Alex Manners. “We aim to continue to cultivate the land for vegetables and raise our own meat much like they did on the show.

“Holiday guests will be able to collect eggs and pick veg for the table during their stay – hopefully inspiring them to live in a way that minimises their impact as much as possible.”

Edinburgh bakers urged to raise some dough for Cancer Research

‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ is back with new kitchenware in Cancer Research UK shops

BAKERS from Edinburgh and the Lothians are being urged to grab their mixing bowls and whip up some cash, as ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ returns to Channel 4 tomorrow (March 22).

Everyone from baking beginners to patisserie pros are being asked to don their aprons in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, the joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Getting started is a piece of cake with a free fundraising kit to download full of tips, recipes and ideas for getting friends and family involved in raising some serious dough for life-saving research.  

Fans of the show can also support the cause with striking new Star Baker themed kitchenware available from Cancer Research UK shops in Edinburgh and the Lothians or online, as well as via retailer Next.co.uk.* 

The range features everything foodies and fundraisers need to create their signature bakes in style including an apron, oven gloves, a trio of tea towels and a mug.

In Scotland, around 32,200 people are diagnosed with cancer a year.**

Stand Up To Cancer aims to get new cancer tests and treatments to people who need them the most. Since its launch in 2012, the campaign has raised more than £93 million to fund 59 clinical trials and research projects across the UK.

These include the development of new treatments that use viruses to fight cancer, clinical trials testing potentially more effective ways to deliver radiotherapy and improved surgical techniques for bowel cancer.  

Linda Summerhayes, Cancer Research UK spokesperson in Scotland, said: “One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime***, but all of us can play a part to help beat it. That’s why we need people across Edinburgh and the Lothians to help us turn up the heat on this devastating disease.

“We hope these special episodes for Stand Up To Cancer will encourage viewers to host their own baking fundraiser. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a whizz in the kitchen, you can look the part with our new Star Baker range. The most important thing is raising money to help speed up research and save lives. Every last crumb will make a difference.”

The celebrity contestants putting their skills to the test in the Bake Off tent and hoping to inspire some show-stopping fundraising results include Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah; singer-songwriter Example; singer-songwriter and UN Environment Ambassador Ellie Goulding; TV presenters Sophie Morgan and Emma Willis; actor, Blake Harrison; comedian, writer and TV presenter Ruby Wax and judge, presenter and dancer Motsi Mabuse.

‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ will return for five special episodes on Channel 4 on Tuesdays at 8pm, from March 22.

For a free fundraising pack visit su2c.org.uk/bake-off.  

Design Your Dream: TV series looking for talent from Edinburgh

Channel 4 has commissioned a new peak-time interior design contest based in Sheffield in which competitors will take part in a series of design challenges to win their own dream apartment.

In Design Your Dream (w/t), contestants will each be assigned an empty apartment within the Eyewitness Works in the heart of Sheffield to showcase their unique design talent.

The hopefuls will be judged across a series of design challenges within the apartment and elsewhere. Contestants will compete against each other, whittled down until there is only one remaining. The winner of the competition will become the owner of their very own two-bedroom apartment within the historic development in South Yorkshire.

The 8 x 60 series is produced by Remarkable Factual (part of Banijay UK) with executive producers Joff Wilson and Breid McLoone. The series is commissioned for Channel 4 by Deborah Dunnett, Commissioning Editor, Features and Daytime, and Jo Street, Head of Features and Daytime.

The series is made in partnership with Manchester-based social impact property developers Capital&Centric.

Deborah Dunnett, Commissioning Editor, Features and Daytime at Channel 4, comments: “Everybody has their own vision of what makes a home stand out. This series promises to show off the creative talents and tastes of interior designers from around the UK – for a truly spectacular prize.

“I’m looking forward to working with Remarkable and thrilled that the vibrant city of Sheffield is going to be the home of this innovative competition format.”

Kitty Walshe, CEO Remarkable Factual, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Channel 4 on this project. It’s a big factual entertainment format with a really dramatic elimination mechanic that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.

“The life-changing prize is one of the biggest on UK television and we’re excited to be making this innovative new format that’s unlike anything else out there.”

Adam Higgins, co-founder of Capital&Centric, said: “Our Eyewitness Works building in Sheffield is packed full of original features and when restored it’ll be a genuine, design-led community.

“It’s going to be awesome to see how the designers put their creative spin on this historic space, with the winner eventually calling it home.”

Filming on Design Your Dream (w/t) will take place this summer, with casting currently in progress.

Budding applicants with a passion for interior design can apply for the series at www.designyourdream.tv

Gogglebox back for Stand Up To Cancer

The Bafta award winning Gogglebox returns once again with a Stand Up To Cancer celebrity special.

The League of Gentleman and Inside No. 9 co-creators and stars Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will be sharing the Gogglebox sofa together as part of Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign on Friday (25th October). Continue reading Gogglebox back for Stand Up To Cancer

New Town dwelling is RIBA Home of the Year

A house in the New Town designed by Richard Murphy Architects has won the accolade of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) House of the Year. The unusual property in Hart Street is architect Richard Murpy’s own home and the house beat off strong competition to win the coveted award. Continue reading New Town dwelling is RIBA Home of the Year