TOWN crier Tony Appleton swapped his handbell for a wooden spoon for an appearance on an ITV cooking show.
Tony was hand-picked by film crews to appear on Food Glorious Food, a show searching for the best home-cooked dishes, with the winner receiving £20,000 and their dish made and sold by Marks & Spencer.
Tony was asked to make his late mum Dolly's grandma's bread and butter pudding, which he spices up with a dash of rum.
His recipe even features in an official Food Glorious Food cookery book that is available in bookshops.
Tony, who is president of the Guild of International Millennium Town Criers, made it to the semi-finals and was judged by well-known faces such as Carol Vorderman, Tom Parker Bowles, and Loyd Grossman.
He was first filmed at the old people's home he owns, New Home House, in Great Baddow.
"I had the film crew there for over eight hours at the old people's home," said Tony, 75.
"It was good fun but it was a really long day.
"But I made the pudding in my house because it was easier and then I took it to the old people's home.
"I got through that round and then we all went to Knebworth, Hertfordshire, where the competition really started, and that's where I was judged by Carol Vorderman."
Tony was in the Royal Navy from 1953 to 1959, which was where he discovered his secret recipe ingredient, Pusser's Traditional Dark Navy Rum.
He said: "I was really chuffed to be asked to be on the show, but it wasn't just town criers, they wanted people of all professions – we had a vicar and a fireman.
"I absolutely love cooking now – I cook bread and butter puddings all the time.
"It is a regular Sunday dish for my family, and I am the main chef every time."
Tony has already had offers from magazines such as Women's Own asking to feature his recipe.
"As soon as people see the episode the phone will not stop ringing," he laughed.
"It is all going to start now, my cooking career may just take off yet."
A repeat of the show, which was aired yesterday (Wednesday) is on ITV1 on Sunday at 3pm.
TONY'S RECIPE: Bread and butter puddingIngredients:
2oz dark brown sugar
4-6 slices of bread
3 large organic eggs
1 pint organic milk
1 shavings of orange
1 shavings of lemon
3-4 oz dried fruit
2 tablespoons of marmalade
3 tablespoons of Pusser's rum
Method:
Put the dried fruit and dark rum into a bowl and leave for one hour.
Butter dish
Measure 3oz of brown sugar
Place one layer of bread in dish and grate orange and lemon zest, sprinkle with about three tablespoons of sugar and three tablespoons of fruit.
Repeat the above for three layers.
Make custard, break three organic eggs and mix in a pint of organic milk
Pour over dish and leave for one hour
Cook for one hour on 150 df
