‘Jason Statham is basically my twin!’
Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer on lockdown habits and feeling good at 57…
Simon Rimmer has kept calm and carried on cooking throughout lockdown.The chef has been entertaining fans online from his home in Manchester with the concoctions he’s been whipping up. Plus, he’s also been recording in the studio – safely socialdistancing with his sidekick, Tim Lovejoy – to bring us our weekly fix of Sunday Brunch.
As if he wasn’t busy enough, the 57 year old has also teamed up with the experts at Hoover to share top tips on cooking, eating, exercises and family activities to boost our mood during these difficult times.
Here, Simon, who has children, Flo, 22, and Hamish, 17, with his wife, Ali, chats Sunday Brunch
banter, hidden talents and making the most of family time…
Hi Simon. How has lockdown treated you?
You know what, OK actually. The fact that we’ve managed to keep Sunday Brunch on air has been great. We filmed from our homes for about six weeks before returning to the studio.
Do you have to do your own hair and make-up before filming?
Yes, but for two bald blokes, it’s not a big problem. Nicole, who is one of our senior make-up girls, did a Zoom tutorial with me on how to do my face for the camera – much to the amusement of my son, I might add.
Are the kids living at home?
Hamish is at home, just starting his online lower-sixth exams. Flo has just finished her English and Linguistics degree and is living in London. She’s a bright and clever woman who will follow her dreams. Having my family at home, cooking and eating around the table is one of my favourite things.
What are your favourite lockdown snacks?
My guilty secret is sage and onion stuffing from a packet, with a spoon. I like it as a sandwich as well, but from the packet with a bit of butter is just delicious. My other one is baked beans with tinned mackerel. I literally put tinned mackerel into a tin of beans, heat it in a pan and add hot chilli sauce.
Is there anything you’re not good at cooking?
I’m not a brilliant bread maker. I’m much better than I used to be, but I don’t really have the patience for it. I’m not good at letting things wait. If I could wish for a better skill, it would be that.
Let’s talk about your pulled pork invention…
I love the fact that so many people take that statement seriously. It creates such anger in people. I tell people that I invented it on Sunday Brunch. That line is the gift that keeps on giving. We said it as a throwaway comment on the show when I cooked it and it just went from there. It’ll be on my tombstone: ‘Simon Rimmer, The Inventor of Pulled Pork’.
What makes you feel good?
Biscuits. They’re my greatest weakness. I could sit and demolish a packet of Digestives in a single sitting. I love a Jammie Dodger, too. I quite like destroying the edge of the heart when I eat them. It might say something about a person by the way they eat a biscuit…
Do you have any hidden talents?
Ironing. When my wife and I first got together we made a deal that she’d clean the house and I’d do the ironing. As a kid I was fascinated watching my mum do the ironing. I thought it was amazing that all these crumpled clothes were transformed.
Are you a brave man?
When my daughter was five she had to have a tooth out. I was there holding her hand but I passed out. That gives you an indication of how brave I am. I had a steroid injection into my knee without anaesthetic. I nearly fainted.
‘I passed out when my daughter had to have a tooth out’
Who would you choose to play you in a film?
I mean it’s obvious, isn’t it? Jason Statham. We’re almost twins. He’s got the pecs as well!
So you’re happy with your body?
Actually, I have the chest of a middle-aged man and I’d like to have really good pecs. I exercise all the time and while my chest is muscley, it’s disappointing.
Do you have any regrets?
When my kids were growing up I was away building restaurants and starting my telly career. I missed first steps and first words, birthday parties and Christmas gatherings. I don’t regret it per se, but if I had my time again then maybe I could have been a bit more selfish towards my kids.
Tell us about Hoover’s Wellbeing Wednesday initiative…
This was planned before lockdown and we thought, wouldn’t it be nice to do something about wellness? Food is a great leveller in mental health and wellbeing. Eating together is a beautiful way to talk and share and reveal things. We’re involved with experts who give you a different take on how to exercise to improve your mood. We’ll be in the community, too. I work with charities to offer free supper clubs where people sit together and break bread. It’s a wonderful thing.