Ex ‘Coronation Street’ star Sean Wilson became a cheesemaker to the late Queen Elizabeth.
Sean Wilson made cheese for the Queen
The 57-year-old former actor - who left the ITV soap in 2005 after playing Martin Platt for 21 years - swapped the cobbles for producing award-winning cheese that was loved by the royal family.
He told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre Showbiz column: “What was funny to me was even the royal family pretended they didn’t watch 'Coronation Street'.
“But fast forward, I’m making my own cheese and I’m down in Windsor farm shop, I’m selling the blue cheese and new customers are coming to taste it.
“I get a tap on the shoulder and a lady says, ‘I shop for the Queen and I’m interested in your blue cheese.’"
The former soap star went on to explain that the Queen - who passed away in September at the age of 96 following a record-breaking 70-year reign - tried some of his blue cheese after it was approved by the assistant.
He added: "She tasted it and said, “Oh, My God, it’s lovely.” We had a good long conversation about it so I gave her a piece. So the Queen had some of my blue cheese.”
Earlier this month, Sean released ‘Cheddar Gorged’, a book with 60 recipes, the history of cheddar cheese and a smattering of poetry.
He said: “Everybody in the UK, unless they are a vegan, will probably have cheddar in their fridge.
“It has become a global cheese, you can get it in New Zealand, you can get it in Alaska.
“They know it can go on toast, it can go on bolognese or on a pizza and a jacket potato but then we struggle which I find amazing.
“All of this is information I have learnt and I can cook so it seemed a no-brainer when I met with the publishers for us to put this book together.”
Sean - who picked up the new career after becoming friendly with the late Bob Kitching and working in restaurants - reflected on his culinary journey from working in telly.
He added: “Sometimes you wonder why you are doing things, I was there in the kitchen thinking, why am I here? Why have I just left the studio at Granada TV and why am I here in this kitchen?
“I wasn’t a chef and knew I didn’t want to be but I wouldn’t have met Bob otherwise.
“Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s introduction of us paved out the next 17 years for me really.”
Tagged in Queen Elizabeth II