Corrie: Martin Platt actor cheesing it up

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Former Coronation Street star ditches acting to make cheese
Tuesday, 14 July 2009

Former Coronation Street actor Sean Wilson visited Cumbria at the weekend to unveil his new alter-ego as a celebrity cheesemaker. Sean, who played Martin Platt in the soap opera, went to Orton Farmers’ Market to discuss his new venture, The Saddleworth Cheese Company.

Market manager Leanne Duerden said: “One of our regular cheesemakers, Bob Kitching from Leagram Organic Dairy, was booked to give a demonstration this weekend but then couldn’t stay as he had to go to a funeral. When he said he’d ask a friend to come along and do something instead, I didn’t quite expect to have such a celebrity cheesemaker.”

Sean has spent the last two years developing four cheese varieties. The four varieties are all named using Lancashire dialect phrases – the Lancashire crumbly called Muldoon’s Picnic, a creamy called Shanks’ Pony, a tasty called How’s Yer Father, and a soft blue called Smelly Apath. “Orton was my first farmers’ market as a trader rather than a shopper,” said Sean, “and everyone made me and my son, Callum, very welcome. I even managed to sell a fair bit of cheese as we brought along a couple of the Lancashire crumbly cheeses for people to try, and we sold out.”

Sean is now working on getting the Saddleworth cheeses into retailers across the north west. It will be stocked at Churchmouse Cheeses at Kirkby Lonsdale and J & J Grahams in Penrith.

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Beat that for a change of career!

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Former Coronation Street star relishes new career as cheesemaker
15th November 2009
Carl Burkitt
swindonadvertiser.co.uk

FORMER Coronation Street star Sean Wilson showcased his new career in cheese during a visit to Cricklade yesterday. Famed for his role as male nurse Martin Platt in the soap opera, Sean is currently enjoying life as an artisan cheesemaker and spent yesterday morning promoting his range of Lancashire cheeses at Hart and Son Butchers.

After huge success up north, Sean decided to bring his Saddleworth Cheese Company to Cricklade in what he called his ‘great south tour’. He said: “It’s a busy life but like anything, when you do something that makes you happy it’s not a chore. I now enjoy producing lovely cheeses and having a chat to the customers about how handmade cheese is better than big companies. The plan was to make a cheese that is opposite to supermarket cheese.You can certainly taste the difference in it.”

The company boasts a range of Lancashire cheeses, named after popular northern phrases such as Mouth Almighty and How’s Yer Father. Mouldons Picnic, a crumbly Lancashire cheese, has been awarded various awards, including a British Cheese Award, and Smelly Apeth recently won the Best New Cheese at the Dublin awards.

After quitting Corrie Sean had stints on TV shows Waterloo Road, Masterchef and Dancing On Ice and it wasn’t until a chance meeting with Bob Kitching, a Lancashire cheesemaker, that he was able to realise a dream. He said: “Originally it was just a pipe dream because I didn’t know anyone in the cheese industry. Then I was presenting a radio show on a Lancashire radio station where I met Bob, who knew the industry. I asked him questions and he said I seemed keen and interested so gave me his card, now here I am.”

When asked if he has completely retired from acting he said: “Not at all. If you are out of show business for a while agents just don’t ring you as much. Television has shot itself in the foot at the moment. It has spent a lots of money on the wrong things and has to now make things on the cheap, or in a reality show format. It’s fair to say Coronation Street has had to take that route but I had a lovely 21 years there.”

Sean has always had a passion for cooking and the science behind food and last year worked in Michelin star restaurant Northcote Manor in Blackburn. Sean said: “I had a fab time there but it wasn’t for me because it’s working day and night. I have a young family so I wanted to work in the day and have my nights at home.”

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Coronation Street star in Norfolk
ADAM GRETTON
25/01/2010

Sean Wilson is best known for his 20 year stint as the down-trodden Martin Platt in ITV's Coronation Street. But since leaving the show, the Lancashire-based actor has carved out a successful career by making handmade cheese with his new business, the Saddleworth Cheese Company.

Mr Wilson made a guest appearance at Goodies Farm Shop at Pulham Market, near Diss, on Saturday and brought along some of his award-winning cheeses for customers to taste. The 44-year-old said it was vitally important that people supported local food producers and farm shops. “There is a massive movement of people that want to buy real food like properly made cheese and bread that you can't buy in a supermarket. They travel for it as well and we are in good company with the Prince of Wales promoting it. I think we should do more of it and if you have a local farm shop you have to support it,” he said. Mr Wilson brought along four “artisan” homemade cheeses, including two British and Irish Cheese Award gold medallists, which were quickly polished off on Saturday.

Stuart Gooderham, owner of Goodies Farm Shop, said trade had been very busy as a result of the star guest. “A lot of people have come to ask him about Coronation Street and have been won over by his cheeses. You can see he is very passionate about good food,” he said.

The farm shop and bistro at Pulham Market will be supporting British Breakfast Week from January 24 to January 30 by donating 50p from every full English breakfast to the Help for Heroes charity.

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'Mon the cheese!