Tik Tok: Meet Bournemouth's very own viral 'Spudman'

Tamworth-based Spudman has somehow made the humble baked spud a trendy snack through social media - and paved the way for fellow ‘spudmen’ across the country to ride the viral wave. 

Not least Dorset’s very own ‘spudman’ David Moseley, known to his loyal fans and customers as Mose.  

Mose set up his business Smokey Mose Hot Potatoes at the end of lockdown, having returned to live in the UK from the Netherlands and thrown in the towel after working in the corporate world.

The Smokey Mose trailer switches between Bournemouth, Boscombe and Christchurch markets as well as various festivals in the area. 

Mose said his newfound social media fame has led to scores of fans asking for selfies. 

“There's lots of people coming up wanting a spud and a selfie, I've been recognised in supermarkets a few times and in town,” he said. 

“It's a bit peculiar, to be honest. I suppose you get used to it a little bit, but it's a little bit peculiar when people come up to you and ask for a selfie. 

“I’m slowly building up a wall of fame so anybody who takes a selfie, I ask them to tag me in it so I can keep a copy and I’m planning on putting a screen up [on the trailer wall] and those selfies will be rotated.” 

Mose regularly goes live on his TikTok account where viewers will interact with him and watch him interact with his customers – while dishing up delicious spuds. 

Livestreaming and social media has always been an interest to Mose: during lockdown and while living in the Netherlands, he would livestream himself playing video games. 

He then became aware of TikTok - “a time suck” - and thought it would be a good way to promote his business and meet like-minded people. 

And he did just that. In January, Mose joined Spudman in Tamworth for his free giveaway day – helping to serve thousands of people who flocked to the Staffordshire town for a free spud. 

“It was crazy,” Mose said. “I went up and there and spoke to Ben before and he said it’ll be really big. 

“The queue was a quarter of a mile long. I filmed the length and had to speed it up 60 times to get it into a one minute video.” 

He has also got to know the Spud Brothers in Preston and Jacket Potato Lady in Portsmouth. “We all keep in touch; it’s like networking and a bit of camaraderie but it’s also good for our businesses.” 

Mose’s newfound fame – and extra income from social media – has meant he has been in the position to donate to the charity We Are Humans in Sea Road, Boscombe. 

“I’ve only just started it because I’ve only started to make money from TikTok,” he said, “but every so often I will withdraw funds from TikTok and I’ll fill my pickup truck with potatoes, carrots and other things and take it to them.” 

On what has made jacket potatoes popular again, Mose said: “I think they're a comfort food. They're a very British comfort food.  

“[All the TikTokers] do something a little bit different; I do BBQ stuff which I smoke myself with my smoker, such as the chicken and the homemade chilli.” 

And they’re cheap. Mose’s jackets are £3.50, charging an extra £1 or £1.50 for each topping depending on what it is. 

But despite TikTok “taking over” much of what he does, nothing is going to stop Bournemouth’s very own spudman from doing what he loves most about his job: interacting with his customers and fans.