This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan welcome David Hall, a proud North Easterner and former MasterChef contestant, for a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about food, the fading spotlight, and finding yourself again. From the smell of Bovril on cold match days at St James’ Park, the conversation is a heartfelt tour through growing up in the North East - its rivalries, humour, and unbeatable sense of community.

David reflects on his time in the MasterChef kitchen, where his love for regional dishes like panackelty and leek pudding won the heart of the judges at the same time as meeting the harsh realities of TV production. He lifts the lid on the emotional toll of the experience, how it shaped his mental health, and what he’s learned since about resilience and recovery. Chris also admits that David was the person who first ignited his own career in food and his commitment to celebrating the local, whilst David goes on to deliver a masterclass in North East food heritage, tracing the origins of Be-Ro - the classic home-baking brand born in Newcastle — and revealing the story behind the original pink slice, a true staple of regional baking.

There’s plenty of banter too - from David’s admiration for the late, great Keith Floyd, whose chaotic charm shaped his approach to cooking, to Dan’s less-than-glowing views on Jamie Oliver and the modern TV food machine. Together, they explore how authenticity has been lost in contemporary media - and how men, especially in the North, are learning to talk more openly about struggle, pride, and purpose.

With stories of cold-water dips, and rediscovering joy through cooking, this is a moving, funny, and unfiltered conversation about what it truly means to be a Local Hero.

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