By skyforbes 
By Dr Emma Astra, 27th May 2025
TikTok Tales is a series I’m doing on Medium which highlight great TikTok characters. Or should I say ‘creators’ (but equally as colourful characters). TikTok creators are gaining memento every day. TikTok being one of the highest viewed social media apps, where content creators are reportedly paid more than the prime minister and arguably more influential. I find the biography behind the person interesting, so hence TikTok Tales was created!
Spudman became famous for his jacket potato van in a relatively unheard random midlands town called Tamworth, UK. Potatoes in England are commonly referred to as ‘spuds’. Jacket potatoes are a staple in many homes. Best in the oven but now a days pinged in the microwave for 10 minutes – Got to ensure you stab them to stop them from exploding though.
Potatoes are what rice is to other countries. Spudman reinvented and raised awareness of the humble potatoes steeped in our culture and DNA.
Spudman’s real name is Mark. His Tik Tok station is called @spudarmy. Spudman / Mark proudly and loyally has sold his humble jacket potatoes from a purpose built wagon in Tamworth centre for the last 20 years. Trendily called ‘Street food’ in some overpriced Shoreditch gentrification set up. In Tamworth it’s called ‘Spudman’. He speaks to all walks of life.
Spudman cooks and heats the spuds on board and sells from the hatch at the front. All types of fillings from chilli, coleslaw to the British staple cheese and beans (yes together- don’t knock it until you tried it with lashings of butter!)
Family man, got several kids. Nice guy. Wildly punk colourful hair. Short in height but large in character. Spudman has put Tamworth on the map and really raised the area profile in a good way.
Gradually raising his profile, now upto over 4 million followers. The potato expert has appeared on national TV. Done many a charity gig. All from starting in TikTok.
There’s something else which I am very proud of Spudman for doing. That’s raising awareness of chronic illness. He has kidney disease. He has home dialysis which saves him considerable time having the treatment at hospital. As a result Spudman is able to run his business and be a family man. He says it’s tough though and understandably. He’s got a hole in his arm called a fistula which was put there so the tubes what he’s wired upto throughout the night can easily go in. He can only drink upto 500ml every day- which in an oven intense wagon on his feet must be hard work but he doesn’t give up.
Spudman has raised significant awareness of kidney problems and raised a lot of money for good causes. That’s why Spudman deserves an MBE I think.
But instead of receiving formal recognition, Spudman received a letter recently from Tamworth council notifying that he needs to move his potato wagon. His followers were in uproar and supported against the decision. I believe the council dropped the case. The wagon is thankfully still there.
Spudman is still doing his daily TikTok lives with long ques coming far and wide for his humble cheese and beans jacket potatoes. Giving me and many more watchers more than just entertainment. Spudman is a real working-class hero.
Spudman @spudarmy:
@spudarmy
One of his videos where he talks about his health end stage renal failure:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdkDG4vw/
Thanks for taking a ride with me during this article. Like and follow is you want more! More of my stuff can be found at www.linktr.ee/emmaastra