‘I didn't realise I was picking my lunch’ - Helen Skelton on the ‘delicacy’ she inadvertently selected in Peru 

Virgin Radio

25 Jan 2024, 10:47

In the latest episode of the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, television presenter Helen Skelton talks about an unusual eating experience.

The podcast, hosted by the son of the late Sir Terry Wogan and owner of Homeslice Pizza, launched late last year. The latest episode - which you can listen to wherever you get your podcasts and also watch on Virgin Radio’s YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok channels - features Countryfile star Helen, and is out today (25th January).

Speaking to host Mark, she said: “ I went to Peru and did a lot of filming with some wonderful charities who were educating children who worked on rubbish dumps, who basically went out every day, scavenging for bits, take them back, clean them, sell them. 

“And so the charity were trying to get them into schools, and they were showing us their wonderful work and, as part of showing us what happened, they took us out for lunch.”

Explaining that she was taken to “this place in the middle of nowhere”, Helen explained: “They were showing me around, and they're showing me all these hutches, and I was like, ‘Oh that's cute’. There’s guinea pigs. ‘Oh that one’s cute.’ Obviously there was a bit of a language and a cultural barrier, but I was enthusiastic because they were proud and I was being respectful.”

It turns out, though, that she was basically being given a menu. “I thought they were just showing me their guinea pigs,” she said. “I didn't realise that I was picking my lunch.”

She added: “So the one that I thought was cute was then spatchcocked and deep fried.” 

On being served guinea pig, the former Blue Peter host said: “Obviously I've been very lucky that I've filmed in loads of random places that are so culturally different. I can't say that's wrong, that's their world.

“And they were so proud, because it was a delicacy, and they presented it to me. It still had claws. With coleslaw.”

She added: “I didn’t know what to say, other than ‘thank you.’

“I'm an animal lover and it's one of those things that I will take with me to my grave!”

Helen told Mark: “My nephew’s got a guinea pig. I can’t look at it!”

Read what Mark Wogan told Chris Evans Breakfast about why he blindfolds guests on his Spooning spooning podcast here

Spooning is out wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are released every Thursday. Watch along via @virginradiouk on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok.

Previous guests include Claudia Winkleman, Jimmy Carr, James May, Tom Kerridge, Ben Miller and Matt Tebbutt.

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