Leeds Masterchef star Matt Healy launches online appeal to feed city's hospital heroes

The 36-year-old, from Horsforth, wanted to put his kitchen at Matt Healy x The Foundry to good use during the coronavirus shut-down to help boost morale among the city's NHS frontline workers.

On Sunday, his team cooked a batch of roast dinners - voted Britain's Best Roast in a national contest in 2018 - and delivered them to staff on the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of Bexley Wing, St James' Hospital along with flowers.

Matt - who shot to fame as a runner-up on the 2016 series of Masterchef: The Professionals - said: "Front line workers for the NHS have their plates full, now more than ever, so we want to do something to say we appreciate all the incredibly hard work they’re putting in.”

Now Matt and his team have set their sights on cooking even more dinners for next Sunday and have appealed to the public for help.

They have launched an online fundraiser, at https://www.gofundme.com/f/feed-250-nhs-staff , asking for people to pledge £5 for one meal - and within the first hour it had amassed £1k in donations.

It currently stands at over £1,500 with still almost a week to go - meaning at least 300 NHS staff are set to receive dinner on Sunday.

Matt said: "We’re just cooking tea at the end of the day. But we saw the difference it made to the staff on shift. We show that we care with food, and if we can show our appreciation in this small way, we will. Thanks to everyone so far that has contributed towards us bring some cracking food to some truly deserving people.”

Staff Nurse Em Brayne, who was working on the HDU on Sunday, said: “It has truly made our day! Acts of kindness keep us going and it’s so encouraging to know the general public and businesses care about the work we do.”

For every £5 donated, the business will make up the difference to serve the dish with all the trimmings.

The roast includes 12-hour roasted sirloin beef and roast chicken with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, roasted carrots, seasonal greens, cauliflower cheese and gravy.

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/feed-250-nhs-staff