Iain ‘Huey’ Hewitson was a fixture on Australian TV for decades thanks to his popular afternoon cooking shows – and now he has made a surprise comeback.
But you won’t find him on daytime television; instead, he reaches an audience of hundreds of thousands of people through the youth-oriented app TikTok.
Many younger Aussies have spoken of their joy at coming across Huey’s cooking videos online, saying they have ‘unlocked’ fond memories of watching him as children.
Hewitson began hosting the series Healthy, Wealthy and Wise in 1982 and subsequently fronted the programs Huey’s Cooking Adventures (1997) and Huey’s Kitchen (2010).
His last new cooking episode was broadcast for free in 2014.
Since receiving the proverbial pat on the back from commercial TV bosses, the Melbourne-based Kiwi chef has kept a low profile.
So low, in fact, that many Australians wrongly assumed he was dead.
But that all changed earlier this year when Hewitson’s 22-year-old daughter Charlotte encouraged him to start a TikTok — and within days he racked up hundreds of thousands of views with videos that struck a nostalgic chord with fans.
The 75-year-old told FEMAIL he felt “humbled” by the instant success, adding that his philosophy on TikTok is no different than when he was on TV: to inspire others and teach them how to cook.
Iain ‘Huey’ Hewitson was a fixture on Australian TV for decades thanks to his popular afternoon cooking shows – and now he’s made a surprise comeback to TikTok
Huey fronted four TV series from 1982 to 2014. Although he hasn’t been on television for a decade, many young Aussies immediately remembered him when he popped up on their social media.
‘The support was overwhelming. It’s humiliating, honestly. I can’t believe it,” Hewitson said.
“It was my daughter’s idea to start a TikTok [account] and she wasn’t sure if anyone would remember me because it’s a young platform.”
But people did. Within 24 hours of posting his first video, Huey’s clip was viewed more than 400,000 times.
‘It’s so beautiful to hear people say, “You were the reason I came into the kitchen.” “Anything that gets people interested in food is a good thing,” he added.
TikTokers welcomed Huey back into their lives like an old friend they hadn’t seen in years.
‘HEY!!! The memory of my childhood sick days unlocked!’ wrote one.
Another said: ‘Omg Huey you and Ready Steady Cook taught me everything I knew before I left home.’
“You haven’t changed a bit, what’s your secret?” someone asked.
“Absolute king of my youth,” someone else declared.
‘Hoo! When I was younger, I pretended so I could watch your show!’ one millennial commented.
Some fans ruefully admitted they thought Hewitson had died – and one even said they remembered he had a state funeral.
“I swear we had a state funeral for you. So good to see you alive and well,” wrote one Adelaide resident.
Hewitson laughed off rumors of his death, saying: “I’ve been gone for a while and I’ll forgive the people who thought I was dead!” As you can see, I’m not.’
‘The support [on TikTok] has been overwhelming. It’s humiliating, honestly. I can’t believe it,” Hewitson said
Huey has partnered with Nestlé to launch the new Maggi 2-Minute Noodles with Vegemite
Hewitson also revealed his cooking secrets with FEMAIL – from where he shops to what he prepares while hosting.
In his daily life, he prefers to shop at the local market and admits that he is ‘not very good’ at budgeting, but knows it is important to do so.
To keep costs down, he recommends always making a shopping list before you leave the house, only buying food that is in season and opting for cheaper cuts of meat.
“You shouldn’t buy things out of season in the middle of winter because it will cost ten times as much,” he said.
‘Take advantage of local markets for tailor-made discounts on various items.’
He keeps things simple in the kitchen, and when he has family or friends over, he tries to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen by preparing simple meals.
“People forget to socialize when they’re hosting and get too bewildered in the kitchen. You want to be with your loved ones and enjoy your time with them, not be slaving in the kitchen all night,” Huey said.
‘It’s all about taste and simplicity. If I’m hosting, I might prepare a roast chicken in the oven with gravy and vegetables.”
Hewitson’s 22-year-old daughter Charlotte (right) encouraged him to start the TikTok account
When cooking for himself, Huey’s two favorite ingredients are chili and cilantro.
“I know these aren’t everyone’s favorite, but if I could, I would put cilantro and chili on everything – even though I don’t think my wife would approve,” he said.
Hewitson has partnered with Nestlé to launch the new Maggi 2-Minute Noodles with Vegemite.
‘I’ve been a big fan of both Maggi 2-Minute Noodles and Vegemite for decades and this new flavor combination is an Australian twist on two household classics. What a fantastic base for tasty and easy family meals!’ he said.
The rich umami punch of Vegemite with the warm slurp of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles is a winning combination that no one expected.