Comedian Paul Merton’s surprise visit to Carter’s Deli, Tavistock

Well, have we got a bit of news for you!

Carter’s Deli in Tavistock played host to Paul Merton and his wife and fellow comedian, Suki Webster, this week – together with a Channel 5 film crew. 

Paul, who is famous for appearing on BBC1 panel show Have I Got News for You, and Suki were filming inside the award winning deli for an upcoming series.

Owner Dennis Mbu, and Deli Manager Sue, were filmed serving a local takeaway cream tea with scones made on-site and clotted cream from Langage Farm.

Dennis commented:

“We joked about how controversial and important it is to know whether to put the jam on the scone before or after the cream, depending whether you are in Devon or Cornwall. They also bought chocolates and praised the shop and how appealing it is.”

Dennis said he was not given much notice and only knew an exact time the day before. It’s understood the crew were filming in Cornwall earlier before coming to Tavistock. They were then due to go to Bideford.

Customers gathered outside the well-known shop until filming finished, but the film crew couldn’t reveal what the programme was, so watch out for that cream tea (later in the summer!)