Lucy Watson is hoping to bring her passion for veganism and animal activism to a wider audience — and she has her sights set on television.
The 28-year-old former Made In Chelsea star has already turned her reality TV profile into a growing career as a vegan ambassador and animal rights campaigner. Since leaving her mark on the E4 series, she has built a string of plant-based ventures, including animal-inspired jewellery, vegan cookbooks, a freezer food range and a vegan restaurant in West London.
Now, Lucy says she is ready to return to the small screen — not simply for fame, but to use television as a platform for her campaign to “help make some changes in the world”.
“I would really love to do a docu-series on food, animal rights, animal welfare — and on a channel I haven’t worked with. So not the ones I used to work with,” Lucy told MailOnline this week.
“That’s what’s exciting for me. I like to work in front of the camera and with a crew. And I want what I do to be educational, inspiring. To help make some changes to what’s going on in the world.”
When asked whether the BBC might be part of that next chapter — including a potential appearance on Celebrity MasterChef, which is currently airing its 14th series — Lucy did not dismiss the idea, even though the cooking competition regularly features meat and dairy challenges.
“Obviously I couldn’t cook with those ingredients, but I think I would want to demonstrate that plant-based cookery is a whole new world and outlook.
“You have to be careful doing things like that not to pigeon-hole yourself or set yourself up for a fail — but I know that you can recreate anything by using a vegan method.
‘Yes, there are certain ingredients that might take a little more time to work with to achieve the desired outcome, but being a vegetarian or vegan is a really exciting thing. Creating and developing and working on plant-based recipes is exciting.
‘I think it would be fun [on MasterChef] to do challenges where you recreate recipes as vegan-versions.’
Lucy has published two cookery books – Feed Me Vegan and Feed Me Vegan For All Occassions – and developed her own recipes for her ready meal range.
‘I am not a professional chef, I am self-taught. I just love cooking and showing people through plant-based food what can be achieved,’ Lucy asserted.
She also revealed that she uses vegan protein supplements as a way to design her food.
Lucy – who is an ambassador to the vegan range of Bulk Powders – added: ‘There are so many different outlooks on food these days and sometimes we don’t think about what we’re putting in our mouths at all.
‘I think it’s about balance: look at your plate and make sure you’ve got enough greens, grains, beans – ticking those boxes.
‘What I’ve learnt from working with Bulk Powders, as someone who loves to cook, is the ingredients they use are an amazing resource – not just for protein. It gives me so many ideas. Plus they use eco-friendly packaging and implement all the vitamins that you require.’
On top of this, Lucy is a fitness enthusiast, and a great believer in both high intensity work outs and a more centered approach, each in moderation.
‘Yoga is something I love and am passionate about. I always go to it to help me achieve my goals for the month if I’m feeling stressed or anxious. It’s just really good for the body and the mind.’
Lucy’s fitness regime involves cardio training – circuits, weights, and HIIT, three-four times a week for 45 minutes – mixed with yoga; and, in addition to TV that will raise awareness for causes she believes in, the author would happily take a stab at something physical – along the lines of Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing On Ice.
‘I would love to do something that involves learning a skill,’ she said. ‘Something physical. Those shows get you into such great shape, and so what’s the harm in doing that?’
Of her home life, Lucy’s love for animals knows no bounds, recently adopting a kitten from Greece, whom she and boyfriend James Dunmore stumbled across one day, while on holiday there.
‘He’s just settled in so well,’ said Lucy, who is already ‘mum’ to two dogs and another cat. ‘He is just the boss. Even though he’s so small.
‘He is so happy. I’m so thankful we found him. I would definitely encourage people to look at saving an animal from abroad. There are so many abandoned animals and strays on the streets and the conditions can be so much better for them over here.’
Lucy and James’ growing household has not, however, spurred them to complete the extensive renovations going on in their West London home, even though it’s very nearly finished.
But Lucy has a method in mind: ‘I tell my boyfriend that we should just pretend we’re going on MTV cribs. We should set a fake date and pretend their coming over to film and aim towards that date!’
Lucy was speaking as part of her role as Bulk Powders’ vegan ambassador. Shop the Bulk Powders Vegan Series range at bulkpowders.co.uk
