The latest millennial craze? The humble jacket potato: How a pink-mohawked father-of-nine has got TikTokers travelling hours across the country to queue around the block for his spuds

Ben Newman, 39, has had customers travel from the US to buy a jacket potatoThe father-of-nine initially joined the platform to monitor his children onlineThe Tamworth man will be on dialysis for the rest of his life but remains positive READ MORE: Blogger reveals how to make the PERFECT baked potato everytime

Huge queues have descended on a quiet British town due to the latest TikTok trend – the humble jacket potato.

Diners from as far as the United States are travelling to Tamworth to get their hands on the classic snack, which has exploded in popularity on the social media platform.

Ben Newman, 39, regularly shares his culinary tips and his daily life as a jacket potato caterer- and people have become obsessed.

The charismatic potato connoisseur with a trademark bright pink mohawk – who regularly dishes out free spuds to a few lucky customers – has amassed a whopping TikTok following of 1.9 million.

Ben Newman (pictured), 39 has sent people into a frenzy with his jacket potatoes – with people travelling from as far as the US for a taste

Huge queues of customers were pictured on Editha Square, Tamworth on January 21, hoping for their chance to buy a humble jacket potato

The frenzy for Spud Army jacket potatoes has become so great, lengthy queues were pictured on Editha’s Square, Tamworth on January 21.

But the pandemonium for Spud Army jacket potatoes extends far beyond British shores, with some fans sporting merchandise in countries as far away as Hawaii.

The content creator first started his own business – Newman’s Catering – in the same location over two decades ago, at the age of 18.

Despite benefiting from the jacket potato boom on TikTok, the father-of-nine didn’t join the app in a bid for fame.

He initially signed up to monitor his children, which he shares with partner Sarah Simpson.

But he didn’t garner the cult-like following from jacket potatoes alone.

His openness regarding his 10-year dialysis journey has also played a role.

Ben regularly uses his platform to raise awareness about kidney disease.

He sadly suffered three failed kidney transplants himself – in 2014, 2016 and 2019.

He will be on dialysis for the rest of his life, however he continues to remain optimistic, adding that he could live a long life as long as he stays healthy.

He told StaffordshireLive in 2021: ‘I’ve had three failed transplants and been told I can’t have anymore as my body just rejects them.

‘The last 10 years has always been about saving money to get through having a transplant as you have to have six months off work – so now I know I won’t be having transplants anymore, my goal is to buy a house.

Ben, also known as @spudarmy on TikTok has amassed a huge following of 1.9 million on TikTok, by sharing his culinary tips, often handing out free jackets to a few lucky customers

The father-of-nine initially joined the platform to keep an eye on his nine children, but with his bomb in popularity he has used it to share his business and raise awareness on kidney disease, as he himself will be on dialysis for the rest of his life

He added: ‘A lot of my followers are on dialysis so it’s nice putting out a positive message to them and that they can be normal whilst having kidney failure.’

Due to the jacket potato trend, business has continued to boom, with Ben even buying a new trailer to accommodate demand.

Ben revealed in a video posted on Saturday that the company would be making an attempt to sell more than 1100 in one day alone.

In his brand new catering trailer, he said: ‘First day in the new trailer, What are we going to do? Are we going to take it steady? Are we going to ease it in? Are we going to take baby steps? No!

‘So you all know our record we did 1100 spuds last weekend so what are we going to do this weekend are we going to up it by a little bit.

He joyfully quipped: ‘We are going to go for 1500 spuds’

In another clip, the father-of-nine shared that he had purchased his new decked out trailer for ‘just under £40,000’.

The jacket potato caterer revealed that he sold part of his business to be able to fund the new trailer.

Business has boomed so much they have purchased a new catering trailer worth £40,000. On a good day Ben believes they could take in earnings of £10,000 in one day alone at the right even festival

They are even breaking their own records, with the jacket potato conaisseur aiming to sell 1500 potatoes on Saturday, in attempt to obliterate their 1100 potato record

He continued: ‘That is how I funded this – not through TikTok. And its all paid for there is no finance on this.’

Ben believes that with the right event and ‘at the right festival’, the business could take £10,000 in earnings.

He elaborated in a video with over 2.3 million views: ‘The ovens are second hand so take that into the price as well.

‘I did try to get new ones but unfortunately they don’t make these anymore. King Edward are making a replacement but they aren’t ready yet.’