Many will know Matt Pritchard from the prank and stunt TV series, Dirty Sanchez – Britain’s answer to the US’ Jackass.
But before Pritchard appeared on television screens around the UK, he was a professional skateboarder and even designed his own skate shoe.
In 2015, Pritchard became vegan – but it wasn’t his whacky stunts that knocked some sense into him, it was watching the hard-hitting documentary Cowspiracy. The film, combined with the love of his dog companion, Lenny, convinced Pritchard to leave animals off his plate.1Vegan Food & Living. 2020. Meet the star of Dirty Vegan – Matt Pritchard. Available: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/interviews/meet-the-star-of-dirty-vegan-matt-pritchard/ [Accessed 2 February 2022].
Two years after becoming vegan, Pritchard decided to share his love of ‘Proper Vegan Cookin’ by launching a YouTube series to show people how easy it is to create cheap, tasty and filling vegan food.2 The success of his online cookery show led to Pritchard presenting the first ever vegan cookery programme on the BBC in 2019, titled Dirty Vegan. The show spawned the hugely successful cook book of the same name and its sequel, Dirty Vegan: Another Bite.
Pritchard began endurance training in 2009 as years of taking part in Dirty Sanchez had taken a toll on his body and he wanted to regain some of the fitness he had as a 15-year-old, when he ran his first half marathon.2Lupica, D. 2017. Dirty Sanchez Star Launches Vegan Cookery Show On YouTube. Available: https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/vegan-personality-matthew-pritchard-launches-pritchards-proper-vegan-cookin/ [Accessed 2 February 2022].
Like many others, he caught the running bug and suddenly marathons were not enough to satisfy him. But now he also had a secret weapon – his plant-based diet. Pritchard told Vegan Food & Living: “I ran the country — 900 miles in 30 days. I did an Ironman, then I did 30 Ironmans in 30 days. All on a vegan diet.”
Then, in 2021, as Covid-19 lockdowns swept across the globe, Matt Pritchard decided that instead of waiting it out at home, he’d spend that time rowing across the Atlantic with three teammates to raise awareness for mental health issues.3McCarthy, J. 2021. Dirty Vegan star Matt Pritchard rows the Atlantic. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56921357 [Accessed 2 February 2022].
Four years ago, I got a dog – Lenny the springer spaniel. He’s my best mate and I started to think ‘I wouldn’t eat my dog, why am I eating all these other animals?’. Then I watched Cowspiracy, and that was it. The next morning I went vegan. I guess I just woke up. Cow’s milk is for calves!
References
References
- 1Vegan Food & Living. 2020. Meet the star of Dirty Vegan – Matt Pritchard. Available: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/interviews/meet-the-star-of-dirty-vegan-matt-pritchard/ [Accessed 2 February 2022].
- 2Lupica, D. 2017. Dirty Sanchez Star Launches Vegan Cookery Show On YouTube. Available: https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/vegan-personality-matthew-pritchard-launches-pritchards-proper-vegan-cookin/ [Accessed 2 February 2022].
- 3McCarthy, J. 2021. Dirty Vegan star Matt Pritchard rows the Atlantic. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56921357 [Accessed 2 February 2022].