Arsenal legend Ian Wright is gunning for the UK’s top pastry firms by launching his own rival pie.
The Match of the Day pundit, 60, has high hopes for his Roast Chicken, Sage & Onion creation which he’s releasing as part of his new food and lifestyle brand called Uncle Wrighty.
The limited-edition pie is influenced by his ‘love of London, football and the Sunday Roast’ and foodies will soon be able to have a taste as it becomes available across London and via his collaborative partner Willy’s Pies’ online stockists.
Wright has been secretly working on his Uncle Wrighty brand for two years, which he says embodies his ‘spirit, joy and community connections’, plus his trademark baker boy hat.
The former England striker says: ‘Eating together is such a sociable, simple thing that can change how you look at life.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright is gunning for the UK’s top pastry firms by launching his own rival pie
The Match of the Day pundit has high hopes for his Roast Chicken, Sage & Onion creation which he’s releasing as part of his new food and lifestyle brand called Uncle Wrighty
Wright has been secretly working on his Uncle Wrighty brand for two years, which he says embodies his ‘spirit, joy and community connections’, plus his trademark baker boy hat
‘It’s that chance every day, or at least once in a while, to get together and try something new or cook up an old favourite.
‘But more than that it’s the opportunity to speak face to face and hug, you know, not just to be on our phones.’
His first ever pie comes in both large sharing and individual ‘handy’ forms, which will cater for both ready-to-eat and bake-at-home markets.
On Friday, Wright will dish out 100 pies to the lunchtime crowd at a takeover of Brixton institution Fish, Wings & Tings, owned by chef Brian Danclair.
Wright’s next project is another collaboration this time with British-Caribbean chef Marie Mitchell, which he’s teased as a nod to his heritage and experiences with food growing up.
The ex-Crystal Palace star’s new business venture comes two months after announcing he would be stepping down from his role on Match of the Day.
He made his debut on the long-running football show in 1997 while he was still a player, but joined as a permanent pundit in 2002 following his retirement two years previously.
Having left in 2008, he returned in 2015 and last May appeared alongside Shaun Wright-Phillips to become the first father and son punditry team to appear on the show.
His first ever pie comes in both large sharing and individual ‘handy’ forms, which will cater for both ready-to-eat and bake-at-home markets
The ex-Crystal Palace star’s new business venture comes two months after announcing he would be stepping down from his role on Match of the Day
Ian made his debut on the long-running football show in 1997 while he was still a player, but joined as a permanent pundit in 2002 following his retirement two years previously
Wright is also a regular pundit for ITV football’s coverage, covering both World Cups and European Championships, as well as being a leading advocate for the women’s game.
He’s currently starring in Gary Neville’s Stick To Football podcast, as well as his one successful podcast brand Wrighty’s House.
His new food and lifestyle business isn’t Arsenal’s former all-time record goalscorer’s first venture away from football.
In 1993, the same year he helped Arsenal secure an FA Cup and League Cup double, he released his debut music single called Do The Right Thing, which charted at No43, and he also carved out a career as a successful light-entertainment TV presenter.
He fronted his own ITV chat show in 1998 as well as BBC1 game show Friends Like These, plus Sky One’s original Gladiators reboot, Channel 5 afternoon early evening show, Live From Studio 5 and in 2021 helmed another gameshow called Moneyball on ITV1.
- For more information, visit the Uncle Wrighty’s website
