TV chef Iain ‘Huey’ Hewitson talks about his surprising TikTok fame and reveals the one costly mistake young Australians make in the supermarket.

Iain ‘Huey’ Hewitson was a fixture on Australian television for decades thanks to his popular afternoon cooking shows, and now he’s made a surprise return.

But you won’t find it on daytime television; instead, it is reaching an audience of hundreds of thousands on the youth-focused app TikTok.

Many younger Australians have spoken of their joy at stumbling upon Huey’s cooking videos online, saying they have “unlocked” fond memories of watching him as children.

Hewitson began hosting the series Healthy, Wealthy and Wise in 1982 and later fronted the shows Huey’s Cooking Adventures (1997) and Huey’s Kitchen (2010).

Her last new cooking episode aired free-to-air in 2014..

Since receiving the proverbial tap on the shoulder from commercial television bosses, the Melbourne-based New Zealand chef has kept a low profile.

So low, in fact, that many Australians mistakenly assumed he was dead..

But that all changed earlier this year when Hewitson’s 22-year-old daughter Charlotte encouraged him to start a TikTok, and within days he was racking up hundreds of thousands of views with videos that struck a nostalgic chord among fans.

The 75-year-old told FEMAIL he felt “humbled” by the instant success, adding that his philosophy on TikTok is no different to when he was on TV: inspiring and teaching others how to cook.

Huey headlined four television series between 1982 and 2014. While he hasn’t appeared on television for a decade, many young Australians instantly remembered him when he appeared on their social media feeds.

‘The support has been overwhelming. It’s humbling, to be honest. “I can’t believe it,” Hewitson said.

‘It was my daughter’s idea to start a TikTok [account] and I wasn’t sure if anyone would remember me because it’s a young platform.”

But people did it. Within 24 hours of posting his first video, the Huey clip was viewed more than 400,000 times.

“It’s so lovely to hear people say, ‘You were the reason I got into the kitchen.’ Anything that gets people interested in food is a good thing,” she added.

TikTokers welcomed Huey back into their lives like an old friend they hadn’t seen in years.

HELLO!!! My memory of childhood sick days unlocked!’ one wrote.

Another said: “OMG Huey, you and Ready Steady Cook taught me everything I knew before I left home.”

‘You haven’t changed one bit, what’s your secret?’ one asked.

“Absolute king of my childhood,” declared someone else.

‘Hey! I faked “sick” when I was younger so I could watch your show!’ commented one millennial.

Some fans regretfully admitted that they thought Hewitson had died, and one even said they remembered him at a state funeral..

‘I swear we had a state funeral for you. “It’s so good to see you alive and well,” wrote one Adelaide resident.

Hewitson laughed off rumors about his death, saying: “I haven’t been here for a while and I’ll forgive the people who thought I was dead!” As you can see, I am not.

‘Support [on TikTok] It has been overwhelming. It’s humbling, to be honest. “I can’t believe it,” Hewitson said.

Huey has partnered with Nestlé to launch new Maggi 2-Minute Noodles with Vegemite

Hewitson also revealed his culinary secrets with FEMAIL, from where he shops to what he prepares when he hosts.

In his daily life, he prefers to shop at the local market and admits that he is “not very good” at budgeting, but he knows that it is important to do so.

To keep costs down, he recommends always writing a shopping list before you go out, only buying foods that are in season, and opting for cheaper cuts of meat.

“In the middle of winter you shouldn’t go buy things out of season because they will cost you ten times more,” he said.

“Take advantage of local markets for personalized discounts on various items.”

She keeps things simple in the kitchen and if she entertains family or friends, she tries to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen preparing simple meals.

‘People forget to socialize when hosting and get too stuck in the kitchen. “You want to be with your loved ones enjoying your time with them, not slaving in the kitchen all night,” Huey said.

‘It’s about taste and simplicity. If I’m the host, I could cook an oven-roasted chicken with sauce and vegetables.

Hewitson’s daughter, Charlotte (right), 22, encouraged him to start the TikTok account.

When cooking for himself, Huey’s two favorite ingredients are chili and cilantro.

“I know not everyone likes them, but if I could I would put cilantro and chili in everything, although I don’t think my wife would approve,” he said.

Hewitson has teamed up with Nestlé to launch new Maggi 2-Minute Noodles with Vegemite.

‘I’ve been a big fan of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles and Vegemite for decades and this new flavor combination is an Australian take on two domestic classics. What a fantastic base for tasty and easy family meals!’ he said.

The rich umami punch of Vegemite with the warm sip of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles is a winning combination that no one expected.