71-Year-Old Chef Who Gives Food to Those in Need Thought She Was Part of Live TV Segment. The Surprise She Received Left Her Speechless
71-Year-Old Chef Who Gives Food to Those in Need Thought She Was Part of Live TV Segment. The Surprise She Received Left Her Speechless
Chiara KimFri, November 6, 2026 at 10:32 PM UTC
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Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond and Florence Coke on ‘This Morning’ on Oct. 9Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock -
Florence Coke was named This Morning’s Local Hero at the Pride of Britain Awards, and she was told of the honor in a surprise announcement on live television
The Stockport restaurant owner provides free meals for people facing hardship
Known as Mama Flo, she started handing out food after seeing individuals struggling in her neighborhood and seeing her own parents’ generosity growing up
A woman who dedicates herself to giving food to those in need is being recognized.
Florence Coke, 71, a restaurant owner in Stockport, England known for her philanthropic work, was granted a surprise when she appeared on ITV’s This Morning on Oct. 9.
In a clip from the segment reshared by the Pride of Britain Awards on Facebook, This Morning co-host Dermot O’Leary introduced the surprise, telling Coke that she was not there for a typical segment, as Coke reacted with a confused look before putting her hand to her heart.
“You are being recognized for the incredible work you do in your community,” O’Leary said.
Co-host Alison Hammond, who also hosts The Great British Baking Show, said, “Florence, you have won a Pride of Britain,” adding that she had been selected as This Morning’s Local Hero.
Coke raised a hand to her face and hugged Hammond.
Florence Coke ‘This Morning’ TV show, London, UKCredit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
“I am never lost for words, never! But oh my goodness when I was sat there with Alison and Dermot, I couldn’t speak,” the restaurant owner told the Mirror after the surprise. “I’m so happy, so overwhelmed.”
The Pride of Britain Awards, which took place on Oct. 19, honor “unsung heroes” who are nominated by the public and chosen via a judging panel, per the organization’s website.
Coke, a mother of two, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of three, is known as “Mama Flo” and is “treasured in her community,” per the Pride of Britain Awards site.
She owns a Caribbean takeout restaurant called Mama Flo’s, from which she often hands out food to those in need.
Coke gives out free lunches to children over summer break, which helps with a cost-of-living crisis, per the site, and hands out food to senior citizens for free over Christmas. She also provided meals during the pandemic.
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Coke told the organization that the initiative started when she saw kids in the neighborhood stealing food and invited them to her store for lunch.
She said she “can’t stop” giving out free food, adding that she hands out food and blankets to unhoused individuals.
“I provide for thousands of people because if they don’t have money, they still need to eat,” she told the organization.
“My cooking comes from pure love,” she added. “If I didn’t do it from my heart, I couldn’t still be doing it.”
Her daughter Selecia told the Mirror, “She started giving the kids free meals, care homes, hospices, domestic violence victims. You name it, she’d feed everyone.”
“If someone comes in and says they don’t have enough to pay, she always says it’s alright. If they come in and say ‘I’m hungry’ she’ll give them something,” she added.
Coke told the awards organization that her own parents were “very, very hardworking farmers” during her childhood in Jamaica.
“My parents would put out loads of plates to feed people in the community,” she said. “I grew up with this mentality of doing what I saw my parents do, so I’ve been doing this for years.”
According to the awards site, Mama Flo’s opened in 2013 and serves dishes like jerk chicken and curried goat. She told the Mirror that she makes every dish herself and wakes up at 4 a.m. to do so.
“The motivation that I get from helping people, it gives me that urge, that strength, that courage to keep going,” she told the outlet. “When you do come into my shop, I show you love. Share the love.”
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
