A mum-of-five with Alzheimer's is set to star in a Channel 4 restaurant experiment.
Shelley Sheppard, from New Ollerton was the head chef at a restaurant staffed completely by people who have been diagnosed with a form of dementia.
The 45-year-old, who previously worked a shift at Nottingham Pieminster to regain her 'sense of purpose', says this latest experiment really helped her confidence.
The 14 brave volunteers, including Shelley, agreed to work for Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton in the five-week trial, MirrorOnline reports.
Celeb guests including comic David Baddiel and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville were invited to try out the aptly named Restaurant That Makes Mistakes.
But while they may routinely forget the name of the place and the service may occasionally falter, the experiment had a dramatic impact on volunteers’ symptoms.
“I feel loads better,”Shelley, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 43, said.
“When I was diagnosed my confidence was zero, I was depressed.
“Cooking was always my biggest challenge. I was burning everything, forgetting I had pans on.
"But I was head chef at the restaurant and my confidence has gone right up. I loved it.
“It was tough working with people with dementia, all trying to help each other but forgetting things – there ended up being a lot more pot washing!”
The mum-of-five was devastated by her diagnosis, which came after she lost six stone through dieting and began having dizzy spells.
“Scans showed I’d been having silent strokes. I couldn’t believe it was Alzheimer’s,” says Shelley.
But last May, she renewed her vows with 50-year-old husband Paul, whom she wed 17 years ago.
“I can’t remember the day,” says Shelley. “But I remember the feeling and I remember Paul crying as I walked down the aisle.”
Shelley, seen blowing out the candles on her 45th birthday cake in the show, adds: “Being there gave me my life back. To have friends who know what you’re going through takes the loneliness away.”
Alzheimer’s Society chief Jeremy Hughes said: “Life doesn’t end when dementia begins. The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes is a fantastic example.”
- The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes starts Wednesday on Channel 4 at 9pm. Head here to get involved
