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Daily Record
Entertainment
Magdalene Dalziel

This Morning hosts in tears as giant spud called 'Dug' sent to Scotland for world record DNA testing

A man who is bidding to dig out the record for the world's biggest potato is set to send his prize vegetable to Scotland for DNA testing.

Colin Craig Brown appeared on This Morning earlier today and had hosts Phillip Schofield and Rochelle Humes in tears at his discovery, which he has named Dug.

Colin appeared live from his home in Hamilton, New Zealand, which he shares with wife Jessica, where he detailed his giant discovery.

Presenters Phil and Rochelle revealed he'd found what is now thought to be the world's largest potato while he was weeding his vegetable garden last year.

The "flabbergasted" pair were then in fits of laughter as Colin told them about the potato, which tips the scales at a whopping 7.9 kilos.

And the stars couldn't hide their amazement at the tale as Colin went on to say the enormous spud, which weighs the same as an extra large turkey, could be making its way to Scotland for the official examination.

Referring to the vast veg as a "meteorite", Phil asked Colin what the Guinness Book of Records requires him to do to claim the big title.

Colin replied: "A bit of it got chopped and it's going to be sent down to the university in Christchurch and as far as i know it's going be DNA analysed there or somehow sent to Scotland to have it done."

Colin revealed the huge potato came about completely by accident.

He said: "We're accidental champions, we didn't grow it on purpose, it caught us totally underway.

"At first we thought it was a sweet potato, we'd grown them before but decided it couldn't be, it was too big and then we ummed and ahhed and I said we have to get it out of the ground, so I got a big garden fork and, like an angry viking , thrust into the ground and caught me a giant potato.

"The fork went in, I had a scratch and taste and said we've got ourselves a giant potato darlin'."

After a bemused Rochelle commented Dug the spud looked "a little mouldy", Colin replied: "He was dug up on August 30 so he's suffered the ravages of time.

"I just gave him a good wash and tidy up and chucked him in the freezer, he's not really mouldy, it's just the frost."

As the segment went on, the hilarity around the OITV studio continued as Phil queried whether Colin had put baby oil on his potato because it looked "shiny".

Colin replied: "No mate, just water or he goes frosty like he's been sitting out in the swamp."

The presenters had an expert on to discuss Doug's discovery, Scots businessman Alex Bartlett, the grandson of spud maestro Albert and director of Albert Bartlett potatoes,

Phil asked if he believed the vegetable could be a champion, and why it was so out of shape.

He said:"I've personally never seen a potato that big, hence why Colin is going for the world record.

"Potatoes are usually what you see in supermarkets, circular fresh potatoes, we take out knobbly bits before it comes to you.

"There could be a new variety that comes to the market soon called Dug."

As the hysterical part of the show was wound up, Colin revealed he had no plans to eat his find in the future.

He said: "I don't think I'll eat him, it'll be like eating a pet lamb, it would get stuck half way down.

"But I am thinking about turning him into vodka and we could all have a wake for him and toast him with his own vodka."

Phil replied: "It's getting a bit twisted now, what a way to start the show."

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