SpongeBob SquarePants is top fantasy dinner guest for Brits
SpongeBob SquarePants has come out as the number one fantasy dinner party guest for Brits in a survey carried out by HelloFresh UK and streaming platform Paramount+.
SpongeBob SquarePants has been voted the number one fantasy dinner guest by Brits.
The burger-flipping animated sea dweller received 16 percent of the vote beating the likes of The Godfather trilogy Mafia boss Michael Corleone (14 percent) and South Park's Eric Cartman (8 percent).
The survey was carried out by recipe box delivery service HelloFresh UK and streaming platform Paramount+ which revealed a whopping 63 percent of Brits have looked up recipes inspired by their favourite shows.
With streaming going from strength to strength, the research found we rely on series and films more than other popular platforms when it comes to meal inspiration; with over half (55 percent) saying shows and films they watch influence what they have eaten for dinner, with social media (49 percent) and magazines and newspapers (31 percent) coming just behind.
With cult classics like Mean Girls and SpongeBob SquarePants still proving popular, the research revealed that over half (56 percent) of the nation reach for nostalgic comfort food after watching childhood favourites, proving that TV doesn’t just inspire what we cook, it stirs emotion too.
In terms of generational divides, younger Gen Zs take the most culinary inspiration from comedies (39 percent) and cartoons (31 percent), while those between 25-34, dubbed ‘zillennials’, pointed to reality TV (42 percent) as their biggest inspiration.
Psychologist Jo Hemmings - who teamed up with HelloFreshUK and Paramount+ to analyse these findings further - said: ‘”It’s no surprise that Brits are inspired by what they watch when it comes to their food choices. Humans are wired to respond to visual cues and emotional triggers; food is more than just taste and smell, and what we yearn for in our daily dishes is intrinsically linked to what we see."
The research celebrates the new HelloFresh UK and Paramount+ partnership which will see the release of a new limited-time range of over 50 series and Film-inspired meals, including a SpongeBob SquarePants Krispy Katsu Burger, a Mobland Irish beef hot pot and Mean Girls ‘On Wednesdays We Wear Pink’ Risotto.
Mimi Morley from HelloFresh UK said: "It’s fascinating to uncover this connection between what we eat and what we watch as a nation, with entertainment such as TV shows and films clearly sparking our curiosity in the kitchen.
"Food has always been about storytelling, every recipe carries a sense of place, mood, or moment and TV helps bring those emotions to life. That’s why we’re so excited to see what our customers think of the delicious menu we’ve cooked up in partnership with the Paramount+ team, inspired by this strong connection to deliver great taste, quality, and shared experiences at home this winter."
Anna Priest - Senior Vice President, Head of Paramount+ UK & Ireland - added: "We’re so excited to bring this first-of-its-kind collaboration to life in the UK. It’s a fun and creative way to connect with people — pairing the stories we love with the meals we share.
"Working with HelloFresh UK, we’re making cosy nights in more special - a celebration of great food, great content and the joy of spending time together.”
For a limited time only customers can get 3 months of Paramount+ on HelloFresh when you pay and receive 3 HelloFresh boxes between 25.10.25 and 19.12.25.
For more information visit the HelloFresh website.
