When Robert Marshall is not tucking into bowl after bowl of bread-and-butter pudding, he will probably be talking about it.

His love of the school dinner staple has won him a starring role in a high-profile TV advertising campaign.

Robert, 29, from Hove, was chosen from 1,000 hopefuls to appear in Marks & Spencer's new Food Love commercials after bowling over the firm with his enthusiasm for its desserts.

He was even paid £250 in food vouchers for his efforts - and there are no prizes for guessing where the money will go.

Robert, who works for Worthing-based telecommunications firm Comms Factory, was invited to audition for the advert when his friend Martin Buckwell's girlfriend turned down the chance.

Robert, of Brunswick Terrace, said: "The researchers had been looking for young M&S fans. Martin asked me because he knew I love food.

"A researcher came to our flat and started to ask questions like what our favourite food was.

"It was really fun. It was just a mate and me sitting on a sofa talking about food on a film set.

"We got paid for doing the ad and got £250-worth of food vouchers, which is just golden.

"I'm a big fan of desserts and there's an M&S food hall in Brighton station.

"When I come back from work I grab some food there because they have all these school-style desserts, like spotted dick and apple crumble. I love that kind of thing.

"My favourite savoury dish is corned beef, cooked by my dad, but for dessert it has to be M&S bread and butter pudding. You can't beat it."

Although both friends talked through the filming session in London, the producers focused on an enthusiastic rant by Robert.

Robert said: "I haven't seen the commercial yet but I do all the talking. Martin mainly just says, 'Yeah'."

The advert shows Robert saying: "Going to Marks & Spencer is like having your mum come round and she leaves stuff in your fridge."

Martin replies: "But she hasn't tidied up your kitchen."

M&S spokeswoman Clare Wilkes said: "It was based on people's personalities.

"We whittled the numbers down to five couples and a single person, who were all just regular shoppers.

"Casting decisions were made on whether they were able to articulate what they thought and if they shone through on camera.

"There's a real cross-section of people in the adverts. There are young and old shoppers from different parts of the country."

Robert and Martin met in Amsterdam five years ago while working for the same company.

Robert moved to Hove in January while Martin now lives in London.