Sunderland washing machine superfan Teddy becomes Currys store manager for the day

Earlier this month, we reported on how Teddy Gillespie, from Red House, loves the household appliance so much that a trip to Curry’s in Deptford is one of his favourite things to do.

Mam, Rachael Atkinson, posted about Teddy’s fascination with washing machines on her TikTok, which went on to be viewed hundreds of thousands of times - including by the Curry’s UK social media team.

Staff were so charmed by his enthusiasm that they decided to give him the kind of day most adults could only dream of: full managerial control of the appliance department.

Arriving in store in his miniature Tech Expert polo shirt and bespoke name badge, Teddy marched in with all the authority of a seasoned manager.

He kicked off his shift in a “very important” morning meeting, followed by a packed schedule that included conducting appliance inspections with serious focus, highlighting his favourite deals to amused customers, and offered staff plenty of spirited “manager instructions” throughout the day.

Mam-of-two, Rachael, said: “Teddy has been fascinated by washing machines for as long as I can remember; there is something about the spinning motion that he finds deeply satisfying.

“When I first shared his interest on TikTok, I never imagined that he would become such a viral sensation and bag himself an invitation from Currys to be a store manager for the day.

It was amazing to watch his natural reactions to many machines in one place, even commenting on how 'beautiful' they were. It’s truly magical to witness the pure joy he feels, he even reluctant to leave after his shift had finished, that I’ve already promised him a return trip to Currys very soon."

Ben Gillespie, Teddy’s dad, added: “He was in his absolute element, talking about spin speeds, pressing buttons and giving everyone little ‘manager’ commands. Seeing him treated like a real Store Manager was incredibly special.

“The team went above and beyond to make his day magical. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since and can’t wait to return!”

Lara Brittain, Category Director at Currys, said: “Teddy’s passion for washing machines is legendary. When we saw the viral TikTok, we knew we had to bring him back for the ultimate Currys experience.

“Watching him take charge, and loving every second, brought absolute joy to the whole team. He’s welcome back anytime he likes to inspect and manage our washing machine department!”

The full video of Teddy’s Day as Store Manager can be seen here