Ahead of the UK launch of his latest feature film, The Duke (in cinemas 25th February), Jim Broadbent, along with his producer Nicky Bentham, visited the tea rooms of film partner, Tetley Tea, to unveil a new, limited-edition ‘Kempton Bunton’s Breakfast Blend’ in honour of the man whose story inspired the film. To celebrate, the special blend will the available for 100 community heroes, nominated by the British public, to win.

The Duke stars Jim alongside fellow Oscar-winner, Helen Mirren. It tells the priceless true story of 60-year-old taxi driver, Kempton Bunton, who admitted to the theft of Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London, 1961.

It was the first, and only, theft in the gallery’s 169-year history and made news headlines all over the world. Kempton sent ransom notes saying he would return the painting on one condition: the Government must invest in care for the elderly, including support for his long campaign to give free television licences to pensioners.

The quintessential British comedy-drama is about how we are all connected. The British love of tea shines through, and tea features in over 20 scenes, with Jim and Helen even dancing to Binnie Hale’s song, ‘I like a Nice Cup of Tea’, in one heart-warming scene.

Now, with the nation’s love for tea seeing around 165 million cups consumed every day, Jim and Nicky have taken a crop-to-cup journey with Tetley Master Blender, Sebastian Michalis, to find out more about the limited-edition blend inspired by Kempton.

The extra-special bespoke blend won’t be hitting supermarket shelves. Instead, Brits can nominate their unsung community heroes on Tetley UK’s Facebook page to win one of 100 limited-edition edition ‘Kempton Bunton’s Breakfast Blend’. Whether that’s a neighbour that was always on hand these past two years, a friend that helps the community out, or a teacher that changes lives – say thank you by entering them into the competition.

There are more than 1,500 different varieties of tea and Sebastian can taste and grade any one of them in just 15 seconds. Together, the tea-loving trio discussed the different flavours and aromas of teas from around the world, and how much care and attention goes in to blending a great quality cup.

Blending tea is a fine art, similar to blending champagne or whiskey, and at Tetley it has its own unique tea tasting language called “Uhuru”. This allows Tetley tasters and blenders to describe and grade the quality of the tea, including its ‘sparkle’, ‘colour’, ‘body’ and ‘zing’.

The limited-edition ‘Kempton Bunton’s Breakfast Blend’ is itself described and graded as bright and golden, delightfully malty and full-bodied, leaving tastebuds tingling.

The Duke Film Producer Nicky said: “The film itself is about communities coming together. It’s based on a true story about the UK’s first art heist from the national gallery and at the time it was a big international scandal. The government thought it was a big criminal gang but actually it was a retired bus driver from Newcastle called Kempton Bunton. He had taken the painting for his own social justice campaign, so it’s really a story of an ordinary man who did an extraordinary thing – a local hero!”

Discussing the film’s partnership with Tetley, Jim said: “It has been a joy to be part of The Duke. The whole story has such a strong message which the writers have told beautifully. Kempton put his head above the parapet for the good of others because it was in his nature to look out for everyone. Like the Bunton blend of tea – bold, lively and full of guts. That’s why I’m also so excited to be giving something back to our national’s local heroes. And I must say, the Bunton blend is delicious!”

To be in with the chance to WIN a limited-edition caddy of Kempton Bunton’s Breakfast Blend all consumers need to do is comment who their unsung community hero is and why, under one of the giveaway social media posts by TetleyUK on Facebook and Instagram. Every comment counts as an entry, and the giveaway is running from 10am on 21st February 2022 to 7th March 2022. T&C’s apply, Full T&Cs via the link here.

Master Tea Blender, Sebastian Michaelis, said: “Kempton cared for the community as much as we at Tetley care about our tea and our nation, so we felt the partnership was a perfect fit and wanted to do something special to celebrate the film he inspired. That’s why we developed the limited-edition ‘Kempton Bunton’s Breakfast Blend’ and took Jim and Nicky on the crop-to-cup journey with us. Bright, golden, malty and full-bodied, the blend mirrors the strong and caring personality shown by the man himself.”

As for the secret to the perfect cup of this special blend, Michaelis concludes: “Add one teaspoon of loose tea to your strainer or teapot and brew in hot water for three minutes to enjoy our version of this timeless British brew.”