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Mr Broccoli unmasked: Vegetable climate change activist is a carpenter from Bristol called Roland

A "humble broccoli" that got into hot water with the police and Piers Morgan over climate change activism is today unmasked as a carpenter from Bristol - who says people should listen to scientists not man-sized vegetables.

Roland Everson, 46, a business owner and husband, became known as "Mr Broccoli" after footage of his arrest during Extinction Rebellion protests on Oxford Street - while dressed in a suit and tie, shades and a vegetable costume - went viral on social media.

It led to a string of appearances in the media, including a bizarre clash with Piers Morgan on the ITV Good Morning Britain sofa, who told him: “You would have a lot of attention through the way you dressed up for your cause, but to come on here and just be an idiot makes us think you’re just an idiot.”

But Mr Everson told the Standard: “Mr Broccoli is a tool to show how ridiculous the showcasing of this issue is.

Regular guy: Mr Broccoli has been unmasked as Roland Everson, 46, a business owner and husband from Bristol (Extinction Rebellion)
Regular guy: Mr Broccoli has been unmasked as Roland Everson, 46, a business owner and husband from Bristol (Extinction Rebellion)

"The media should be interviewing scientists, rather than giving time to broccoli. Mr Broccoli doesn't have the answers."

Mr Everson, who has previously demonstrated in the House of Commons with Extinction Rebellion, said he found his appearance on GMB "quite intimidating".

In the interview, he called Morgan "Peas" instead of Piers and faced a backlash for responding that he was "just a humble broccoli" when asked certain questions.

Explaining why he did this, he said: "Have you ever seen an interview with Piers Morgan?

"You can tell Piers it gets dark at night and he will shout you down. We decided not to let him do that to me."

The appearance led to "Mr Broccoli" trending on Twitter as he divided viewers' opinions.

Although now a vegan who backs Animal Rebellion which promotes plant-based lifestyles, Mr Everson was previously a keen hunter and fisherman.

Mr Everson works as a carpenter (Extinction Rebellion)
Mr Everson works as a carpenter (Extinction Rebellion)

But he said he quit those hobbies after he "woke up one day and thought ‘What am I doing?’”

He added that though he is not an expert, he believes from what he has read that a switch away from animal agriculture is a must for protecting the future of the planet.

He also no longer flies due to the impact of aviation.

Addressing the climate change issue, he said: "This is the most serious issue of our time - yet Mr Broccoli is getting attention. Change is coming, big change."

Explaining how he got into protesting, he said: "My whole life I've paid my taxes I've played by the rules. I'm a regular guy, but I feel I've got no choice."

His outfit was made for him by a friend previously and something he decided to wear when Animal Rebellion did a vegetable themed protest.

Asked about recent clashes between Extinction Rebellion activists and members of the public, most notably a scene at Canning Town, he said: "What happened on the tube was awful. It was incredibly upsetting."

However, he said he feels scenes like that could happen more often if radical impacts of climate change are not prevented.

Mr Everson said Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rebellion are both "built on love and peace".

After being arrested on Sunday, Mr Everson said he was released and told he would not be prosecuted.

The police action was "all a bit heated" but will not put him off further involvement, he said.

“I will continue to be involved and try to bring attention to this issue. We’re running out of time. We’re all in this together.”

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'Mr Broccoli' clashes with Piers Morgan as he touts vegan diet on GMB