Nirvan (Niv) Barua, a 25 year old from Brighton, morphed his hobby of reviewing meal deals into a viral sensation during lockdown whilst clocking in at Tesco, splurging an eye-watering £1,890 on his passion.

He says he has covered more than 500 of the two million meal deal combinations but has worked out the best and worst picks.

Now a full-time social media star, Niv enthused: "People just love the meal deal, lunchtime is absolutely crazy in the shops now.

"I think in general a meal deal is good value for money, but they should include bigger fruit portions.

"Plus they've gone up more than inflation and that's a huge shame.

"I think the meal deal has been such a win with Brits because it's so efficient and avoids lots of decision making.

"The meal deal is basically like ripping off a band aid: you don't think about it, you just do it.

"I often wonder who thought of it: it has made trillions."

His TikTok crowd, boasting over 300,000 followers, flock to his tips, where he touts a triple, all-day breakfast, or a club sandwich as the shrewdest buy – tasty, satisfying, yet easy on the wallet.

For those desiring a premium touch, Niv suggests the Tesco £5 sushi is a steal for a decent, affordable feast.

A chicken Caesar wrap is filling but less stodgy than a sandwich, Niv said, and Tesco Brie bacon and smoked chilli jam is a tasty, more exotic, option, he said.

Niv's own favourite is a sausage bacon and egg triple, sausage roll side, and cola.

A plain ham sandwich topped his 'worst' list, followed by egg and cress, and then the cheese triple.

He explained: "My best bang for buck options maximise the amount of food you're getting for the same money, so as many fillings as possible and, where possible, three sandwiches instead of just two.

"My sausage roll side is much more filling than a bag of crisps, and I go for the full sugar cola to get the most energy out of it.

"It might sound crazy but this favourite meal deal of mine is actually the nation's favourite.

"I just think if you buy plain ham or plain cheese you're not getting much for your money, and it's not as tasty: you might as well go for the most full, most flavoursome option for your money."

He shared that shops are now drafting in extra staff during the lunchtime rush to adapt with the meal deal popularity.

Niv believes that tradespeople and secondary-school students are the main consumers snapping up meal deals.

Niv was recently invited on Joe Swash's 'Meal Deals: Behind the Bargain' which aired early this month on Chanel 4 to talk about the nations lunches.

The presenter heads around the country speaking to influencers and supermarkets to unpack the British obsession with the meal deal.

Niv, who uses the RateMyMealDeal hashtag which has over 20 million views, loved being on the show.

He said that Joe Swash's go-to meal deal of a ham sandwich, ready salted crisps, and a bottle of water is "diabolical".

Gobsmacked by the choice, he added: "It was very funny! I was so shocked.

"I honestly can't think of anything with less flavour."

He expressed delight in being part of the show: "It's a great show and I felt honoured to be asked on."

According to Niv, your meal deal selection can reveal much about who you are.

Elaborating, he said indulging in a triple all-day breakfast, sausage roll and full sugar cola suggests a "fun-loving type who embraces all the richness of life".

On the flip side, opting for a simple ham or cheese sarnie, boiled egg, and water could imply you're treading "too safe", Niv speculates.

Niv's quintessential top three picks include an indulgent all-day breakfast triple sarnie, sausage roll, full sugar cola, a Chicken Caesar wrap paired with a scotch egg and protein shake, and the healthier combo of Sushi, fruit pot, and smoothie.

In stark contrast, Niv's least favoured options are bland selections like a ham, egg and cress, or cheese sandwich accompanied by ready salted crisps/boiled egg and plain water.