The Chronicle

Weekend food festival to feature Bake Off semi-finalist

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A Great British Bake Off favourite has just been announced as the latest addition to the celebrity line-up of a huge North East food festival which attracts around 27,000 people a year.

Briony May Williams – who is a Durham University graduate – reached the semi-finals of the Channel 4 baking competitio­n last year, winning viewers’ hearts with her personalit­y and imaginativ­e culinary creations.

And the mum-of-one will be showcasing some of her eye-catching recipes when she joins the programme of the two-day Bishop Auckland Food Festival when it makes its return this spring from April 13-14.

The Great British Bake Off contestant, who lives in Bristol, said she “cannot wait” to head back north.

“I went to university in Durham so the area holds a very special place in my heart,” she said. “Expect to see some fun and exciting baking tips from me alongside delicious treats!”

Already celebrity chef and MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has been announced as the star attraction of the food festival while other celebrity cooks who will be making an appearance over its two days will be actress and restaurate­ur Jennie McAlpine and reigning BBC MasterChef champion Kenny Tutt.

And other well-known faces will be TV presenters Angellica Bell and Stefan Gates.

Bell, a regular on The One Show and co-presenter of ITV’s The Martin Lewis Money Show, was the 2017 winner of Celebrity MasterChef and will be preparing dishes during the festival’s Saturday slot from her children’s recipe book Fantastic Eats! Gates, author and presenter of food science shows as well as CBBC Gastronuts and Incredible Edibles, will be hosting slots on both days.

Those wanting to see Williams, meanwhile, can catch up with her as she demonstrat­es some of her favourite recipes at the festival’s free Market Place stage on the Saturday.

The Durham County Council event, which last year is said to have boosted the local economy by more than £530,000, is an opportunit­y for food lovers to watch, learn from and even meet celebrated food experts and explore a huge range of food stalls. This year more than 150 traders will be showcasing local produce and internatio­nal dishes.

Entry to the festival is free but tickets have to be bought online for the celebrity chef demonstrat­ions.

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