TV chef Rosemary Shrager will be showing off her cooking skills live to visitors at a County Durham food festival this summer.
The popuar cook and haute cuisine expert - who was a former contestant on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here - will be a headline attraction at Seaham Food Festival when it makes a return to the coast following last year's Covid cancellation.
And local visitors will also recognise Mike Bartley, the recent Masterchef semi-finalist from Bishop Auckland, who will be taking part in the festival on both days of its run.
Read more: the quarantine hotel where businessman had £1,750 'nightmare' stay
The free food showcase - complemented by live music, street theatre and children's activities - will take place on the August 7-8 weekend with around 100 traders and producers as well as cookery demonstrations in an outdoor theatre.
It's there that Shrager will be entertaining the crowd and she said: "It has been such a difficult year for everyone so I cannot wait to visit Seaham Food Festival and take part in some cookery demonstrations with the visitors.
“It’s also really exciting to see what the local traders and producers have on offer and to be out and about enjoying fresh fare and fine flavours from all over.”
The chef, who won a whole new generation of fans with her 2012 apperance on I'm a Celebrity where she proved she could cook anything anywhere, has helped entertain families during lockdown by live-streaming cookery demonstrations to encourage creativity in the kitchen.
She was also recently involved in Netflix show Best Leftovers Ever and a few months ago worked with the Seaham festival's organisers Durham County Council on a virtual food and drink event to help support local traders.
She added: “I am delighted to be spending time on the County Durham coast this summer."
The free festival is a key part of the council’s events programme and the hope is that it will both bring communities together and boost the local economy, including the hospitality and retail businesses hard hit by the pandemic.
The last Seaham Food Festival in 2019 attracted more than 15,000 people but this year Covid safety will be paramount, with Government guidance being followed throughout.
Mike Bartley is looking forward to playing his part, having been inspired to become involved in this year's Masterchef 2021 by a visit to Bishop Auckland Food Festival - another council event and one where Shrager also happens to have appeared in 2017.
Following his Masterchef appearance, Mike, 35, set up food blog Djam Kitchen to share his passion for using local produce and foraged ingredients.
He said: “It’s incredible to think that, just two years ago, a visit to Bishop Auckland Food Festival gave me the courage to apply for Masterchef and now I’m one of the chefs taking part at Seaham.
"It’s a real honour."
He said he is “so excited" to take part and have the chance to talk to people and promote local produce.
“Hopefully, visiting Seaham Food Festival will help inspire more future chefs," he added.
Coun Elizabeth Scott said festivals will play a crucial role in the county’s recovery from the pandemic and hopes that visitors from slightly further afield will be encouraged to come too, adding that work is underway to ensure that everyone will feel confident about attending.
For more information about the festival keep an eye out here.
