Who appeared at our live cookery theatre stage in 2024
Take a look at our exciting celebrity chefs who made star appearances at the festival. A stella line up, our Saturday guests as Henry Firth & Ian Theasby, the visionary duo of Pioneering Plant Based Food – BOSH TV. TV Chef & Author Marcus Bean whose passion for cooking drove him to win Iron chef UK in 2010. Dan Hunter – Bake Off Finalist 2023 and TV Chef & Author Chris Bavin joined us as our weekend cookery theatre host.
Our Sunday line-up was TV presenter, author, food writer and award-winning restaurateur, Matt Tebbutt. Chef, author and entrepreneur, Cyrus Todiwala and food content creator, bestselling author and presenter, Meliz Berg.
OUR SPECTACULAR WEEKEND GUEST LINE UP
We had famous chefs and bakers from all over the UK
joining us, demonstrating their culinary delights!
Be the first to hear about our chef announcements
BOSH TV,
Henry Firth & Ian Theasby
Appeared Saturday
Meet Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, the visionary duo behind BOSH! They are not only renowned as the world’s biggest vegan and plant-based chefs but have also established an influential brand in the culinary landscape. Hailing from Sheffield and childhood friends, Henry and Ian combined their passion for plant-based food to embark on a remarkable journey.
Marcus Bean
TV Chef
& Author
Appeared Saturday
Self-taught chef, Marcus Bean, whose passion for cooking drove him to win Iron chef UK in 2010 on Channel 4. He’s lived in pubs since the age of 5 in and around Oxfordshire. At the age of 16 Marcus was working as a pig farmer, when his parents decided to up sticks and buy a pub in Shropshire. They asked him to move with them and help renovate and run their new pub.
Dan Hunter
Bake Off Finalist 2023
Appeared Saturday
Dan’s interest in cooking began when he went travelling in South America in 2007. His particular loves are pies and desserts: before he and his wife bought their first home, they lived with his in-laws, during which time his mother-in-law taught him how to make perfect shortcrust pastry.
Meliz Berg
Cook, Food Writer
& Author
Appeared Sunday
Meliz is a food content creator, best-selling author and presenter. Her first book Meliz’s Kitchen became an immediate Sunday Times Number 1 Bestseller when it was released in June 2022.
Due to her Turkish Cypriot heritage, Meliz is very passionate about developing the family recipes of her childhood which for years had only been passed down through oral tradition.
Matt Tebbutt,
TV Chef & Author
Appeared Sunday
Renowned British chef, TV presenter and food writer, Matt Tebbutt the current host of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen. Matt has been entertaining audiences with his culinary skills and knowledge since 2017.
In addition to his television work, Matt regularly contributes to several food publications including Waitrose Weekend and Olive Magazine, along with authoring several of his own cookbooks. He is one of the UK’s most popular chefs, and will bring his warm personality and passion for local ingredients and sustainable food practices to the Cookery Theatre on Sunday 21st April.
Cyrus Todiwala
Award-winning Chef & Author
Appeared Sunday
Cyrus Todiwala is a chef, author, educationist and entrepreneur. He is Co-Patron of Café Spice Namaste and Mr. Todiwala’s Kitchen in Lincoln Plaza London, part of the Hilton Curio Collection. Today, Café Spice Namaste remains the longest running Michelin BIB restaurant in the world.
Chris Bavin,
TV Chef & Author
Weekend Cookery
Theatre Host
Since a TV production company first stumbled across him in 2011 he has gone from strength to strength and is co-presenter of BBC1’s hugely successful series Eat Well for Less? with Gregg Wallace. The show has had incredible ratings and the accompanying book is a best seller.
Latest festival news
Dates announced for Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2025
Food fans are encouraged to save the date for the return of one of the region’s biggest food festivals. Durham County Council has confirmed Bishop Auckland
Crowds flock to Bishop Auckland to enjoy taste of popular food festival
Thousands flocked to this weekend’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival, where celebrity chefs, tasty treats, and family fun were all on the menu. More than 150 stalls
Bishop Auckland Food Festival is back this weekend! Here’s all you need to know
Bishop Auckland Food Festival returns to the town this weekend, bringing celebrity chefs, street food traders, live entertainment, and fun family activities. The festival, organised by
More than 150 traders confirmed for Bishop Auckland Food Festival
Curries, crepes, cocktails and mocktails will be among the mouthwatering delights on offer at next weekend’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival. Durham County Council, which organises the
Enjoy a jam-packed weekend -
why not plan ahead?
The food festival brings together traders and producers from across the region to sell their delicious treats. Soak up the atmosphere with live music and attractions and buy lots of goodies to take home too.
