By Gillian Ellison

Last updated at 11:44, Thursday, 31 May 2012

FLAMBOYANT celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott is returning to Whitehaven for the Diamond Jubilee Festival.

flashback: Ainsley Harriott cooking on the harbour and mixing with the crowd when he was last at the Whitehaven Festival in 2009

And the Ready Steady Cook star, who is already a friend of the festival after coming to town in 2009, told The Whitehaven News: “I can’t believe I’m coming back and going down the harbourside again seeing Ricky (Andalcio, from Zest) and the guys, it’ll be great.”

He will be joining Jean-Christophe Novelli in creating some culinary delights as well as bringing flair and charm to the three-day event.

“I remember it being very relaxed last time and everyone was so grateful,” he said. “It’s a long haul up there but I really liked it and I really like that part of the country.”

On Ainsley’s first appearance at the festival he created a stir wherever he went with his colourful personality and booming laugh.

Alongside his television career, which has also included Can’t Cook Won’t Cook, he is also a number one best-selling author and has sold more than two million books worldwide.

Ainsley has had a couple of new books out recently from his My Kitchen Table series – 100 Great Chicken Recipes and 100 Meals in Minutes. He also recently put together a booklet and spearheaded the Government initiative Change For Life to encourage people to eat well, move more and live longer.

Just after his visit to Whitehaven, Ainsley will be going off to do some live cookery in Australia which he is looking forward to and he also travels the UK doing Anglo beef festivals.

As well as his demonstrations in Whitehaven, Ainsley will be meeting fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures. This year’s chef theatre will be in a seated marquee on the end of the Sugar Tongue with plasma screens on each side of the stage. The giant screen this year will be on the Bulwark Quay and feature live feed from the festival over the three-day event.

First published at 11:10, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk