Aldo Zilli is an award-winning Italian chef, restaurateur, author, and television personality renowned for his passion for authentic Italian cuisine and his larger-than-life personality. Originally from the Abruzzo region of Italy, Aldo has spent decades championing simple, seasonal cooking through his acclaimed London restaurants, bestselling cookbooks, and regular television appearances. A charismatic live performer and much-loved face on the UK food scene, Aldo is known for combining traditional Italian flavours with warmth, humour, and infectious enthusiasm, inspiring home cooks to create delicious, accessible dishes full of Mediterranean flair.

Cherish Finden is an internationally acclaimed pastry chef celebrated for her precision, creativity, and show-stopping dessert designs. Born in Singapore, she trained in some of the country’s leading hotels before bringing her talents to London, where she quickly rose to the top of the pastry world. As Executive Pastry Chef at The Langham London, Cherish earned widespread acclaim for her exquisite afternoon teas and intricately crafted patisserie, combining technical mastery with bold artistic flair. Her work consistently pushes the boundaries of modern dessert presentation. A familiar face on television, Cherish is best known as a judge on Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals, where her exacting standards and expert palate have made her a standout. At a food festival, she brings elegance, inspiration, and world-class expertise—offering audiences a rare chance to experience the artistry and precision behind truly exceptional pastry.

Ching He Huang is an internationally acclaimed chef, bestselling author, and television presenter known for bringing modern Chinese cuisine to a global audience. Raised in the UK with Taiwanese heritage, she combines authentic flavours with contemporary techniques, making Chinese cooking accessible, fresh, and exciting. Through her popular TV shows and cookbooks, Ching inspires home cooks to embrace bold ingredients and simple methods, celebrating the richness and diversity of Asian food culture.

Nicknamed the “Yummy Brummie,” Glynn is chef-patron of Purnell’s, the Michelin-starred restaurant that put Birmingham firmly on the UK’s culinary map. Glynn is one of the UK’s most influential and charismatic chefs, celebrated for his bold flavours and uncompromising approach to modern British cooking. With a career defined by creativity, craftsmanship, and individuality, Glynn is also a familiar television personality and cookbook author. Known for his straight-talking style and infectious energy, he is a hugely engaging presence at food festivals, inspiring audiences with passion, personality, and platefuls of flavour.

Gok Wan is a renowned British fashion stylist, presenter, and chef who grew up working in his family’s Chinese restaurant. He has championed simple, home-style Chinese cooking through books like Gok Cooks Chinese and Gok's Wok, promoting a "Chinese Basket of Love" (staple pantry ingredients) for healthy, fast, and accessible Asian cuisine

Jane Dunn is the bestselling baker, author, and creator behind the hugely popular Jane’s Patisserie brand. Known for her fun, accessible, and indulgent recipes, Jane has inspired millions of home bakers through her viral social media content, chart-topping cookbooks, and live TV appearances. From iconic NYC cookies to showstopping cheesecakes, her easy-to-follow approach and love of baking have made her one of the UK’s most recognisable baking personalities.

José Pizarro is one of the UK’s most celebrated Spanish chefs, renowned for bringing the authentic flavours and warmth of Spain to British audiences. Often described as the ‘Godfather of Spanish Cuisine’ in the UK, José has spent more than two decades championing simple, seasonal cooking through his acclaimed restaurants, bestselling cookbooks, and television appearances. Originally from Extremadura, his food is inspired by the traditions, produce, and generous hospitality of his homeland, combining rustic Spanish flavours with a passion for sharing great food. A regular face on programmes including Saturday Kitchen, This Morning, and Sunday Brunch, José continues to inspire home cooks with his accessible approach and infectious enthusiasm for Spanish cuisine.

Joseph Nesbitt-Larking is a chef, live-fire cooking expert, and food educator with a passion for helping people cook confidently over fire. After spending nearly a decade co-running one of the UK's leading barbecue schools, Joseph went on to head the lunch service at the Michelin-starred Hegel Eins in Stuttgart, refining his craft while continuing to champion exceptional seasonal produce. Now travelling internationally to host live-fire demonstrations and barbecue events, Joseph combines expert technique with an engaging, down-to-earth style, inspiring cooks of all abilities to embrace the versatility, flavour, and theatre of cooking over flame.

Lisa Goodwin-Allen is one of the UK’s most celebrated chefs, renowned for her elegant, produce-led cooking and modern British style. She is the executive chef of Northcote, the Michelin-starred restaurant where she has helped shape its culinary reputation for over two decades. Known for her meticulous technique and deep respect for seasonal ingredients, Lisa has become a leading voice in British gastronomy. A familiar face on television and a passionate mentor to young chefs, she brings warmth, inspiration, and exceptional flavour to every stage she steps onto.

Marcus Bean is a chef, presenter and food writer known for his passion for bold flavours, accessible cooking and bringing people together through great food. A familiar face on television, Marcus has appeared on shows including Saturday Kitchen, This Morning and The One Show, sharing his love of cooking with audiences across the UK. With a focus on seasonal ingredients, simple techniques and food full of flavour, Marcus inspires home cooks to get creative in the kitchen.

Neil Rankin is one of the UK’s leading pioneers of live-fire and barbecue cooking, renowned for his bold, flavour-driven approach to food and his passion for exceptional ingredients. Originally a science graduate, Neil retrained as a chef at 29, going on to work at Michelin level before opening a string of acclaimed London restaurants including Pitt Cue, John Salt, Smokehouse, and the celebrated Temper restaurants.

Smokehouse, and the celebrated Temper restaurants. Widely recognised as a global authority on BBQ and meat cookery, Neil is an award-winning author, columnist, and familiar face on UK television. His work has helped shape the modern fire-cooking movement in Britain, championing smoke, flame, and expertly sourced produce.

Alongside his restaurant career, Neil is deeply committed to sustainability and the future of food. This passion led him to launch Symplicity Foods, a pioneering plant-based food brand creating natural, chef-led meat alternatives used by some of the UK’s best restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs.

Paul A. Young is one of the UK’s most celebrated master chocolatiers and pâtissiers, famed for his bold creativity and boundary-pushing approach to flavour. Originally trained as a pastry chef in prestigious kitchens - including Marco Pierre White’s Quo Vadis and Criterion - he turned his focus to chocolate in the mid-2000s, quickly making his mark on the industry.

In 2006, he founded Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates in Camden Passage, London, earning widespread acclaim for his inventive, experimental creations. Now focused on education, he shares his expertise through “Chocolate At Home” masterclasses and consultancy, inspiring a new generation of chocolate lovers.

An award-winning author, his book Adventures with Chocolate was named World’s Best Chocolate Book at the Gourmand Cookbook Awards, alongside other popular titles. A regular on shows such as Saturday Kitchen and Junior MasterChef, Paul brings passion, personality, and a taste of true artisan chocolate to every stage - making him a must-see at any food festival.

Ping stunned the MasterChef judges with food inspired by her Malaysian heritage to become MasterChef 2014 Champion. She took the famous trophy home again, winning BBC MasterChef Champion of Champions in 2022, becoming the first double MasterChef Champion.

Growing up in Ipoh, Malaysia surrounded by amazing food, Ping was inspired by her mother’s cookery. Now living in the UK and travelling globally, she draws inspiration from her heritage but delivers her food with modern twists and ingredients found locally.

Ping regularly hosts supper clubs and events across the country, including her hometown of Bath at venues including Bertinet Kitchen, as well as masterclasses at her Ping at Home Kitchen, and Divertimenti Cookery School. She’s currently working on her next book to showcase the wonderful food of Malaysia.

Shivi Ramoutar is a vibrant chef, food writer, and broadcaster celebrated for her joyful approach to Caribbean cooking. Drawing on her Trinidadian heritage, she creates bold, flavour-packed dishes that honour tradition while embracing modern creativity. Since her appearance on MasterChef, Shivi has been a regular on our screens, making appearances on Saturday Kitchen, This Morning before fronting the series Jimmy and Shivi’s Farmhouse Breakfast, alongside Jimmy Doherty. She’s known for her warmth, energy, and infectious love of spice, giving traditional Caribbean recipes a modern twist and making them family friendly.

Thuy Diem Pham is a bestselling author, chef, and widely recognised authority on Vietnamese cuisine in the UK. Formerly head chef and restaurateur of London’s acclaimed The Little Viet Kitchen, she became known for blending refined restaurant technique with the warmth and soul of home-style Vietnamese cooking. Since stepping beyond her award-winning restaurant, Thuy has captivated audiences at food festivals and on television, including MasterChef UK. She is the author of three cookbooks, the bestselling The Little Viet Kitchen and Vietnamese Made Easy, and her brand new release, One Pan Vietnam. Through her writing, broadcasting, and consultancy work, she continues to make authentic Vietnamese food approachable, vibrant, and deeply personal for today’s cooks.

Tom Kerridge is one of the UK’s most popular chefs, celebrated for his bold, modern take on classic comfort food. He rose to national acclaim as chef-patron of The Hand and Flowers - the first pub in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars - renowned for its refined yet deeply satisfying dishes. He later expanded his success with ventures including The Coach.

A familiar and much-loved face on television, Tom has appeared on Great British Menu, Saturday Kitchen, and his own hit series, bringing his down-to-earth style and passion for great food to audiences nationwide. He is also a bestselling author, known for cookbooks that combine big flavours with practical, accessible recipes.

At a food festival, Tom Kerridge delivers an unforgettable experience - full of energy, warmth, and seriously delicious food - sharing his love of bold flavours, great ingredients, and feel-good cooking with every crowd he meets.