MASTERCHEF and Bake Off competitors will join magicians, chefs and food producers as Didcot’s food festival returns in late October.

The Didcot Food Festival will take place in the town’s civic hall, and this year has been extended to two days: Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27.

Now in its fourth year, the food festival has indoor space for more than 50 artisan traders, the Kid’s Kooking Zone, chef’s theatre and vintage tea room.

Former Great British Bake Off quarter finalist Christine Wallace will be doing a joint demonstration with fellow former contestant Howard Middleton.

Ali Imdad who was on the programme with Christine and Howard will also be showing how he is influenced by flavours from his travels and his culture.

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Oxfordshire chef Nick Bennett who reached the final of MasterChef The Professionals in 2015 is also set to demonstrate his cooking skills.

The show will be opened at 10.30am on, October 26 by magical duo Morgan and West who will be combining an act of magic and a love of food.

Rhys Morgan said:: “Our opening at this year’s Didcot Food Festival will be “bafflemint” mixed with a hint of amazement and a generous dollop of laughter.”

Oxford Mail:

GBBO contestant Christine Wallace and Jeanette Howse promoting Didcot Food Festival. Picture: Richard Cave.

Other chefs include Joe McCarthy from the award winning Wychwood Inn at Shipton-under-Wychwood.

John Van Nielerk from the newly opened Hilton Garden Inn in Abingdon will be showcasing the hotel’s Mediterranean and South African influenced menu.

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Nawamin Pinpathomrat, a research doctor who reached the final of the 2018 MasterChef, will be cooking a crab dish inspired by flavours from Thailand combined with Cornish crab.

Former That’s Life presenter and now BBC Radio Berkshire presenter Bill Buckley will be showing his love of cooking.

Bill said: “I’m most looking forward to re-uniting with those who were there last year - the other cooks, the backstage crew and the wonderfully enthusiastic audience - and to making some new culinary friends.”

New for this year will be two master classes on butchery skills and chocolate making.

Yvonne Everest from Chocolate Genie will demonstrate how easy it is to make a chocolate basket with dipped marshmallows on October 26 at 1pm.

Colin Gilbey and Ken Jacks will be showing people how easy it is to joint and bone a chicken on October 27 at 1pm.

Early bird tickets are on sale at Didcot’s Orchard Centre, the Didcot Civic Hall or online at didcotevents.co.uk/didcot_food_festival