Two more celebrity chefs have been announced as part of a popular food festival set to return to the region next month.

A MasterChef champion and Great British Bake Off runner-up will be among the Sunday headliners at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival.

Kenny Tutt, the MasterChef 2018 winner, and Sandro Farmhouse, a runner-up on last year's Great British Bake Off, have been announced as guests at the food festival. 

They will join other stars of the food world - like Phil Vickery, Rachel Allen, and Janusz Domagala. 

Read more: Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2023 includes Bake Off guests

The Northern Echo: Kenny Tutt won MasterChef in 2018. Kenny Tutt won MasterChef in 2018. (Image: Durham County Council)

The festival, run by Durham County Council, pulled in a record 30,000 visitors last year and returns to the town on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 April.

A weekend of delicious food and fantastic entertainment is in store, with some well-known faces taking to the stage for demonstrations throughout.

Kenny co-founded PITCH Restaurant & Cookery School with his wife Lucy in his hometown of Worthing just a year after winning the prestigious MasterChef champion title.

Kenny will share Sunday’s stage with Great British Bake Off 2022 runner-up, Sandro Farmhouse.

The Northern Echo: Sandro Farmhouse was a runner up on the Great British Bake Off 2022.Sandro Farmhouse was a runner up on the Great British Bake Off 2022. (Image: Durham County Council)

For more quality journalism, subscribe to The Northern Echo for £1.50 a week here. 

A passionate baker, Sandro has dedicated his free time to creating show-stopping cakes and desserts, winning the hearts of foodies everywhere.

Details of all of the food traders, family entertainment, and cookery workshops are set to be announced very soon.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Year after year we bring a fantastic line-up of celebrity chef guests to Bishop Auckland Food Festival and this year’s line-up is a real treat.

Read next: 

“We’re delighted to add Kenny and Sandro to our Sunday programme along with Janusz who, along with our wonderful presenter Chris Bavin, will be with us for both days. With Saturday’s guests, Phil and Rachel, that completes the line-up and what a line-up it is!

“With these kinds of names we’re expecting to pull in visitors from far and wide, which is great for the town. We’ve got lots still to come, and it won’t be long before we can share full details of the traders, workshops and entertainment.

“It’s all shaping up very nicely indeed. Bishop Auckland Food Festival is one of the highlights of our events calendar and a big part of our ambitions for Durham as the culture county.”