ACTRESS turned Celebrity MasterChef winner Lisa Faulker always struck me as a genuine food fan who happily honed basic culinary talents into something special.

She’s coming to the Bolton Food and Drink Festival at the end of the month – a welcome addition to the rest of the famous names including Michael Caines, James Martin and Lisa’s own partner, chef and MasterChef presenter John Torode.

Lisa’s enjoyment of cooking began at an early age and she hopes to pass it on to her own daughter, Billie. She says her nan and mum were both “brilliant in the kitchen.”

A love of cooking, as much as a love of eating the delicious results, can be a powerful formula to helping excel in this field and it will be great to see Lisa in the town.

I’m sure that Boltonians and visitors alike will welcome her to this enjoyable event. After all, most of us are also food fans, sometimes cooking but always eating, and Lisa has much skill and passion to share.