THE competition is hotting up for a couple who have become local celebrities after featuring on ITV’s new cooking show Food Glorious Food.

Donny Howcroft, aged 81, has made it through to the semi-finals of the competition to find Britain’s best recipe.

And he and his wife Nora can be seen in the cook-off next Wednesday, hoping the salmon cheesecake — which Mr Howcroft has to cook for 150 — impresses members of the Women’s Institute, who after tasting all the dishes will pick their favourite.

Since appearing on the show, the couple — who are well known on Bolton’s amateur theatre circuit — have found themselves the centre of local attention, which has included being interviewed by Radio Manchester in Bolton Market.

The couple will again appear on Radio Manchester next Thursday, the day after the semi-finals, to discuss how they did. Mrs Howcroft, who lives with her husband in Sharples, refused to give anything a way.

But she did say: “We had a whale of a time “But you will have to watch to see how Donny did.”