TV star and self confessed foodie Lisa Faulkner is bringing a touch of her homemade delights to the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

Best known as an actress for her roles in Holby City, Brookside and Spooks, the mum-of-one has more recently turned her love of cooking into her second career and can be seen presenting on Family Cook Off, Something For The Weekend, and is a regular This Morning chef.

Her love of creating in the kitchen was re-ignited while a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef five years ago — and she has since written three successful books: Recipes From My Mother For My Daughter, The Way I Cook and Tea and Cake.

But her latest venture brings her back to her challenging Masterchef days as she performs live demonstrations at this year's Food and Drink Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

She will be joined with a number of other stars including James Martin, food festival favourite Michael Caines, and her her TV chef partner John Torode, who presents Masterchef.

Lisa said: "I'm really looking forward to the festival. I think I'll be making some beetroot risotto. I will definitely want to catch some other demonstrations and see what the other chefs have to offer, and of course I will be eating lots of lovely food.

"I love risotto, pasta, fish — anything that is homemade and tasty. I like small portions of food that aren't too fiddly, and when I eat I like to feel like I'm at home."

Her love of cooking began at a very early age and she hopes to pass it on to her daughter Billie, who she wrote her first book for.

Lisa, aged 43, said: "I have always cooked. My nan and my mum were both brilliant in the kitchen. I didn't have much of a chance to escape cooking. I pretty much cook what they cooked — my first book was filled with the recopies they made when I was growing up – simple, homemade food.

"I am sure my daughter will also be cooking when she grows up. She loves making soups with me. We are always cooking in our house.

"Some people may think I should chose either baking or cooking but I love doing both."

Lisa will be joined at the festival by her partner of three years John, who she first met when she was a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef.

She said: "I don't think we'll have time to get competitive because we're actually going to be there on different days. I think I'm there on the Saturday and he's there on the Sunday. But that aside there isn't really any competition as such between us. We're very different cooks."

Looking to the future, the busy mum is aiming to inspire youngsters to get into cooking on a new CBBC series.

Lisa said: "I've been filming for a new show all over the country so it's been busy but good. It's for a new CBBC show called Crash my Kitchen.

"I think I will always be an actress as I have been for years and I wouldn't like to just stop. But I think I've been very lucky to also get a career in food."

Bolton Food and Drink Festival is running from Friday, August 28 until Monday, August 31.

To find out more or to book a place to view a demonstration, visit boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.