A Michelin star chef, author and host of Saturday Kitchen will headline this year's Accrington Food Festival alongside Netflix star Molly Robbins, who returns to compere the festival for the third year running.

Glynn Purnell will headline the 2024 Accrington Food Festival on Saturday, June 1, from 10am to 4pm.

Known as 'The Yummy Brummie', Glynn started cooking professionally at the age of 14 in a hotel kitchen, where he was quickly promoted, and went on to discover his passion for fine dining.

Glynn Purnell, said: "I am so excited to be attending my first Accrington food festival.

"There is so much great produce in Lancashire and I am looking forward to getting my hands on some local fish and preparing a dish which everyone can enjoy."

He won the first Michelin star in Birmingham, and owns three restaurants in the Midlands.

Glynn has also won two series' of Great British Menu and has hosted and appeared on Saturday Kitchen.

Organisers of the free-to-attend event, 'Amazing Accrington', are 'delighted' to welcome Glynn, with the TV chef set to cook an exciting dish in the main cooking demonstration area, featuring fish from Bramwells Fish on Accrington Market.

Murray Dawson, Chair of Amazing Accrington, said: "We are delighted that Glynn will be joining us for what will be an amazing celebration of food on Saturday June 1 in Accrington town centre.

"From the incredible main cooking demonstration area to over 60 food stalls, there is going to be something for everyone at this year's festival."

Glynn will be joined by star of Netflix's Extreme Cake Makers, Molly Robbins, who will be returning to the event for the third year running as compere, while she will also be decorating a special commemorative cake for Hyndburn Borough Council's 50th anniversary.

Amazing Accrington is running a competition ahead of the food festival, which will challenge local school children to design the cake, which will then be produced and decorated by Molly.

Lancashire Telegraph: Molly Robbins will return as compere of the Accrington Food Festival for the third year running

Local chef and owner of The Crafty Fox, Paul Fox, will complete the line-up on the main stage, cooking a special dish that visitors to the event can sample following the cooking demonstration.

Paul said: "I have cooked on the main stage area for quite a few years now and the festival just seems to get better and better.

"I can't wait to team up with Molly and Glynn for another memorable day!"

Lancashire Telegraph:

With more than 60 stalls to choose from, including Finch Bakery, the 2024 Accrington Food Festival will also celebrate the very best of Lancashire produce including a new ‘Farm to Plate' offering courtesy of BBC Radio Lancashire presenter, Stephen Lowe.

With continental stalls along Broadway and the Accrington Market pods outside the town hall, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy foods from around the world throughout the event.

A council spokesperson said: "As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are so excited to see local children creating designs for a special cake to mark the occasion.

"We have so many talented young people in the borough and we can't wait to see what they come up with!"