YOU’RE probably more used to seeing celebrity chef James Martin on your TV screens with the BBC’s Saturday Morning Kitchen.

However, this year you can see James ‘Baby Face’ Martin up close and personal at the annual Christchurch Food and Wine Festival.

The chef will be taking part in the demonstrations, alongside fellow TV chef Lesley Waters, who is a regular at the event and also the festival’s patron. Christchurch regularly attracts endorsements from top chefs including Gary Rhodes, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Paul Rankin and Brian Turner.

Nothing quite beats the tantalising smell wafting over the town during the annual Christchurch Food and Wine Festival. From cupcakes and croissants to crabcakes and Cumberland sausages, the event is a foodie’s paradise. Originally held to celebrate the Millennium in 2000, the festival was so successful it became an annual event, now in its 13th year.

Since that first year the event, which is backed by the Daily Echo, has become known as one of the best Food Festivals in the UK. But it remains true to its original theme – to encourage all food establishments to strive towards excellence.

Organisers also aim to create a community event aimed at educating people in healthy eating, as well as the availability of different foods, where to buy them and how to prepare them. Top tips can be picked up from the many free cookery demonstrations taking place in a marquee, which this year will be situated in the car park behind The Regent Centre.

The first weekend of the event also features the festival market with live entertainment, where visitors can browse more than 100 stalls selling a huge variety of food and drink from all over the world.

Following on from the success of last year’s Bake Day, the food festival will culminate this year with the Great Christchurch Bake Weekend and Fete. Taking place on May 18 and 19 on The Quomps, visitors will be greeted by the scene of a typical English fete with white marquees and a giant helter skelter.

BBC’s Great British Bake Off champion of 2011 Jo Wheatley will be helping to judge the adults’ baking competition. On the Sunday, festival patron Lesley Waters will help judge the children’s baking competition and the showstopper category.