Great British Bake Off 2016 finalist, Jane Beedle, will return this spring to the Bishop Auckland Food Festival to lead bread making and cupcake decorating workshops.

The event is on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, with MasterChef co-presenter John Torode appearing in the festival’s free cookery marquee on the Saturday.

Jane appeared at the festival back in 2018, and she is really looking forward to revisiting the region and sharing her top tips with people who share her passion for baking.

Jane said: “I’m delighted to be coming back to Bishop Auckland where I was made to feel so welcome in 2018. I can’t wait to check out all the fabulous local food producers and I’m more than a little excited to meet one of my food heroes on the Saturday, John Torode.”

After appearing on The Great British Bake Off in 2016, garden designer Jane went on to win the Christmas Special on Channel 4 in 2018. She has appeared at food festivals across the country, hosted countless baking classes, and is in the process of setting up a cookery school near her new home in the Kent countryside.

Jane will deliver the following workshops in Bishop Auckland Town Hall on both the Saturday and Sunday:

Children’s cupcake decorating, 10.30am. Tickets cost £5 and the class is suitable for youngsters aged five to 12, who must be accompanied by an adult.

Bread making – focaccia, 11.45am. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for children under 14. The class is suitable for children over the age of ten and youngsters under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Adult cupcake decorating, 1.30pm. Tickets cost £8 and the class is suitable for people aged 16 and over.

Breadmaking – chocolate swirl buns, 3pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for children under 14. The class is suitable for children over the age of ten and youngsters under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Booking is strongly advised as limited tickets are available for each session. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Jane and John are the first celebrity chefs to be announced in the run up to the festival, which attracts thousands of people to the historic market town each year. More than 150 traders from across the North East will be serving up the finest produce the region has to offer, along with tasty street food, tempting tipples and indulgent cakes and desserts.

Cllr Joy Allen, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for transformation, culture and tourism, said: “We are thrilled Jane is returning to Bishop Auckland. I know her workshops were extremely popular in 2018 and I am sure she will serve up even more inspiration this year. There really is something for everyone at the festival so I would encourage people to come along and join in the fun.”

To book tickets for Jane’s workshops, visit www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk.

To stay up to date with the latest festival news follow @bishfoodfest on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.