Chef Andrew Forster now eats fish and chicken as well as biscuits

Andrew Forster, 27, from Consett in County Durham, has lived on digestives, caramel wafers and Blue Riband biscuits since he was a toddler.

Despite his eating problems, he leads a busy kitchen at the Italian restaurant Sale Pepe in Shotley Bridge, Durham.

Mr Forster features in BBC3's Freaky Eaters which follows his attempts to tackle his food problem.

He wanted to take part in the programme fearing his unhealthy eating habits would lead to an early grave.

He said: "I was 18 months old when it started to happen. I wouldn't eat for days.

"My mother was distraught but the doctors said it was just a phase.

"I ate biscuits morning, noon and night. It affected everything - my social life, concentration, skin tone, teeth."

Shock tactics

Mr Forster's daily food intake would often include up to two packets of biscuits, plus the occasional piece of toast, a bowl of cereal or a packet of crisps.

He said he became a chef to try and tackle his addiction.

"I wanted to be closer to food and understand it more. But it sorted of hindered me in a way. Being around it all day puts you off eating," Mr Forster said.

During the making of the programme, experts used shock tactics and distraction techniques to try and cure his addiction.

He said: "I could taste things on the spoon but it was the swallowing action I had trouble with - but now I don't have half as many biscuits."

Mr Forster's diet now consists of smoothies, fruit, fish, meat and chicken with the occasional biscuit.

Mr Forster features in BBC3's Freaky Eaters on 19 March