Charles to host Great British Menu TV show

THE Prince of Wales is to host this year's Great British Menu finale banquet.

The popular BBC show sees leading British chefs battle it out for the chance to cook a four-course banquet for high-profile guests.

Previous show highlights have included cooking for the Queen at her 80th birthday, serving a meal to the gastronomic elite of France, and cooking a homecoming feast for men and women returning from the fighting in Afghanistan. This year chefs must source as many ingredients as possible from farms, estates and the surrounding neighbourhood of a National Trust property in their region, rather than their normal suppliers.

The prince, who is National Trust president, will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall for the banquet, plus guests including some of the nation's best food producers, farmers and fishermen.