Nigel Barden - Host for both Felicity Cloake and Cariad Lloyd sessions.

Nigel Barden is a food and drink broadcaster and champion, with over 30 years of foodie knowledge, experience and tastings under his scrawny belt. 

He has combined a long career at BBC Radio with numerous TV appearances, hosting at live consumer events and food festivals, judging awards and also as a restaurant critic and sought-after food and drink industry compère. 

Nigel's mantra is about good taste, provenance and craftsmanship. Not a chef, but a down to earth cook and pundit with an eye on seasonality and quality ingredients, Nigel cares above all about what people really want to put on their tables and in their bellies. 

He grew up on a farm, worked as a land agent in Yorkshire and is a former wine merchant. Nigel brings experience, fun, banter and impartial recommendations of the best food and drink happenings in the United Kingdom and beyond. 

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Broadcasting with Simon Mayo and Chris Evans, on their Sony Gold award-winning BBC Radio 2 show for 12 years, Nigel served up weekly dishes. Having worked with Simon for two years on Scala Radio, they have moved to the Drivetime Show on Greatest Hits Radio, along with old BBC mucker, Matt Williams, for a foodie Thursday extravaganza, serving up a 'Kitchen's Greatest Hit' dish (click here for Nigel's GHR profile).

As the longest standing contributor to BBC Radio London (since 1990) with the last 25 years on the Robert Elms show, Nigel still enjoys chewing the fat with his old chum Robert every other Friday. Nigel is also a BBC rugby commentator and passionate flowery shirt advocate. 

NIGEL WILL BE HOSTING VARIOUS SESSIONS IN THE GREAT HALL, INCLUDING THOSE OF CLARE SWATMAN, STUART TURTON, ISY SUTTIE, A L KENNEDY AND NICHOLA RHIANI.   .