Jo Brand opens Shropshire border food fair

Comedy star Jo Brand opened the Mortimer Country Food Fair in the tiny village of Brampton Bryan, near Leintwardine, this weekend.

The Bafta-award winning stand-up, writer and actress was at the fair with her mother Joyce, who lives in Ludlow, enjoying the seventh annual celebration of food from around the Welsh border on Saturday.

Speaking to the Star before signing copies of her best-selling memoir Look Back in Hunger, at Aardvark Books on Manor Farm where the fair was held, Jo said: "I have connections up here, my mum lives up here and I have quite a few relatives as well.

"I know the area very well, I lived up here for a couple of years 10 or 12 years ago now, so I was very aware of Aardvark Books. We were up here recently and they collared me.

"I drove up from South East London this morning, I was up at half six - that's why I've got sun glasses on, I look terrible underneath these.

"It's also a double bonus because I get to see my mum while I'm up here.

"We're going to have a little wander round, have a look and see what's about. I think it''s a lovely event really and very different to the quality of the experience we have in London - not breathing fumes and looking at the police helicopter."

Asked if it was true she had said the Shropshire Star was her favourite paper, she said: "I love the Shropshire Star, it's my favourite local paper. Obviously my favourite national paper is the (Daily) Mail - not."

Foodies were spoilt for choice with stalls that included the Cottage Herbery run by Kim Hurst of Tenbury Wells - who was selected as a specialist herb judge for this year's Chelsea Flower Show.

She said: "We've been coming (to the Mortimer Country Food Fair) since the very first one. We love the atmosphere, the area is very beautiful and the people are very appreciative of what we do."

Ludow's Easy Peasy Cooking bus provided free children's cookery classes and there was also live music from Martin Blake and his Whiskey River Quartet and accordionist Norrie Davies.

As well as Jo, another face from television had set up shop in the fields, acting as chef-in-residence for the day.

James Strawbridge, co-host of ITV's The Hungry Sailors, was there judging the UK's second Kotlich Outdoor Cooking competition, which took place on the day, involving cooking with a pot hanging from a tripod over a fire.

"I find it's a really good way of cooking without the faff of the kitchen, but maintaining good quality flavours by keeping it simple," he said.

"It's part of the country I love. I especially like the fact there's such a range of produce - it really is a highlight in terms of regional food.

"Down in Cornwall I do similar sorts of events but it's nice coming up and seeing a real country fair that you just don't get quite like this anywhere else," he said.