TV’s Bake Off star, Crystelle Pereira, is to whip up a culinary show at the Taste Cumbria Christmas in Cockermouth.

The star baker will take to the Food Demo Stage on December 9 at 1pm, and from 2pm, she will be signing copies of her debut cookbook, My Flavour Kitchen.

Crystelle stole the limelight as the runner-up on 2021's Bake Off. Born in North London to Kenyan-born, Portuguese-Goan parents, her heritage inspired the creative tastes in her cooking.

Later in 2021, Vanity Fair touted Crystelle as one of their top performers and her quick wit has also graced ITV’s Lorraine, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.

Sharing the festival's stage will be Cumbrian author, Helen Rebanks, who will take to the Demo Stage on December 10 at noon.

Helen, whose first book The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days was published in August, farms at Matterdale near Ullswater with her husband James.

After their demonstrations, both Crystelle and Helen will be meeting their fans and signing their books at The New Bookshop, located on Main Street.

The festival's culinary hub, the Taste Cumbria Demo Stage, will relocate to Market Place this year while Cocker Bridge is closed to traffic.

This space will also play host to the hot food court, fairground, and family entertainment.

The east end of Main Street, next to Cocker Bridge, will host producers' stalls, street theatre and live music.

The rest of Main Street will remain open to traffic.

Station Street will run one way as usual, and vehicle access will be available down Castlegate leading to Bitterbeck car park, and along St Helens Street and Kirkgate.

The event is organised by Cumberland Council.

Councillor Anne Quilter, Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome Crystelle and Helen to the Taste Cumbria Demo Stage - and I can’t wait to see what they’ll be cooking.

"This is shaping up to be another fabulous festival showcasing the very best culinary talent, alongside loads of Christmas shopping and entertainment. Come and join the fun!”

Further details about the festival and its full line-up can found at the Taste Cumbria website.