Festival Italia 2026

James Skelton

Biography 

James Skelton, aka “Silver Fox Cooks” appeared on Masterchef UK Series 18. Reaching the Semi-Finals, and then went on to the last 8.  A passionate cook, who prepares hearty food, incredibly delicious pasta dishes and exceptional desserts.  James has been a PGA Golf Professional for over 20 years but has always had a passion for cooking.  He seized the opportunity to showcase his love of food by appearing on MasterChef UK in 2022 and now offers a variety of experiences from supper clubs and private dining.

At some point James wants to take this passion further and combine it with his current career & offer Luxury golf and food travel breaks.  James has presented cooking demonstrations on various food festivals stages in England. 

Website:  https://www.silverfoxcooks.com

Instagram: @silverfoxcooks 

Olayemi Adelekan – Yummy By Design

MasterChef UK 2022 (Top 6) Semi-Finalist | Food Writer | Private Chef

Olayemi Adelekan is a passionate cook with over 40 years of experience, known for her bold and exciting fusion of West & North African, European, West Indian, and Middle Eastern flavours. A MasterChef UK 2022 semi-finalist, she shares her love of food through blogging, private dining, pop-ups, supper clubs, and live cooking demonstrations.

She writes a weekly food feature, Yemi’s Food Stories, for The Stray Ferret, celebrating Yorkshire’s best producers. As a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a judge for the prestigious Taste Awards (USA), Olayemi is a respected voice in the food world.

Born in Nigeria, with roots in the Caribbean and the UK, Olayemi’s cooking is a vibrant tapestry of cultures. She regularly appears at top UK food festivals, including The Great Yorkshire Show, Great British Food Festivals, and BBC Good Food Shows, and has been featured on BBC Radio York, Sheffield, and Manchester.

Websites: yummybydesign.co.uk

Instagram: @yummy_bydesign 

Forest was a contestant on BBC1’s MasterChef in 2023 where he became a Quarter Finalist through his desserts and patisseries, gaining accolades such as “The Best of Parisian Patisserie”by acclaimed food critic Jay Rayner, and “Work of a craftsman” “This is professional quality” from judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. He has since spent time cooking at Michelin starred restaurant with some of the world’s best chefs, catered for corporate and private events, and doing cooking demos in food festivals both within and beyond the UK.

Originally from Hong Kong, Forest studied Psychology at Oxford University and has since built a career in marketing, working with various innovative startups around the world. His cooking style mostly focuses on modern British and European cuisines with occasional inspirations from East Asia, but he is most passionate about creating accessible and delicious food that can be enjoyed by all. 

Follow Forest on:

IG: @forestkwok

Thuy Hoang was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She came to the United Kingdom at the age of nine as a refugee with her family. In 2023, Thuy was a Quarter Finalist on BBC1's MasterChef. She is a member of the judging panels forprestigious UK food industry awards: the UK Quality Food Awards, the Great Taste Awards (Guild of Fine Food), and the Great British Food Awards. Thuy is also a guest chef teaching classes at Jeremy Pang's award-winning School of Wok in Covent Garden, London. She has published articles and recipes in leading food magazines, as well as a review of London’s Vietnamese restaurants in Time Out this year. As a chef-presenter, Thuy has featured on food festival stagesacross the UK, including at Knebworth House, Lydiard Park, London Olympia and the Hurlingham Club, Fulham. She has also been a chef at supper clubs for central London businesses. Thuy shares films of her Vietnamese recipes and her passion for the cuisine of her cultural heritage through aYouTube channel. In 2024, she was interviewed by Channel News Asia (CNA) journalist and Editor, Amanda Oon about her life, work and love of Vietnamese food.

www.thuycooks.com

www.youtube.com/@thuycooks

Instagram @thuycooks

Nicky – originally from Scotland and now based in the West Midlands – captured hearts on The Great British Bake Off Series 14 with her joyful, creative approach to baking. From her viral Norman the Beaver cake in week one to the unforgettable Angus the Highland Cow plaited bread, Nicky quickly stood out for her vibrant personality and inspired bakes.

Her love of baking began in childhood, learning alongside her Gran. Covered head to toe in flour, scraping the last of the cake batter from the bowl, those cherished memories sparked a lifelong passion for creating delicious, feel-good food.

Since her time in the Bake Off tent, Nicky has continued to share her baking expertise through lively demonstrations at food festivals, engaging recipe reels, and a regular column in a local magazine. She’ll be appearing at the BBC Good Food Show in June on Louisa’s Honey stand, and at The Brands Hatch Italian Festival on August 10th.

Off the baking bench, Nicky is a seasoned skier who’s been hitting the slopes since the age of three. She also enjoys countryside walks with her two cocker spaniels, cycling, and dreaming up her next recipe. Before her rise in the baking world, she travelled the globe as long-haul cabin crew—bringing a touch of that jet-set spirit into everything she creates.

Follow her delicious adventures on Instagram: @nickybakesalot