GREAT British Bake Off judge Prue Leith is to be the star guest at Edinburgh Foodies Festival this summer.

Leith, who is set to fill Mary Berry’s shoes alongside Paul Hollywood for Channel 4’s new series, will be giving cooking tips as well as insights into the making of the hit programme.

Born in South Africa, Leith has been a restaurateur, chef, TV presenter/broadcaster, cookery writer and novelist. One of her original catering venue partnerships is Leith’s which she set up in Edinburgh in 1995.

MasterChef winner 2016 Jane Devonshire is also part of the celebrity and Michelin-starred chef line-up in the Chefs Theatre, where Scotland’s top chefs will showcase their culinary skills.

Others include Great British Bake off Perthshire star Flora Shedden and Jamie Scott of The Newport in Fife and winner of MasterChef Professionals.

The Foodies Festival is also introducing a health and wellbeing focus with a timetable of yoga classes, mindfulness, meditation and nutrition talks from Olympic Silver medallist Keri-Anne Payne.

Champagne, wine, gin, rum and craft beer masterclasses will be on offer at the festival along with a bug-eating competition and the chilli-eating challenge. Elsewhere there will be live music from local bands at the Unsigned Music Awards stage while Burlesque Baker Charlotte White and patisserie chefs will be whipping up summer delights in the Cakes and Desserts Theatre.

Now in its 12th year, the Foodies Festival attracts street food vendors from around the world, offering visitors the chance to take a culinary trip to all corners of the globe. The festival runs from August 4-6.