Celebrity cook, Si King, best known as one half of the renowned culinary duo, Hairy Bikers, is gearing up to join Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival next month.

The event, known for its fusion of creativity, technology and problem-solving, will see opening act, Si, discussing innovation in his career, how he’s applied creativity to what he does, and the dynamic and ever-evolving food industry.

He’s the latest celebrity to join the star-studded festivals, which have seen the likes of Louis Theroux, Sara Davies, Steph McGovern and Dick Strawbridge attend in previous years.

Hosted by Northumbrian Water at Newcastle Racecourse, the aim of the Innovation Festival is to unite people from around the world to explore new ideas and technologies that could change the future of the water industry.  

This includes tackling issues on topical themes such as climate change, cyber security, water scarcity and future ways of working.

More than 2,000 people are expected through the gates between Monday 10 July and Thursday 13 July, where Newcastle-born Si will join festival-goers for a series of live talks and Q&A sessions on the Monday, as well as hosting a Bake-Off style challenge with local bakers, Big River Bakery.

Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, said: “It’s such a treat to have Si King with us at our Innovation Festival!

“His creativity, and his interests and his passion for the community and the North East are sure to help cook up a storm of inspiration for our attendees and help them transform the way we think about the world around us.

“Si has had to embrace the elements needed for innovation throughout his career in order to get where he is, and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.”

The Innovation Festival is free to attend, with registration online at www.innovationfestival.org/register