MUSICIAN and sauce inventor Levi Roots is to return to this year’s Malton Food Lovers Festival.

The event, now in its ninth year, will welcome old and new faces to the annual celebration of Yorkshire’s finest produce, on May 27 and 28.

Other experts in the culinary world joining him include food writer and journalist Prue Leith and Great British Menu contestant Stephanie Moon.

Levi, who first visited the festival in 2015, won over the judges on BBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2007 with his Jamaican sauce invention, Reggae Reggae Sauce.

As well as headlining the chef’s cookery theatre on the Saturday, Levi Roots and his band will be the main act at Malton’s Saturday night festival party.

Levi has been putting music into food since 1991 when started making sauce from his kitchen in Brixton, after relocating to Britain in 1970.

That year he started to sell the sauce at Notting Hill Carnival and, after 16 years, he officially entered the food industry via his success on BBC programme, Dragon’s Den.

Visitors to this year’s festival will learn how to add the spice of island life into their food in a cooking demonstration by Levi. He will also join other influential food experts at the Malton Food Lovers Festival NFU Question Time.

Levi said: “I can’t wait to return to the Malton Food Lovers Festival this year. The festival is the ultimate celebration of food and attracts thousands of hungry visitors who have a real love of food – just like me. I’m back with a bang and ready to inject some spice into the weekend.

“My set at the Festival Night Party will include some of my best feel good vibes from the Caribbean. I want to see dancing, singing and lots of eating.”

Festival organiser Tom Naylor-Leyland said: “We’re extremely excited to welcome Levi back this year and I can’t wait to watch him inspire and inform festival-goers on what makes Caribbean food so unique and special.

“If you are thinking of coming along to the festival, come on an empty stomach as there is plenty to taste and enjoy.”