TV funny man Hardeep Singh Kohli is heading for the Holme Valley with a new cookery concept.

The former BBC One Show presenter and Celebrity Masterchef runner-up is bringing his culinary skills to this month’s Holmfirth Arts Festival.

Hardeep describes his one-man-show, The Nearly Naked Chef, as a ‘fat Glaswegian Sikh cooking dinner while telling anecdotes’.

The witty fusion of food and fun was born at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has been touring since last February.

Despite no formal training Hardeep has now cooked for hundreds of punters at more than 30 gigs across Britain.

As he prepared to whip up a meal for the good people of East Anglia, the Scottish star told me the cookery comedy fusion had been born out of pressure to take his talents on the road and his love of food.

He said: “The common misconception is that I’m a stand up comedian; I’ve never actually done stand up.

“After five years (of being on TV) people said I’d better do a gig but I just didn’t feel funny enough.

“I’m mates with a few comedians and I thought if you want comedy you can go see their shows.

“But come to mine if you want to get some food and have a laugh.”

And Hardeep said he was particularly looking forward to the Holmfirth show as he could visit his relatives in Huddersfield.

He said: “My Great Uncle is Ajit Singh the marathon runner.

“We used to go on holidays to visit him in the late 70s and early 80s.

“I’ve not been back for ages – my uncle and cousins still live there so I’ll be dropping in to see them.”

The show at Holmfirth Parish Church on Saturday June 19 will see about 50 audience members get to sample Hardeep’s cooking skills.

He explained: “We get audience members to email suggestions of things they want me to cook.

“The day I arrive I go through the emails and decide what I’m going to cook.

“I tell some stories while I’m doing it and hopefully I don’t burn anything.”

And Hardeep said surprisingly there had been no disasters so far.

“It’s been amazing, it’s been good fun, the audiences have been great,” he said.

“I’m not cooking the same thing every night so it’s not easy, but so far they’re all willing me to succeed rather than wanting me to fail.

“I’m having the time of my life and it’s been so lovely meeting all these wonderful people.”

Tickets £14, concessions £12. Available from Holmfirth Tourist Information Office on 01484 222444.

l For full details of the three week festival programme pick up a brochure from Kirklees information office or go online at www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk