Feast for Jay Rayner's audience at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn

Rayner, who is a familiar face for viewers of the BBC's The One Show, shared witty tales and aimed to change the way people in Shropshire shop, cook and eat during an appearance at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

Members of the audience also had the chance to challenge Rayner over some of the statements he has made in his books in recent years during the show, which is part of his nationwide tour.

Rayner, speaking before last night's show, said: "I decided to do this tour, because I feel that if you have written a book like the ones I have, you have a responsibility to talk to people about the claims you have made in them. I wanted to have a conversation with the audience and hopefully it will give them a chance to challenge what I have said.

"And I find coming out to places like Shrewsbury does that, because there will be farmers in the audience or people who know farmers who don't necessarily agree with what I have written, so it's good to hear their reactions, and their opinions.

"I haven't had a chance to experience the food in Shropshire before, but I really hope I can one day. I really do apologise to the people of Shropshire about that. But my wife is from the Black Country so I appreciate the taste of a good pork scratching."

He said for his BBC Radio 4 show Kitchen Cabinet, which is broadcast on Saturday mornings, he will be focusing on Ludlow during his new series, which he will start recording soon.