Masterchef's Torode at Shrewsbury Flower Show

The Australian born chef has become a fixture on worldwide television thanks to the runaway success of the BBC cookery contest, but the tables were turned at the flower show with the judge becoming teacher and imparting his knowledge to crowds of eager fans.

Mr Torode, whose demonstrations were focused on how to cook a great steak, said he wanted people to understand the key to good food is simplicity.

The Masterchef star said he enjoyed the opportunity to get out and teach people about cooking, but that the demonstrations could be tiring work.

He said: "I think that's what we do, the reason we do it is about getting people to cook good food, it is not about anything else, it's about getting people to enjoy food.

"I think to have to stand in front of an audience as you cook and talk and entertain is quite a difficult thing to do and if you can get it to look easy then that's the job done."

Mr Torode said that he always tries to make sure that people have simple lessons they can take away from his demonstrations and develop in their own cooking.

He said: "We are there to entertain people but also to impart knowledge and that is the difficult bit, because you need to get across a couple of little things that people can take away and a couple of bigger things that they can use.

"The main thing you want people to take away is to get back to basics. Buy good quality, get a good supplier, cook simply, season well, and eat slowly."

Mr Torode also said the key to Materchef's success is people enjoying seeing others doing well.

The show has become a favourite since its relaunch with Torode and Gregg Wallace in 2005 and is watched in countless countries around the world.

Mr Torode said: "I think pretty simply we, as a world, actually quite like success. We all some have a small ability or knowledge of food because we have to eat and the thing is it is about not trying to direct or produce it, and we let the people do what they are good at and and we put the cameras on and let them cook.

"It is not about trying to do anything crazy."

It is the Masterchef presenter's first time at the flower show and he admitted that he is a keen gardener and would be looking to take advantage of what was on offer and pick up a couple of new items.

He said: "I might grab something while I am here, some new plants maybe or a new mower."

The TV star said he was also surprised at the interest his most recent cookery demonstration had caused.

Appearing on This Morning the chef showed people how to cook salmon in a dishwasher, sparking a host of shocked responses from viewers.

He said the technique was nothing new and he was surprised at the furore it had generated.

He said: "I learned about that when I was 15 years old!

"Cooking a fish in a dishwasher is nothing new at all."