Nigel Barden

Nigel Barden is a much-loved food and drink broadcaster who works on both television and radio. He is the main food correspondent for BBC London where he has worked with Simon Mayo and Chris Evans. He has worked on Greatest Hits Radio, Scala Radio, and BBC Radio London – where he worked for 30 years!

Nigel specialises in promoting British ingredients and artisan food and drink producers, particularly through his roles on the judging panels for The Great Taste Awards, Farm Shop & Deli Awards, World Cheese Awards, and the British Cookery School Awards. As well as judging, he has hosted similar events such as the National Fish & Chip Awards and Delicious Yorkshire.

Nigel’s mantra is about good taste, provenance, and craftsmanship. Not a chef, but a down-to-earth cook and pundit, with an eye on seasonality and quality ingredients, Nigel is passionate about what people want to put on their tables and in their bellies.

He brings experience, fun, banter, and impartial recommendations of the best food and drink happenings in the United Kingdom and beyond.

He has also recorded a UFL football video game, Growing Wings, the history of the Red Bul Racing, and Searching For Novak, the story of tennis player Novak Djokovic.

He is a well-esteemed television and radio presenter, as well as an in-demand award host, conference presenter, after-dinner speaker, voice-over artist, and narrator.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden for your next event

Type Of Speaker

Event Hosts Farming Health & Wellbeing Hospitality, Food & Drink Presenters Speaker Sustainability

More About Nigel Barden

Nigel Barden grew up on a farm which gave him a great respect and understanding of the farming community, and to those who make and sell their home-crafted produce. As he grew up, he took on work as a dairy farmer in Somerset, as well as a tree surgeon in the Lake District, before studying for a year at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. This gave him a great love of the land and its produce, which helped him when he took a new career path and started working for Yorkshire Fine Wines when he was 22. It was whilst working here that he became a regular on Chris Evans’ Saturday morning radio show as a restaurant and wine reviewer.

Nigel Barden hire broadcaster speaker book at agent Great British Speakers.

Nigel Barden Radio Broadcasting

Nigel has predominantly worked for radio, mainly with Simon Mayo on his Greatest Hits radio show, having previously worked with Chris Evans for over 12 years.

Not only does Nigel present food and drink-related radio shows, but he also contributes to radio shows on sport, particularly rugby. When he was 30, the BBC approached him regarding presenting sports updates on their show hosted by Simon Crosse. Nigel has been working for BBC Radio London since 1990 and is the longest-standing contributor.

He presented his own radio show Barden’s Soundbites for Scala Radio, playing music inspired by food and drink. And hosted the three-part podcast series, A Grand Hotel by Corinthia featuring chef Tom Kerridge and the Corinthia Hotel, as well as championing artisan food and drink producers in his Britannia Living podcast. Through his podcasts, Nigel regularly hosts online cheese and wine tastings, often linking up with producers and tasters abroad.

Nigel Barden TV Broadcasting

As well as his much-loved radio shows, Nigel hosts the television show Nigel Barden’s Drivetime Dishes for both Amazon Prime and Simply Good Food TV, and he regularly appears on BBC’s Inside Out.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, footage of ‘Cooking With the Barden Boys’, featuring Nigel and his three sons, was posted onto social media.

Nigel Barden hire broadcaster speaker book at agent Great British Speakers.

Nigel Barden Food Industry Event Host

Nigel is a go-to food and drinks event host, primarily for Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festivals in Marlow, Bath, Leeds, Knutsford, Chiswick, and St. Albans. He hosts a wide range of food-related events including Cider and Cheese Tasting, Deliciously Yorkshire, Taste of Kent, The British Cheese Weekender, Menu Innovation and Development Awards, Fine Food North, National Fish and Chip Awards, Ice Cream Alliance Awards, and the North West Family Business Awards.

He has also hosted the Virtual Cheese Awards for the last four years, was the voice of the ‘Sea For Yourself’ radio campaign for Seafish, interviewed producers for the Food and Drink Wales Cluster, and co-hosts the Berkhamsted Book Festival. He also hosted the cocktail hour, to chose eight hours of the National Fruit Show, which was held virtually in 2020 for the first time in over 87 years.