TV'S original foodie Keith Floyd will be dropping into Dorchester on Friday.

The popular chef, the first to take cooking out of the studio and into the real world, will be in town to present Floyd Uncorked: The Life of a Bon Viveur - his award-winning one-man show.

In a chequered career, Keith Floyd has been an army officer, a journalist, a dishwasher, a bartender, a cook, and restaurateur, with restaurants in France, Spain, Britain and currently Thailand.

But he is best known for his 25 books and 20 television series, which are still being shown in over 40 countries worldwide.

He will be taking to the stage of the Corn Exchange on Friday and promises to entertain the audience with some of his past exploits.

He said: "Needless to say, I shall not be cooking, but I shall be having a glass of wine while I attempt to regale you with my amusing little anecdotes."

His enthusiasm for the quality and provenance of food has been cited as a major influence on Dorset's own celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his shows featured the first TV appearances of Rick Stein and Gary Rhodes, both then largely unknown.

A spokesman for Dorchester Arts Centre, which is organising the event, said: "If you've had a hard week at the office and feel fried, grilled and battered, or just steaming after a roasting from the boss, come and relax with Floyd in your best bib and tucker with a free glass of wine - rejoicing in the knowledge that you'll be guaranteed no good advice whatsoever, but many a chuckle at scandalous tales of fun."

Tickets are £15 with a free glass of wine.

To book call Dorchester Arts Centre box office on 01305 266926.