Matthew Fort is perhaps best known as a judge on BBC2’s The Great British Menu, which launched in 2006. An award-winning food writer and critic who was Food & Drink Editor of The Guardian newspaper for 15 years, he has written about food and travel for several titles including The Financial Times Saturday, (now ) and magazine. He is also the author of four books, the most recent of which, is his third exploring the gastronomy, culture and history of Italy on a Vespa. Having fallen in love with Italy aged just 11, “because of the importance they attributed to ice cream”, he has nurtured a lifelong passion for the country, yet his home remains very much in England.