Tom Kerridge will go head-to-head with radio presenter Chris Evans in a star-studded cricket match to raise money for a local charity.

Friday night pub banter turned into a friendly competition last week as friends Tom Kerridge and former Top Gear presenter Chris Evans agreed to battle it out in a cricket match during Kerridge's Pub in the Park festival in Marlow this month.

On Friday, May 19, Tom Kerridge's team of Michelin-starred chefs and foodies will take on Chris Evans' batting and fielding line-up, which he started recruiting live on his radio show over the weekend and promises will be packed full of familiar faces. 

Set to kick off at 3pm in Higginson Park, Marlow, on the second day of the food and musical festival, the cricket match will be free to spectators but encourages them to donate £10 towards Kerridge's Meals from Marlow charity, which tackles food poverty in the area. 

Founder of Pub in the Park, which is entering its sixth year as a location-spanning celebration, Kerridge said he was excited for what he described as "a corker of a match."

"I can't wait to go up against Chris and show him who's boss!

"My team are primed and raring to go. Of course, we can't forget why we are doing this either - we want to do everything we can to support families who are struggling to put food on the table.

"Giving back to the local community is so important to us at Pub in the Park and Meals from Marlow. It's an essential part of this year's festival and beyond."

This year's Pub in the Park festival in Marlow, which will take place from May 18 to May 21 in Higginson Park, is partnered with Meals from Marlow, a charity originally started by Kerridge alongside Andy Agar three years ago to provide free food to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The charity has now grown to provide food to anyone struggling in the local community amid the cost-of-living crisis and has provided over 190,000 meals to date. 

Limited-edition Meals from Marlow AAA tickets, priced at £200, are currently on sale for Pub in the Park, and will give partygoers access to VIP areas and front-row seats while funding up to 66 meals for those in need.

Festival attendees will also be given the option to pay an extra £3 for any food they buy at restaurant stalls dotted around the event - a 'donate-a-dish' scheme that will raise funds for a local food bank.

Miranda Martin, chief executive of Pub in the Park, said: "It is more important now than ever to spotlight charities supporting our local communities and combat the current cost-of-living crisis.

"Food has always been at the heart of what we do and during these challenging times we hope to use our network to raise awareness and much-needed funds and to give back to the local community in each town we visit."