MASTERCHEF champion Kenny Tutt proved a big hit with youngsters as he shared recipes designed to encourage healthy eating habits.

Kenny visited Lancing College Preparatory School, in Broadwater Road, Worthing, today, where he did a cooking demonstration and also hosted a question and answer session with students eager to learn more.

The 36-year-old, from Worthing, who works as a bank manager at Santander in Brighton, also made scones with the nursery children. His daughter Emily is a pupil at the school.

Kenny stressed how important it is to encourage children to learn about nutrition.

He said: “I think it’s paramount that children and young adults learn basic cooking skills to feed themselves.

“It’s very easy to buy convenience food, but if we teach youngsters to cook food like pasta or shepherd’s pie they can have more control over what ingredients they put in food.

“It’s something they can proud of, and they can use their creativity.”

Year 8 pupil Felix Dowse quizzed Kenny on his MasterChef experience.

Kenny said: “If someone wants to compete in MasterChef, my advice for them is to do their best and not to worry. There was one competitor with me who applied eight times and he got in the ninth time. This just shows that you should not give up.

“If you are going to go on the show, there will be times where things don’t go right for you.

“Unfortunately, sometimes it happens and we all make mistakes. But that shouldn’t mean you stop what you want to do. Learn from your mistakes and keep on going. If you find something you enjoy doing, stick to it.”