THE Abergavenny born wife of French Prime Minister Francois Fillon will be among the special guests at this weekend's star-studded Abergavenny Food Festival.

Penelope Fillon, daughter of the late Colin and Glenys Clarke of Abergavenny, became the first British woman to be married to a French Prime Minister when her husband took on the role in 2007.

Mrs Fillon will be accompanied to Abergavenny by head chef at the Hotel Matignon, the official residence of the French Prime Minister, Christophe Langrée, who will demonstrate the application of French culinary technique to fine Welsh produce to audiences at the Market Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Other prestigious guests include food critic Michael Winner, chefs Antonio Carluccio, Cyrus Todiwala, Sat Bains, Brynle Williams and Valentine Warner and writers Matthew Fort and Tom Parker Bowles