It surely says something for Keith Floyd's appeal - if not his longevity - that the audience for his first Cookery Theatre, at Windermere's Linthwaite Hotel, ranged in age from a university student to several senior citizens.

Those of us with age on our side had fallen in love with Floyd's unique approach to food the first time round. But such is the nature of today's global televisual experience that the great man himself continues to recruit converts via satellite repeats of his programmes which are showing in about 40 countries worldwide.

Both in print (nearly 30 books), and on the small screen (he's presented some 20 programmes), Floyd has been on' just about everything, from France and fish, Britain and Ireland, to fire, Spain, Africa, and Oz - there's even been a book on hangovers. In between, Floyd's been out of the frying pan' and in the soup' - not least when several of his restaurants have opened and subsequently closed. The signs are far more promising for his newest venture - Keith Floyd's Brasserie at the fabulous Burasari Special hotel of the World' in Phuket, Thailand.

The notion of a cookery theatre was born out of Floyd's sell-out, one-man show at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre, following which he stayed at the Linthwaite. In consultation with proprietor Mike Bevans, Floyd came up with the idea of the cookery theatre as a means of returning to the Lake District with which he and Tess had fallen hopelessly in love.

French Provincial Cooking' was the theme of last week's cookery theatre; in April it's fish and shellfish; in May back to British'; and in June the focus will be on the food of the Mediterranean.

The complete two-night package - which includes dinner with Floyd and Tess - will set you back more than £400. For the theatre only, the rate is £159, which includes lunch, drinks, recipe cards and a tasty Floyd goodie bag.

For Gillian Cowburn's full report on Floyd's first cookery theatre at the Linthwaite, don't miss this week's Westmorland Gazette (out today, Friday).