Oxford News
MasterChef Anna Haugh says food is ‘meaning of life’
The 45-year-old Irish chef, restaurateur and television personality will take to the stage at the Cotswolds festival, where food, music and shared experiences will be blended together to create the kind of memories she believes matter most.
Since being catapulted into the industry out of the Dublin School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology 25 years ago, Anna has gone on to appear on a myriad of shows, including BBC’s Ready Steady Cook and Gordon Ramsay’s US Hell’s Kitchen.
She was announced, alongside Grace Dent, as a co-presenter and judge of the 22nd series of the BBC’s MasterChef in September 2025, taking over after Greg Wallace stepped away while allegations of historical misconduct were investigated.
Stepping into the limelight was a “gift” for Anna, who expressed gratitude for her three roles as a home cook, television star and restaurateur.
But now, the 45-year-old will appear in Alex James’ (hopefully not too wet) farm near Kingham from August 28 to 30.
Reflecting on how the food industry has changed during her career, she said the success of events such as Big Feastival shows how food has evolved from something people simply eat to something that brings people together.
“Food is more than just fuel”, she said, “It’s a time to connect with people and share. It should be fun and inclusive – the Big Feastival is the exact thing people want.
“The idea that families are included more in festivals is because people saw that this is a type of get-together that could have great music, brilliant food, and children could be welcome.”
When presenting a demonstration, with modern Irish cuisine influence to around 20,000 people, Anna will bring “interest, freedom and expression” to her dishes, preaching not to ‘dumb down’ complicated ideas.
She said: “As a chef, we always follow rules as we have so much knowledge and experience, but we should be able to relate this to people in a reasonably achievable format.
“I don’t like the idea of saying a recipe is quick and easy, as you lose the whole point, which is that it should be exciting and grab your attention – without being overly complicated.”
Her homeland isn’t the only thing which has influenced her cooking, nodding to the Oxfordshire culinary icon Raymond Blanc, who has influenced her since first appearing on television as a youngster.
While Raymond is one of the chefs Anna hinted at as sticking to the rules, she respects his appreciation for the classics and for “protecting the industry with finesse and passion”.
She said: “Cooking isn’t just about numbers and rules. While it’s important to protect the industry, it’s about explaining the fundamental basics, and that’s exactly what Raymond role models.
“His charm and frivolity have grown with empathy as his experience did. He’s the type of person that would stand up for the rights of workers, and I think that’s a wonderful legacy.”
With chefs stereotypically being known as ‘hot-headed’, the phrase: “If you can’t handle the heat, then get out of the kitchen” springs to mind; a respectful, non-authoritative relationship between the head chef and those below is most important to Anna.
She said: “I’ve worked with some incredible chefs, but sometimes they get stressed. They were not bad people or malicious, but different characters come out in the kitchen.
“If the head chef is being nasty to somebody, whether a sous chef or kitchen porter, then you’re next down the line. I think our industry only gets better by people standing up to behaviour like that.”
She boasts of her love for a dinner party, but also a picnic, too, admitting she has to change her style to appease guests and their taste buds.
She said: “When I do a dinner party, I have to try to climb inside their head and give them what they want.
“For my sister, last time that was a porchetta (a richly flavoured roasting pork joint). We went out to two different restaurants and they were rubbish. I had never made it before, so I had to practice, but it was such a delight to be praised when it turned out well.”
Her go-to picky bit choice, though, is arguably much simpler – a spicy dip with Southeast Asian (Laotian) influence from a friend’s mum. “It’s absolutely to die for”, she said.
At Christmas she loves all the trimmings, again rooting her flavours and influence from Ireland with a spicy beef, also with turkey and ham on the side.
Just like any normal person with a 9-to-5 job with a hobby of cooking on the side, Anna battles with her limited home supply, unlike the “conveyor belt of stuff that you have in your restaurant”.
While most white-jacket Michelin-starred chefs love the hustle and bustle of a professional stainless-steel kitchen, Anna enjoys the slower-paced home-cooking life.
She said: “Food is the connection with the people you love. The best way to do that is to eat with them or cook for them. This is a basic value for contentment in life and is truly one of life’s greatest pleasures for me.”
The coffee dispenser at the Headington Waitrose is out of order and not for the first time according to reports, leaving customers disappointed they can no longer access their free cappuccino or flat white using their Waitrose card.
The Headington News said: “The Headington Waitrose free coffee machine is out of order again today (Saturday 29 August).”
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The notice on the machine at the store in Old High Street says: “The coffee machine is currently out of order. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The issue is not a universal problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores are working well.
The Waitrose chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, restored its free coffee offer in January 2025.
Following outrage over the withdrawal of the offer during the pandemic, the company told the nine million members on its My Waitrose loyalty scheme they would again be entitled to a complementary americano, cappuccino, latte or tea once a day regardless of whether they bought anything – as long as they have their own reusable cup.
In a statement, Waitrose said at the time: “Some of our My Waitrose members like to have the free coffee before they shop or during the shop, rather than afterwards, so we are just offering a bit of flexibility in response to customer feedback.”
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There were queues at coffee stations and complaints from customers that the offer was attracting the “wrong type of shopper” when Waitrose introduced the perk in 2013.
In 2017, it cracked down on ‘freeloaders’ by forcing members to buy something before pouring themselves a free hot drink.
The scheme was scrapped during the Covid crisis, but reintroduced in November 2022 – again for customers making a purchases. This is no longer a requirement.
Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation after a pigeon was killed in a wildlife crime incident in Plover Drive, Oxford, at around 6.50pm on August 24.
The force said that two teenage boys used a catapult to knock a pigeon from a tree before the bird was attacked by three smaller terrier-type dogs that were with them.
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Descriptions of the two boys have been released with the first described as wearing a black sleeveless vest, dark-coloured bottoms, black trainers with white soles.
In addition he had a black-and-white flat-peaked cap worn backwards and was believed to have been carrying a catapult.
The second was reportedly wearing a light-coloured T-shirt and blue jeans, with brown, medium-length hair.
He was also seen carrying an unidentified item.
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident or who may recognise those involved from the descriptions above.
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“We would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from the Plover Drive area between 6.30pm and 7pm on 24 August that may assist our investigation.
“Wildlife crime has a real impact on our communities, and we take reports of offences against wild animals and birds seriously.
” If you have any information, please contact the force on 101 or report online, quoting reference 43260448136.”
Following the incident in North Way, Barton on Monday, August 17, Thames Valley Police said it wanted the public’s help to locate Oxford local Arthur McDonagh.
The force warned the public not to approach the 33-year-old, but instead to call the police if they see him.
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On Tuesday, August 18, a spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help to locate Arthur McDonagh, aged 33, from Oxford.
“He is wanted in connection with a serious assault that happened in North Way, Barton, yesterday (August 17).
“Arthur is known to frequent the Garsington area.
“If you have any information about his whereabouts call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260426989.
“If you see him, do not approach him, but instead call 999.”
Well over a week on, the police has revealed that Mr McDonagh remains at large.
The spokesperson said today (Saturday, August 29): “Arthur McDonagh remains outstanding; our enquiries are ongoing to locate him.”
During the incident emergency services were called to Barton Village Road at about 11.10am.
The force closed North Way to the junction with Edgecombe Road while officers carried out their enquiries.
A damaged white pickup truck was left in the middle of the street, surrounded by broken glass and with what appeared to be blood splattered on the rear right-hand side.
The white pickup truck could be seen behind the police cordon.
There were multiple reports of different weapons being used during the assault, but Thames Valley Police confirmed that they do not believe an axe, bat or machete were used in the attack.
But police declined to say what weapon they do believe was used in the assault.
The force confirmed a man was taken to hospital for treatment, and that he was in a stable condition, and they thanked the local community for their support.
Following the incident, Mike Rowley, Labour councillor for Barton and Sandhills, said his thoughts were with the victim and praised local officers for their response.
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He said: “My thoughts are with the victim as the incident sounds horrible.
“I am in touch with the police, but I’m not expecting any updates yet as their priority is finding the offender and making sure there aren’t any further offences.”
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
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