Two Courier Country breakfast fans have made it to the final of the World Porridge Making Championship.
Thirty competitors from across the globe will take part in the competition in October.
This year’s contest attracted so much interest that a shortlist had to be narrowed down for the first time in its 25-year history.
Neal Robertson from Auchtermuchty, who took the title in 2010, is returning for the 10th time.
He will have strong competition in the shape of Chris Young of Crieff, who will also be attempting to whip up the best version of the humble Scottish dish.
Mr Young had yet to get his hand on the coveted championship title but did win the speciality porridge category in 2010.
At the event in Carrbridge, they will be up against a Russian café owner, a Finnish pastry chef an 11-year-old boy to name a few.
Current champion Ellinor Perrson, a steel worker from Sweden, will also return to defend her title.
Michelle Green, organiser of the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, Michelle Green said: “We’ve been simply inundated with entries for this year’s championship and it’s terrific to see such a level of interest from across the world in this most humble of dishes.
“We’ve certainly seen the standard of dishes entered rise year-on-year, with entrants creating traditional porridge with universal appeal alongside seriously creative porridge dishes.”
The coveted championship title is awarded to the contestant who makes the best traditional porridge using just three ingredients – oatmeal, water and salt.
As well as the speciality category, a youth competition for porridge makers under the age of 26 has been introduced for the first time.
Judging the entries will be Colin Bussey, former head chef at the Gleneagles Hotel, Lydie Bocquillon, French chef and owner of the Auld Alliance in Kingussie, and Neil Mugg, chef lecturer at Perth College UHI and former head pastry chef at Glengeagles.
