HARDEEP Singh Kohli is a man who’s passionate about his line of work.

What exactly this line of work is, is more difficult to define.

The titles writer, broadcaster, comedian, raconteur, columnist and reporter have all been uttered in the same breath as the Glaswegian’s name.

Whatever the role, there is one thing that underpins most of what Hardeep does – his love of food.

“I’m happy to work in food whatever the concept, whether cooking it, making programmes on it, or simply eating it,” he says enthusiastically.

The 40-year-old Sikh will be sharing this passion, and possibly some of his creations, with audiences in Westcliff, next month, when he visits the Palace Theatre with the Nearly Naked Chef show. Part cookery, part storytelling, the show will see the 2006 Celebrity Masterchef runner-up wax lyrical about his affection for all things edible.

“The stories and anecdotes are all about why I’m in love with food as much as I am,” explains Hardeep.

“I think when I was a kid, the only good thing about being brown was Indian food. Everything else was perceived as negative by the outside world.

“But food is about company and having a good time with family and friends. It is a gift, and if you can do it, you should never be lonely.”

Hardeep admits hosting a show where he cooks both a starter and a main course, which he then feeds to an audience, requires at the very least, some culinary skills.

“You have to be half decent at cooking, and I’m only just there,” he jokes.

“We have fed up to about 70 people on some nights, not full meals but definitely a few mouthfuls. “I over-salted a risotto once, which is apparently a heinous, middle-class, crime!

“But I don’t decide what to cook until I’m there, and I do it as I’m going along.”

The Nearly Naked Chef played to sell-out audiences at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but Hardeep shies away from suggestions the show is outright stand-up comedy.

“It’s more about stories than comedy. I think storytelling comes naturally to me,” he says.

“I’ve always wanted to be a stand-up comedian, but I have so many friends that are good at it like Jimmy Carr and Dara O’Briain, and I will never be as good as them. But then you’ll never get food at any of their gigs.”

Of course, Hardeep’s career is not entirely about classy cuisine.

Regular viewers of BBC’s the One Show will recognise Hardeep as the self-proclaimed turban-toting roving reporter, sent around the UK to report on the weird and wonderful.

He began working for the broadcaster 20 years ago, after abandoning a career in law, and has since worked on Radio 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live, as well as their TV channels.

His desire to uncover the unknown and obscure has resulted in programmes for other broadcasters, including cultural identity show In Search of the Tartan Turban, and a documentary on scientology, the Beginner’s Guide to L. Ron Hubbard.

“I’m a people guy and I love meeting these people, and then telling others about them,” he says.

“I love the variety of this lifestyle. It offers some incredible experiences.”

Hardeep is also an adept writer, having written his own food travelogue, Indian Takeaway, and contributing to a number of national newspapers and magazines, especially on his preferred topic of food.

He was twice been nominated for Scottish Columnist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards, and is currently working on his second, follow-up book.

“Writing is just another part of communicating, plus I don’t have to get out of my pyjamas,” he adds.

“I don’t save anyone’s life, but it’s nice to be able to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Hardeep Singh Kohli The Nearly Naked Chef Palace Theatre, London Road.

Westcliff.

Saturday, July 10 8pm £11.50 01702 351135