She has one of the most recognised faces on television, and next week Invercargill will get a chance to see glamorous cooking show host and domestic goddess Nigella Lawson up close.
The author, businesswoman and food writer, who has sold more than three million cookbooks worldwide and heads a successful cookware company, will be in the city on Tuesday.
She will sign books at the Paper Plus store in H&J Smith in the afternoon and attend a gala dinner at the ILT Stadium Southland in the evening, at which she will speak about her business and culinary exploits.
Guests at the gala dinner will enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and a gourmet four-course meal and drinks.
Columnist Kerre McIvor is the MC, with performances from Kiwi musicians Lizzie Marvelly and Dave Dobbyn. Lawson will talk for about 10 minutes and take questions.
The Invercargill City Council had contributed $10,000 towards the event.
Ticket prices range from $344 to $574. Organisers Duco Events is hoping to sell 600 tickets.
Duco chief executive Martin Snedden would not say on Tuesday how many tickets had been sold but said it was ‘‘ahead of 300''.
He referred queries to Lawson's publishers, Penguin Random House. Head of publicity Yvonne Thynne would not confirm how many tickets had been sold but said they were ‘‘selling well but people still had a few days left if they were keen to come along''.
The book signing, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, would be another opportunity for people to see her, Ms Thynne said.
Lawson is in Australia this week and on Monday will attend a gala dinner at the Langham Hotel in Auckland, her only other New Zealand engagement.
