Inverness hairdresser David Fisher, (21), has revealed he is to hang up his spurtle for good after seeing his hopes of championship glory become toast.

Fisher, a roving reporter on the hit tea-time TV programme 'The Paul O’Grady Show’, said he now planned to stick to his day job at the Executive Barbers in the Market Square - or at least until the spotlight calls.

His take on the traditional Scottish dessert, Cranachan, proved to be a crowd-pleasurer, but it wasn’t enough to see him take the speciality porridge title.

Fisher’s attempts to claim the overall title, and to return home with the coveted Golden Spurtle, also ultimately proved to be fruitless.

Argyll guest house owner Maria Soep beat off tough competition to take the coveted spoon and title.

Maria runs the Roineabhal Country House at Kilchrenan where she makes sure porridge is on the menu for guests from around the world.

Novice cook David, however, was philosophical about his performance.

“I’m just pleased I didn’t burn it!” he said.

“I didn’t win, but I was applauded as one of the runners-up. I’m now going around saying that I make the second best porridge and speciality porridge in the world, which isn’t a bad claim to fame.”

Fisher, who revealed he had only made porridge twice before in his life, added: “Everyone who tried my Cranachan said they liked it. For someone who struggles to make a bowl of cereal in the mornings, never mind porridge, I’m pleased with that.

“I was quite happy with my performance for the Golden Spurtle, too. My only qualm was that my porridge had a wee bit too much salt in it.”

The budding TV star praised the level of competition he had faced on the day. “It was tough out there once everyone got down to business and I lost in both categories to two worthy champions,” he said.

“I never knew making porridge was taken so seriously by people around the world. I gave it my best shot and didn’t disgrace myself, so I think I’m going to hang up my spurtle now.”

Fisher’s exploits are to be aired tonight (Wednesday) when he appears on The Paul O’Grady Show to talk about his experiences at the porridge making champs.

He will be on the couch with Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrisey and Countdown’s queen Carol Vorderman in the show going out between 5pm-6pm on Channel 4

Expert porridge makers from far and wide gathered in Carrbridge on Sunday to compete for the golden spurtle and crown of world porridge making champ.

As well as a packed house audience at the village hall, the competition attracted unprecedented media interest with press coverage in most national newspapers and scores of radio interviews across the UK and Ireland.

A travel writer from the Washington Post was in Carrbridge to report on the event along with two young visitors from Scandinavia who are planning to write a book on porridge. In addition, the spectacle received radio coverage from Poland to New Zealand.

There was also a record amount of internet interest with connoisseurs of Scotland’s national dish across the globe following the championship on the www.goldenspurtle.com website.

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