AJ and Susie are joined again by Christabel Cairns of The Guild of Fine Food, the organisation that runs the Great Taste Awards. This week the team want to concentrate on innovation in food and drink. What is driving innovation and how can entering the Awards help producers break boundaries? Jacob Thundil of Soyze brings along his own award-winning sauces to see if our taste experts are impressed, and they also taste some very interesting chocolate habanero sauce from Kickin Chilli.

Christabel Cairns organises the Great Taste Awards and is heavily involved in the World Cheese Awards. How do you manage the pure logistics of judging 14,000 products each year and how do you get three stars? Christabel joins Susie and AJ as a guest presenter for the next four weeks and brings a whole host of Great Taste Award winning products to assess. First, off she talks about Try January - why not try something new that you haven't before - much more exciting than Dry January and possible a bit more daring than Veganuary.

Susie has always loved vermouth and has been banging on for six years about how underrated it is. She has never understood why the art of mixing botanicals has been so associated with gin making. Sigh! Obviously AJ hasn't a clue what she's talking about but starts to warm to the theme. They are joined by artisan vermouth makers Guy Abrahams and Gnina Balchin who talk them through the process. 

One of our most beautiful islands, the Isle of Wight, has lots to offer. The weather, sailing, beaches, wonderful walks and great food and drink. The local delicacies of home grown garlic and crab and chips are world beating. However Susie and AJ are keen on the local tipples which are infused with locally foraged herbs and plants. They speak to Xavier Baker of Mermaid gin and Ruth Green of Tipsy Wight the vodka people. There is so much to taste but our intrepid presenters reckon they pretty much agree on the best of the bunch. 

Susie and AJ discuss the merits of drinks in a can. They've now got used to craft beer wrapped in aluminium but think that wine in a can may be a step too far, but what about cocktails? Susie reckons that as you can get a negroni in a 100ml can now, she might put that in her toiletry bag at the airport instead of her shampoo and toothpaste as its much more useful. That aside there are many more advantages to canned cocktails, from the financial savings, to the eco advantages, the chill factor and foregoing the faff of making them. What do you think?

Susie meets Marie Prebble from Kent who holds the world record for sheep shearing. Along with Kristina Boulden of Romney Marsh Wools she explains why British lamb is best in the summer and why we should all being eating the much maligned mutton. 

Susie and AJ agree that every freezer in the UK must have a bag of frozen peas for that odd time where you have a swollen joint or twisted ankle. They can't however agree about buying frozen jacket potatoes. Susie thinks it's a great idea but AJ isn't so sure. Luckily Matt Whelan of Field Fare, the high quality frozen food people, is on hand to adjudicate and explain some simple rules for freezing stuff to cut down on your food waste.

This week is all about umami flavours or savouriness which is one of the five basic tastes alongside bitter, sour, sweet and salty. Foods that have a strong umami flavour include meats, shellfish, anchovies, soy sauce, marmite and strong cheese. AJ and Susie talk to Adam Sopher who makes popcorn with interesting umami flavour combinations including Irish stout and cheese on toast. What?! Harry Turpin is also in the studio with his umami Crunchits.

AJ and Susie are honoured to have Renée Elliott and Sam Wigan as their guests on today's programme. The food, drink, agri and hospitality sector have taken a real hit in the last two years. Almost everyone's health has been affected by covid one way or another. How do we keep our entrepreneurial heads above water and remain healthy and true to ourselves? Renée explains how her experience of setting up Planet Organic all those decades ago has shaped her approach to running a successful business, and Sam runs us through how to clarify purpose, resolve challenges and attain desired results in these difficult times.

Fruits contain large amounts of nutrients including fibre, vitamins, minerals and various antioxidants. They taste wonderful and we probably don't know enough about them. Luckily for AJ and Susie, Sarah Calcutt is on hand of the National Fruit Show to tell us all about British top fruit and soft fruit AND she has brought loads of delicious samples. They are also joined by Laurie Fermor of Freddie's Farm which makes delicious apple treats for little people.