CHERIE Blair joked she would not be swapping recipes with celebrity chef Ken Hom when she arrived in Oxford to give a speech in his honour last night.

The former Prime Minister’s wife was Mr Hom’s guest at Oxford Brookes University where she spoke on improving lives in developing nations.

Mrs Blair kissed and hugged the TV star on her arrival at the university. She told reporters: “I’ve come here today to see my friend Ken Hom in particular and to give a lecture in his honour – I think I’m only the third person to give this lecture.”

Asked whether the pair would swap recipes she replied: “I think if anyone’s giving recipes it will be Ken, not me!”

Mrs Blair gave her speech after a reception in the Oxford Brookes restaurant at the Gipsy Lane Campus in Headington.

Commenting on how she managed to fit the lecture into her busy schedule, the barrister added: “I think you make time for things you really believe in.”

Mr Hom is patron of Oxford Gastronomica, the university’s centre for food, drink and culture.