He will use his own secret recipe to try and impress the judges, and claim the Golden Spurtle on Sunday, along with the top prize of a £350 hotel voucher and £250 in cash.

Albert will use oatmeal from a local mill, a touch of Maldon sea salt and spring water to cook up what he hopes will be the perfect bowl.

“I like to have a bowl every day without fail because it is very good for you. I could tell you the days I haven’t had it,” he said.

“It cleans your stomach out and I don’t feel hungry during the day. It used to be the staple diet of people in Scotland – porridge and herring.”

Albert entered the event last year for the first time after one of his daughters visited Carrbridge and learnt of the competition.

“I enjoyed it thoroughly and I hope I have learnt a lot from last year. The thing about making a plate of porridge is you can never tell how good it is going to be.

“One day it seems exceptionally fine and the next day it is not so good.”

Emperor Hirohito of Japan lived to the age of 96, reportedly with the help of a bowl of porridge every day, said Albert.

The judges on Sunday include George McIvor, chairman of the Master Chefs of Great Britain, Colin Bussey, executive head chef of the Gleneagles Hotel, and former Scottish Master Chef winner and celebrity cookery writer and demonstrator, Fi Bird.

The annual event is organised by Carrbridge Community Council whose chairman, Scott Bruce, said: “This prestigious annual event has built up an international following and generates a huge amount of interest across the world.”

Albert added: “I am looking forward to Sunday with a little trepidation. It is not quite the same doing it in your kitchen as standing up in front of a hall full of people. However, they were a wonderful crowd last year.”

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