THE TRUTH will out, as they say.

And it certainly did for comedian Josh Widdicombe on Channel 4’s topical talkshow The Last Leg on Friday night, 30 years after a devious deed was committed at a summer show.

Comedian Josh, who hails from Haytor Vale, had been dining out on the the fact he’d picked up first prize for winning the Mini Beast Created from Fruit and Vegetables at the 1991 Ilsington Flower Show.

However, all has not been at it seemed over the past three decades.

The perfect potato-bodied vegetable insect that picked up the prestigious prize now appears to have been a fraud, created not by Josh, but by his dad.

The Mid-Devon Advertiser had earlier in the week responded to a long-shot request from the production team of The Last Leg to see if we had by any chance some archive material featuring the heinous crime.

An exhaustive search of file copies and photographs turned up a picture of an eight-year old Josh beaming with his alleged winning vegetable and these were immediately sent up to the show’s production team which lead to Josh’s admission on live television.

Said Josh: ‘My confession is when I was eight at the Ilsington Parish Flower Show I won first prize in the animal made out of vegetables round – and my Dad had made the animal.’

There followed sharp intakes of breath from fellow Last Leg hosts Alex Brooker and Adam Hills, and even boos from the audience at this shock news.

In his defence, which to be fair was weak, Josh continued: ‘Hey, I was just a kid, it’s my Dad you should be giving the aggro too. And I’ll be honest with you, considering an adult made it – it’s not that good really!’

The team did some more digging and found a few more images featuring Josh with prizes, certificates and trophies leading show anchorman Adam Hills to invite anyone beaten by Josh at the event to contact The Last Leg to claim their rightful trophy.

The ribbing continued throughout the show with an unusual food combination feature seeing Adam Hills tucking into an ancient Widdicombe family recipe featuring potato, grape, runner beans and blueberry served ‘à la Papa Widdicombe’.

Legal assistance was also offered to Josh by top American cat lawyer and accidental internet hit Mr Tiddles who appeared more than happy to represent Josh in his ‘forthcoming legal battle with the Mid-Devon Advertiser’.

Readers will be pleased to know our own legal beagle brief Mr Wuffles is pawsed and ready to take on the feline attorney.

However, the good news for Josh is that all is forgiven from the committee members of Ilsington Parish Summer Show.

In fact the show, which takes place for the 95th time on July 17 this year, is more than happy for Josh to make a return to rectify his misdemeanour.

Show committee chairman Julie Souch said: ‘Obviously he can’t enter the children’s classes anymore but he’s more than welcome to try the adult competitions providing of course it’s his own work this time.’

Categories that Josh could enter, should he dare, include the Victor Sponge, a male-only baking competition in which men have to cook their equivalent of a victoria sponge; the curiously named Wooden Spoon – My Disaster; and a Mr Potato Head competition.

The team at the MDA are currently awaiting with bated breath to hear if the cheeky miscreant will take up the challenge.