• Brits would rather share meal with Stephen Fry than Hollywood stars. He is seen by Brits as the most popular well-travelled celebrity to share a meal with.
• Italian food is British people's favourite foreign cuisine.
• Half of Britons say food is important factor when choosing holiday destination.

A new survey by Intrepid Travel, one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators, has found that more people would like to share a meal with TV presenter Stephen Fry than with Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie or George Clooney.

When asked to choose from a list of well-travelled celebrities, Stephen Fry was the most popular person to share a meal with (15%), followed by Frozen Planet presenter Sir David Attenborough (11%) and adventurer Michael Palin (9%). Just one in 20 people said they'd most like to share a meal with Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie or George Clooney (both 5%). Three times as many people chose Jamie Oliver compared with Gordon Ramsay (6% and 2% respectively).

The poll, which was carried out for the small group travel specialist by YouGov, found that although Chicken Tikka Masala may be thought to be the nation's favourite dish,  Italian food is British people's favourite foreign cuisine, with one in six (17%) saying it's their top choice.

Italian was voted the most popular cuisine among 18 to 34 year-olds*, Indian cuisine is the top choice for 35 to 44 year-olds**, while 45 and overs are more patriotic in their choice of meal and most likely to favour British food***.

Almost half of those surveyed who have been on holiday abroad (47%) said that the local cuisine is very or fairly important when choosing their holiday destination abroad. But although almost 9 in 10 with a favourite cuisine (87%) have eaten it in a restaurant, and 8 in 10 have cooked it at home, less then four in ten (38%) have eaten their favourite cuisine in a restaurant in the country that it comes from.

Within the UK, Londoners are the most likely to seek out the most authentic food they can find when travelling, eating from street stalls and markets whenever possible (18%), while Scots are the most likely to stick to Western chain restaurants or familiar cuisines (15%). 

Throughout February, 2012, Intrepid Travel is offering 15% off gastronomic tours in more than 15 countries known for their fabulous cuisine, from India to Vietnam, Sri Lanka to Mexico, as well as destinations closer to home including Italy, Spain and France.

The discounted trips showcase global food at its most authentic, with cooking classes, street food and local markets featuring prominently on many of the itineraries.   

• (All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,079 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 9 - 11 January 2012.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

* 22% of 18 to 34 year-olds said Italian was their favourite cuisine

** 19% of 35 to 44 year-olds said Indian was their favourite cuisine

*** 30% of 45 and overs said that British was their favourite cuisine

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About Intrepid Travel: This small group adventure tour operator offers authentic and fun experiences that give travellers the chance to get under the skin of the places they visit, with more than 1,000 itineraries to more than 100 countries worldwide. Intrepid Travel trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.