The Today programme's Simon Jack tested the theory that it is cheaper to cook from scratch than it is to buy ready meals.

The CEO of Morrisons Dalton Philips told this programme recently that people were cooking from scratch rather than buying prepared food to save money.

So Simon made chicken tikka masala for four people for £12.25, while ready meals would have cost a pound more had they not been on special offer of "buy one get one free", therefore costing £6.60.

Chef and co-founder of the restaurant chain Leon, Allegra McEvedy said "there are some things which are definitely going to be cheaper to buy ready-made such as a beef lasagne".

But she maintained that while "there's a time and a place for a ready-meal... you can't just talk about the economics of it" going on to list the benefits of the value of knowing you've made it yourself, the health benefits and supporting your local shops.

And after a blind taste-testing, John Humphrys decided the home-made meal was better.

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