Published: 12 August 2024
Roll out the red carpet, as the who’s who of music, comedy, drama, sport and showbusiness are here for their cooking close-up in a bid to become Celebrity MasterChef 2024 Champion, as the ever-popular series returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The next six weeks will see 20 famous faces throw themselves into the biggest culinary challenge of their lives. MasterChef judges, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, will be putting their own taste buds through a sensory assault course, as they discover which celebrities have the palate and skill to chop, slice and sizzle their way to lifting the iconic Celebrity MasterChef trophy.
Expect the unexpected, as Celebrity MasterChef fires up the stoves once more, for the first of four weeks of Heats. Some of the UK’s brightest celebrity talent are in the wings ready to take on the challenge, but only the most fearless will cope with the demands of the competition. The race for the title kicks off in style and those who bring their A-list game across the week will win a place in this Heat’s Quarter Final.
The first five celebrities donning MasterChef aprons this week are TV and radio presenter Craig Doyle, reality star and influencer, Charlotte Crosby, TV and radio presenter Edith Bowman, popstar, Ian ‘H’ Watkins and TV and radio presenter Snoochie Shy.
John and Gregg waste no time in setting the first task for the hopefuls – Under The Cloche. Taking it in turns, the celebrities pick a gleaming cloche. Using the hidden ingredient they reveal, it’s then down to them to deliver a dish that gives that ingredient real superstar status.
Next, it’s time for an insight into what these celebs cook for their mates, as they are each tasked with producing two dinner party dishes that would wow the most demanding house guests. This year’s celebrities know the standard required – and must decide whether or not to play it safe!
Mairi@plankpr.com
- Watch the first three episodes of Celebrity MasterChef on BBC iPlayer now
- Watch Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One from Tuesday 13 August at 8pm
Meet the Celebrities
Charlotte Crosby
Reality Star & Influencer
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
“I’ve always loved cooking at home. I cook every day I’m home for the family, my partner and my little girl. I find it very therapeutic and am keen to learn more in the kitchen.”
What was it like walking into the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
“Walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time was surreal. To see the setup and the real thing, and to be there after watching it for years on TV, was a very big pinch-me moment. It didn’t feel like I was really there. It felt like I was a tourist visiting for photo opportunities!”
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
“Whatever I cook for my partner, he absolutely loves it. From the first forkful going into his mouth, he’s so over the top with the compliments. He says it’s the best food he’s ever tasted in his life which is great to hear.”
“I have no particular style of cooking. I’ve been cooking since I first started my weight loss journey, where I began to prepare my own meals and cook from scratch to eat healthier. I make stir fry, Thai green stir fry, special breakfast dishes, Mexican eggs, spinach, mushrooms, etc. I try and give everything a go we have a very varied diet.”
Favourite dish to cook vs. favourite dish to eat?
“My favourite dish to eat is a Sunday dinner, but my god, that’s the hardest thing to cook! Due to the timing of what’s involved – the carrots have to be honey-glazed, the roasties have a knack to them, the puddings have to rise, the mash has to be creamy, and every component has to be done to perfection. It’s so complicated. I love eating it, but cooking it is hard.”
“My favourite dish to cook is a lot simpler: a nice hot Mexican chilli with some beef tacos.”
Craig Doyle
TV & Radio Presenter
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
“I’ve watched MasterChef for 20 years and I love the show, but the thought of going on it has absolutely terrified me, because I love cooking. I’ve always cooked as it’s always a bit of an escape for me, so to go on it and come out as a cook is kind of scary. I wanted to go on it and make sure I was good!”
“I’ve been cooking all my life. I cooked as a kid, I used to help with my parents’ dinner parties and I’ve always been really interested in the food when I travel the world with the various shows I’ve worked on. But I’ve always kept it as my little secret! I use cooking to relax or deal with any kind of stress or frustrations – it’s my way of dealing with it.”
What was it walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
“Walking into the kitchen for the first time was so weird. It was like I’d stepped into the television! Twenty years of TV and I’d walked into it, and it was like “woah!” I was so excited but also absolutely terrified. I was so giddy!”
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
“I’ve always cooked for the family. I have a big island in the middle of the kitchen and the kids do their homework around it and I cook away and try bits and bobs and I’d try making weird stuff. It’s just a normal thing to do – cooking for six of us every night that I’m at home. It’s never daunted me and I’ve always enjoyed it.”
“My style of cooking is whatever catches my mood! I try a bit of everything – I bore my friends with it but as we’ve gotten older they like coming over to try my dishes. I don’t always get it right, but I love trying!”
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
“The first dish I ever cooked was a tiramisu for my mum. I must have been about 11. I used to love making it, constructing it with all the layers then seeing my friends eat it and the looks on their faces.
“I also love seafood – my parents always loved seafood and my dad would bring home lots of different and unusual types. I love cooking fish – especially for people who say they hate fish and then they try it and realise they don’t really! I also love meat, cooked over an open fire, and big sharing meals.”
Edith Bowman
TV and Radio Presenter
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
“It’s such an iconic show and I was really looking forward to cooking for John and Gregg and to learn. I feel like my cooking is a bit stuck in a rut and so I was looking for the opportunity to be pushed outside of my comfort zone, learning new skills and new ways of putting flavours together.”
What was it walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
“It was terrifying. The anticipation and the wait before it felt like I was in a time warp! I was really excited about the prospect of walking into the kitchen for the first time and when we went in, it’s all like you see on telly with the MasterChef logo and John and Gregg standing there! The excitement as well – it’s that mix of nerves and excitement – it was very bizarre!”
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
“I’ve been cooking forever, I grew up in a very small family-run hotel, in a little town in Scotland. My mum and her sisters worked in the kitchen, so I learnt from the best. It was very much hearty home-cooked food. So for as long as I can remember I’ve always loved the kitchen. It’s the heart of the home. I’ve always cooked for people and I’m quite safe. I’d like to expand my palate and my cooking abilities a bit more. I’d probably describe it as pub-grub.
“My husband always jokes that when I try a new recipe I deviate and give it my own twist. My kids love my food, which is great and it’s one of the things I’ve been really vigilant about – making home-cooked, healthy food and making sure that they get involved and learn skills. They love it.”
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
“It depends on who I’m cooking for! I love cooking crab linguine and fish is something I really enjoy cooking. A roast dinner is probably my favourite thing to make though. It’s so wholesome and hearty. It’s really nice to tailor-make all the different accompaniments – and figure out what goes best with different roasts, how many veggies to have, gravy, Yorkshire puds and all of that.
“My favourite thing to eat is Japanese food. I’m a massive Japanese food fan. I love nothing more than going to Japanese restaurants for a wonderful feast of everything! I love yellow-tail sashimi, sesame seed spinach salad, black cod and the tempura prawn inside-out rolls. It’s my favourite to eat but I don’t quite have the confidence or the skills to cook for myself.”
Ian ‘H’ Watkins
Pop Star
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
“I wanted a challenge to sink my teeth into. I am known by my friends and family for not being able to cook up until this point! When it comes to cooking, I’d say that I’m an expert with the air fryer and the microwave, so I wanted to take on Celebrity MasterChef to develop a skill that I could involve my children and family with going forward.”
What was it walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
“Intimidating”, to say the least! Now, I’m used to performing in the O2 arena – put me on a stage and I can do that with my eyes closed; ask me to boil an egg in front of John and Gregg and I fall to pieces!”
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
“Erm, it doesn’t! My usual menu consists either of a takeaway or tapas style ‘picky bits’ from a packet… or bring your own!”
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
“I now really enjoy making pasta with the kids and that’s something I’d never tried before. Our favourite thing to make together is ravioli, which my children now call ‘pirate hat pasta’! We all get properly stuck in and completely involved and it’s now one of my favourite things to do with my children.
“My favourite food to eat, hands down, is pizza. That always goes down a storm!”
Snoochie Shy
TV and Radio Presenter
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
“I mean it’s an absolutely iconic show and I’ve always watched it! I entered so I can try to learn new tips and tricks in the hopes it would get me cheffin’ it up in the kitchen more without feeling like I’d poison my mates!”
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
“I don’t think I anticipated just how nervous I would be. I thought I was going to enter and be calm but actually walking into the kitchen was crazy. I’m pretty sure I started shaking straight away! But it was so sick to be in the MasterChef kitchen – something I’ve only ever seen on TV – and I feel honoured! It’s definitely more nerve-wracking than being in my own kitchen trying to make sure onions don’t fall on the floor so my dog doesn’t eat them!”
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
“I’ve never poisoned them yet but I’m more known to be the cocktail-maker.”
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
“My fave thing to cook is a Thai red prawn curry. I’ve had no complaints and my mates have asked me to make it for them again – although my presentation is always abysmal. So my hope was to learn a thing or too regarding that. I’ve always said it’s about the flavour – who cares what it looks like!
“My fave thing to eat has to be fried chicken.”