The culinary stage is set as Celebrity MasterChef makes its anticipated return, featuring an exciting roster of stars including Katie Price, Megan McKenna, and Penny Lancaster, each ready to showcase their kitchen prowess.
On Thursday, the eagerly awaited line-up was revealed, drawing in viewers with the likes of 42-year-old Katie Price, former TOWIE sensation Megan McKenna, at 28, and the ever-graceful Penny Lancaster, 50, among 17 other acclaimed personalities vying for this year’s title.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of another headline from Katie Price, who revealed her engagement to 32-year-old Carl Woods, marking her eighth trip down the aisle.
Contestants: The upcoming season of Celebrity MasterChef features a diverse cast with Katie Price, Megan McKenna, and Penny Lancaster (pictured L-R) all set to compete in the kitchen showdown.
This year’s edition of the BBC One show, slated for later this year, also boasts an impressive line-up including TV personality Melanie Sykes, 50, esteemed Strictly dancer Johannes Radebe, 33, pop icon Duncan James from Blue, 43, and dynamic presenter Joe Swash, 39.
Actress Su Pollard, 71, Britain’s Got Talent finalist and comedian Nabil Abdulrashid, 35, and The Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant, 48, are also among the celebrities who will take part in the upcoming series.
Broadcast over six weeks, the celebrities will also tackle a new series of cookery challenges, with renowned chefs including Tom Kerridge, Nisha Katona, Nieves Barragan Mohacho and more appearing as special guest judges.
Whisks at the ready: The BBC One show, set to air later this year, will also star Melanie Sykes, 50, Strictly dancer Johannes Radebe, 33, Blue’s Duncan James, 43, and Joe Swash, 39 (L-R)
Fun: Actress Su Pollard, 71, Britain’s Got Talent finalist and comedian Nabil Abdulrashid, 35, and The Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant, 48, (L-R) are also among the celebrities who will take part in the upcoming series
Battling it out: This year’s crop of 20 celebrities, joined again by MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, also includes Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox, 50, and Love Island’s Kem Cetinay, 24
Here come the boys: Happy Monday’s Bez, 57, is also among the contestants as well as ex-England footballer Dion Dublin, 51, and The Repair Shop’s Will Kirk
This year’s crop of 20 celebrities, joined again by MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, also includes Love Island’s Kem Cetinay, 24, comedian Munya Chawawa, 28, and actresses Rita Simons, 44, Melissa Johns, 31, and Michelle Collins, 59.
The Repair Shop’s Will Kirk is also among the contestants as well as ex-England footballer Dion Dublin, 51, and journalist and author Gavin Esler, 68.
Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox, 50, and Happy Monday’s Bez, 57, will also be hoping to impress with their culinary skills.
Series editor Katie Attwood said: ‘This year’s line-up promises a huge amount of humour and entertainment. Lockdown has proved productive for our famous faces’ culinary skills and we are set to see some exceptional talent and astonishing dishes as the celebrities swap their day jobs for a spot in the MasterChef kitchen.’
Stars: Journalist and author Gavin Esler, 68, and comedian Munya Chawawa, 28, round-up the line-up
Sarah Clay, commissioning editor for the BBC, added: ‘Celebrity MasterChef is one the highlights of the British summertime schedule and this series is as entertaining and charming as ever.
‘The 20 brave celebrities are joined by a host of chefs at the top of their game in brand new tasks which makes this year feel extra special. The standard of cooking is like nothing we have seen before.’
The 2020 series of Celebrity MasterChef was won by Irish-Iraqi broadcaster and YouTube star Riyadh Khalaf.
Celebrity MasterChef will return to BBC One this summer.
Not long to wait: Celebrity MasterChef will return to BBC One this summer (pictured judges John Torode (L) and Gregg Wallace (R)
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF 2021: MEET THE STARS
Name: Katie Price
Age: 42
Famous for? Glamour modelling and TV personality
Food facts? Katie has previously detailed various wild diets, including juice-only cleanses which may reflect in her cooking
Name: Megan McKenna
Age: 28
Famous for? Ex On The Beach, TOWIE turned singer
Food facts? Megan is undoubtedly set to be a whizz in the kitchen as she previously owned her own restaurant MCK Grill
Name: Joe Swash
Age: 39
Famous for? EastEnders and TV personality
Food facts? After Joe’s stint on I’m A Celebrity in 2008, he revealed the steady diet of rice and peas meant he could not stop passing wind
Name: Johannes Radebe
Age: 33
Famous for? Strictly Come Dancing dancer
Food facts? Johannes has previously under the guidance of his nutritionist he uses vitamin drip treatments as an antioxidant
Name: Penny Lancaster
Age: 50
Famous for? Model. Married to Rod Stewart
Food facts? Last year, Penny revealed she lost 17lbs and 4in off her waist in eight weeks after enjoying a health kick during lockdown
Name: Kem Cetinay
Age: 24
Famous for? Winning Love Island 2017 series
Food facts? In 2018, Kem Cetinay revealed he loves bread and carbs and in learned a lot about nutrition during a massive health kick
Name: Rita Simons
Age: 44
Famous for? Roxy Mitchell on EastEnders
Food facts? Rita has revealed she ‘forgets to eat’ during her massive health kicks – involving lots of salad, vegetables and juice
Name: Melanie Sykes
Age: 50
Famous for? Television presenter
Food facts? While Melanie is known for her health and fitness, she previously said: ‘I love chocolate, pork scratchings and white wine’
Name: Nabil Abdulrashid
Age: 35
Famous for? Britain’s Got Talent comedian
Food facts? It has previously been revealed that Nabil has a passion for Nigerian dishes in a nod to his heritage
Name: Melissa Johns
Age: 31
Famous for? LIFE and Coronation Street actress
Food facts? After lashing out at the government over a corona, Melissa revealed her comfort food – a cup of tea with Bourbon biscuits.’
Name: Will Kirk
Age: Unknown
Famous for? The Repair Shop furniture restorer
Food facts? As Christmas 2020 was cancelled, Will revealed he made a nut roast and lots of veg, saying: ‘It can’t be too hard can it? Pop it all in the oven.’
Name: Michelle Collins
Age: 59
Famous for? EastEnders and Coronation Street actress
Food facts? In February, Michelle revealed she almost poisoned herself by mistaking a daffodil for a spring onion while making a stir-fry
Name: Su Pollard
Age: 71
Famous for? Actress, Perry & Croft sitcom Hi-de-Hi
Food facts? Su revealed that during a chat with Teresa May’s husband Philip, she decided to shun discussing Brexit and instead detail cakes
Name: Duncan James
Age: 43
Famous for? Member of boyband Blue
Food facts? Duncan is known for his devotion to health and famously lost one stone in a week with a militant diet
Name: Kadeena Cox
Age: 30
Famous for? Parasport athlete
Food facts? Kadeena has spoken at length about her diet in the past having recovered from disordered eating and now sticks to healthy athlete diet
Name: Bez
Age: 57
Famous for? Happy Monday’s
Food facts? Bez has admitted that a £100-a-week chocolate habit led him to launching a health and fitness overhaul
Name: Dion Dublin
Age: 51
Famous for? Presenter and retired footballer
Food facts? Dion dedicated some time in lockdown to helping out at Flintshire Foodbank
Name: Gavin Esler
Age: 68
Famous for? Newsnight presenter
Food facts? Gavin took to Twitter previously to reveal that his favourite food groups are craft beer and curry
Name: Munya Chawawa
Age: 28
Famous for? Comedian
Food facts? Earlier this year, Munya criticised the government’s handling of its free school meals policy in a viral sketch
Name: Patrick Grant
Age: 48
Famous for? The Great British Sewing Bee
Food facts? On his tips for eating, he said: ‘Bulk food shopping is your best friend, and big-batch cooking is your strongest monetary ally’