Snooker legend Stephen Hendry has taken up pots of a different kind – on Celebrity MasterChef.
The Scot was yesterday unveiled with comedian Vic Reeves, Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and TV host Ulrika Jonsson among this year’s contestants.
They’ll be up against Paul Daniels’ widow Debbie McGee, pop star Rachel Stevens and veteran singer Patti Boulaye.
Over six weeks, the group of 20 will be whittled down to one winner, who will be chosen by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace on the BBC 1 show.
During the first four weeks the stars will compete in groups of five, tackling the Mystery Box Challenge and cooking in a restaurant kitchen for paying customers.
They’ll then return to the MasterChef kitchen to prepare a two-course meal for the judges. One contestant will be sent home at the end of each episode.
For those who progress, challenges include a skills and knowledge test and catering for large numbers of people at venues including The Oval cricket ground, King’s College Dental Institute and the Francis Crick Institute. To reach the semi-finals, they’ll also have to cook for past Celebrity MasterChef winners, including last year’s champion Alexis Conran.
During a 90-minute finale, three finalists will face the Chef’s Table, led by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton.
Among the famous faces competing on the show will be French tennis ace Henri Leconte, opera singer Lesley Garrett, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley and TV presenter Angellica Bell. Outnumbered actor Tyger Drew-Honey, soap and film star Brian Bovell and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Nick Moran will also be there.
The other celebrities taking part are comedian Abdullah Afzal, Radio 1’s Dev Griffin, children’s TV presenter Barney Harwood, Scottish broadcaster Aasmah Mir, Gogglebox’s Reverend Kate Bottley and presenter Julia Somerville.
BBC commissioning editor Carla-Maria Lawson said: “Celebrity MasterChef is an astonishing test of culinary ability from people who are not recognised for their talents in the kitchen.
“Every year we are blown away by celebrities’ gastronomic prowess and this year doesn’t disappoint.
“The line-up is one of the strongest we have ever seen and we hope it will entertain and tantalise viewers in equal measure.”
