ITV has confirmed the lattest batch of celebrities set to take part in Cooking with the Stars when it returns for its third series later this year.
Emma Willis and Tom Allen are set to return as hosts presiding over the action as eight celebrities are paired with professional chefs who will mentor them, in a bid to transform them from amateur to expert in a matter of weeks.
Produced by South Shore and co-funded by Marks & Spencer, this six-part cooking competition will air over the summer on ITV1 and ITVX.
The eight celebs heading to the kitchen are actor Jason Watkins, boxer Chris Eubank, actress Joanna Page, Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon, singer and television personality Peter Andre, Busted’s Matt Willis, Steps’ Claire Richards and Love Island star Indiyah Polack.
Throughout the series the celebrities will be guided by their Chef Mentor as they attempt to create the winning dish in a series of intense Cooking Battles. The loser of each Battle will then have to fight for their place in the competition in the Cook Off – as they’re tasked with creating a dish they’ve never seen before.
Judged blind by all the chefs there is the possibility that the losing celebrity could be sent home by their own Chef Mentor. But who can handle the heat and go all the way to the end to become the culinary champion of this exciting cooking competition?
The professional chefs taking part in the challenge this year are British chef and TV presenter Rosemary Shrager (partnered with Peter Andre), chef director Jack Stein (partnered with Chris Eubank), Michelin Starred French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli (partnered with Samia Longchambon).
The ITV show will aScottish chef and restaurateur Tony Singh MBE (partnered with Claire Richards), Michelin Starred executive chef Michael Caines MBE (partnered with Joanna Page), restauranter and cookery author Shelina Permalloo (partnered with Matt Willis), chef & restaurateur April Jackson (partnered with Jason Watkins) and award-winning chef Ellis Barrie (partnered with Indiyah Polack).
Speaking in a press release, host Willis said: “Filming Cooking With The Stars is always a highlight for me as not only do Tom and I have lots of fun but we also get to try some phenomenal food. We have a great cast this season, who will no doubt be feeling the pressure as they head into the kitchen. We’ve seen blood, sweat and tears on previous series and I’m sure this series will be no exception!”
While her co-host Allen added: “A whole lot of great food, celebs reaching boiling point plus Emma Willis and me holding court - sounds like my dream party. I am so excited to be bringing back to your screens the glitziest competitive cooking show in the world!”
