Who will be the dark horse of the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen?
They excel in their field of choice but can these Celebrity MasterChef hopefuls really cook? We rate their chances.
National
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Competition is fierce in Celebrity MasterChef with 10 stars at the peak of their professional powers, but a little out of their comfort zone in the TV kitchen.
Tilly Ramsay with her dad – world-renowned, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gordon – on speed dial looks almost a shoo-in for the title, but you can’t rule out Olympic legend Ian Thorpe and a few other dark horses who may just upset her quest.
TILLY RAMSAY
★★★★★
All the other celebrities say she’s the one to beat. And they’d be crazy not to say so, with Tilly’s dad, Gordon Ramsay, arguably the most famous chef on the planet. but the TikTok star also has a secret weapon – her mum Tana is quite a whiz in the kitchen.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
My dad has a fantastic recipe in his new book (Ramsay In 10) called super green pasta with rocket and lemon. It’s delicious.
Favourite cuisine
I love so many but we have this restaurant in London called Lucky Cat which is a delicious fusion of Asian cuisines.
Guilty pleasure
Pizza for sure, the best go-to is a hot cheesy slice, what’s not to love!
Favourite ingredient
You can do so much with the humble egg. The easiest thing to cook is probably a boiled egg and then at the other end you have one of the most difficult dishes to master – souffles.
Your inspiration
My dad has been a huge influence and hero to me. However, most people don’t know my amazing Mum Tana who does the majority of cooking in our house and is a really, really good cook too!
Strength
I think I have a good palate.
Weakness
Focus and timing.
CHRISSIE SWAN
★★★★★
The Nova brekkie radio host is a quality home cook with a gregarious personality to match and is favoured to go far. Chrissie cooks for her family every single day and is all about generous servings.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
I can’t beat a simple three-egg omelette with goat’s cheese and a fresh vine tomato on the side. I’ve been known to have this for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Favourite cuisine
Italian to cook because everything is so tasty and hearty. Japanese to eat at a restaurant because of the unique flavours and unbelievable techniques I could never master.
Guilty pleasure
I don’t believe in guilty pleasures when it comes to food, but I guess my most nutritionally challenged fave food would be Potato Gems with mayo and BBQ sauce.
Favourite ingredient
I love garlic! If a recipe calls for two cloves, I’ll use eight. Minimum.
Your Inspiration
I taught myself to cook. I also learnt a lot from the chefs I worked with for two years on The Circle! My Gran loved to cook and feed people and I definitely got that from her as well.
Strength
Generosity of flavour and quantity. No one goes hungry in my kitchen!
Weakness
I have absolutely no fancy techniques. I’m a prison cook! Also, I am bonkers and messy.
COLLETTE DINNIGAN
★★★★★
The fashion designer lived in Italy for three years and has travelled the world with her work. Her mother taught her to cook and she has famous foodie friends.
Your go-to quick and easy meal?
Roast Tomato and Caper Pasta. It’s best served with spaghetti, and then make a sauce with olive oil, garlic, olives, roasted tomatoes and right at the end you toss through goats cheese.
Favourite cuisine
Italian – I lived in Italy for three years and love everything about their food and lifestyle.
Guilty pleasure
A lobster and tarragon mayonnaise slider or sandwich!
Favourite ingredient
I love to cook with tomatoes and I can’t live without cooking with salt and olive oil.
Your inspiration
My mother, Sheila has taught me so much. I do also have many chef friends, who have shared recipes with me and we’ve cooked together.
Strength
Flavour – I enjoy cooking with great big flavours.
Weakness
It would have to be holding back on using butter.
NICK RIEWOLDT
★★★★★
A dedicated dad and family man, the Fox Footy commentator comes into the competition wanting to create memories around food. As a legend of the AFL, Nick knows how to play to his strengths, and we’ll see him drawing on his Tasmania upbringing and access to the freshest seafood throughout the competition.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
Spaghetti carbonara.
Favourite cuisine
Anything from the sea and Japanese Omakase.
Guilty pleasure
Homemade frozen yoghurt.
Favourite ingredient
Seafood.
Your inspiration
My mum, Fiona. She doesn’t measure anything. It’s all done by taste and feel.
Strength
Opening jars.
Weakness
Anything that requires finesse.
REBECCA GIBNEY
★★★★
One of the busiest people in showbusiness, the Gold Logie winner confesses her husband does all the cooking at home. She’s set to showcase some culinary classics from her beloved New Zealand.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
A Thai red curry, with prawns and chicken.
Favourite cuisine
Thai – I love the people, I love the food. Love everything about it.
Guilty pleasure
Boysenberry choc top. I could probably just live on ice cream.
Favourite ingredient
Butter. I love butter and, you know what, garlic salt.
Your inspiration
My husband, Richard. I was a very basic cook before him. He’s that person when you make a spag bol and it’s a bit bland, he’ll throw in this and that and then it tastes like you’re at an Italian restaurant.
Strength
A sense of humour – and you need one.
Weakness
Sharp knives. My husband bought me a mesh glove to take to Melbourne. I have a tendency to lick blades. I’m such a real ditz and klutz in the kitchen.
MATT LE NEVEZ
★★★★
The actor hopes to impress the judges with his extensive knowledge of classic Italian cuisine. Sources say he could be the dark horse of the competition.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
Chicken cacciatore. Really because it’s something my kids love to eat and anything you can get your kids to agree on eating is a good dish.
Favourite cuisine
Italian and Mexican.
Guilty pleasure
Haigh’s speckles. Oh my God, they’re amazing.
Favourite ingredient
Wine, whether in the food or in a glass on the side.
Your inspiration
Swedish chef from The Muppets.
Strength
I can juggle. Or maybe I enjoy cooking for big groups of people.
Weakness
I’m really messy. And clumsy. And burn a lot of things.
IAN THORPE
★★★★
This legend of the pool has already released his own cookbook. A lover of mac and cheese with a dislike of eggs, will his competitive nature be enough to walk away with the MasterChef trophy? He’s a gold medal Olympian, so he’s likely to have what it takes to withstand the pressure.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
Chicken scallopine with lemon sauce and steamed vegetables.
Favourite cuisine
Changes all the time, but currently Persian.
Guilty pleasure
Ice Cream.
Favourite ingredient
Cardamon or Yuzu.
Your inspiration
Mostly self-taught, but my Grandparents.
Strength
My palate.
Weakness
Other people being in the kitchen with me.
ARCHIE THOMPSON
★★★
Bursting with energy and enthusiasm, no challenge is too big for the football legend. Food and meal time played an important role in Archie’s family growing up.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
Would have to be fried rice.
Favourite cuisine
I’d say Japanese but I do love a BBQ too.
Guilty pleasure
I have too many but if I had to choose one then I can’t go past a biscuit especially with chocolate in it.
Favourite ingredient
That’s easy – it’s rice!
Inspiration
Watching MasterChef.
Strength
I’m good at taking orders from a real cook.
Weakness
I’m not good at keeping a tidy kitchen.
DAMI IM
★★★
The singer/songwriter confesses coming into the competition her cooking know-how had room for improvement. Learning most of her cooking skills from her mum, Dami has an amazing knowledge of Korean cuisine.
Your go-to quick and easy meal
Kimchi fried rice with fried egg on top.
Favourite cuisine
Korean, obviously, but also Mexican and Vietnamese.
Guilty pleasure
Hot chips and meat pies with pepper.
Favourite ingredient
Eggs – makes everything taste better, and of course kimchi.
Your inspiration
My mum who is an amazing cook, who loves hosting big gatherings.
Strength
I’m pretty quick and good at multi-tasking.
Weakness
I’m not great with dessert because I normally don’t make my own!
DILRUK JAYASINHA
★★★
This funny man taught himself to cook in lockdown last year. Keen to showcase his strength in savoury dishes, but does he have enough experience in the kitchen to win the competition?
Your go-to quick and easy meal
I love the Dhaal that I make. I consider it my main source of carbs these days and have it with a grilled barramundi.
Favourite cuisine
I’m going to go with Malaysian because it covers a lot of Eastern varieties like noodles but also opens me up to soooo many curries too!
Guilty pleasure
Fried Chicken (all kinds from Southern Fried style to Korean) and Gelato.
Favourite ingredient
This is so cliched, but I reckon I throw curry leaves in almost everything I make. They are my go-to starting point.
Your inspiration
YouTube! I didn’t start to learn how to cook until we were in lockdown last March.
Strength
Flavour. I love using as many spices, herbs and seasonings as I can.
Weakness
The oven and flour. I never seem to find the sweet spot when it comes to baking.
Celebrity MasterChef, Sunday, 7.30pm, Ten
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