Ian Thorpe and Nick Riewoldt headline Celebrity MasterChef line-up on Network Ten

Ian Thorpe and Nick Riewoldt are shaping as arguably the most competitive duo ever cast on Celebrity MasterChef. See a sneak peek.

He’s one of Australia’s greatest Olympians.

The other is a football legend, still disappointed an AFL premiership flag never came his way in his 16 years with St Kilda.

Put them together in — of all places — the kitchen and Ian Thorpe and Nick Riewoldt have different, but important points to prove.

The pair is shaping as arguably the most competitive duo ever cast on the celebrity version of Ten’s flagship cooking program MasterChef.

“I’m a psycho competitor,” Riewoldt said, as he rolled out fresh pasta to go with his crayfish sauce on episode one.

Seafood is his go-to ingredient, evoking memories of the Fox Footy commentator’s childhood growing up on Tasmania’s east coast.

Nick Riewoldt reckons he’s a “psycho competitor”.

For Thorpey, it is Italian.

In his first MasterChef hitout, the swimmer cooks veal saltimbocca – a dish he first tasted as a 17-year-old when he was racing in Italy.

“A mamma came out with this dish. She was serving us all individually and I loved it so much. I hid my empty plate under the table so she’d think she missed me so I could have another one,” he said.

Cool and collected, Thorpe plates up with 10 minutes to spare.

“I like to finish first,” he said. “I always say I like to win so you don’t have to deal with the emotions of not winning. It’s a lot easier that way,” he said.

Ian Thorpe is cool and collected in the kitchen.

The other nine competitors groan as judge Jock Zonfrillo informs them that the five-time Olympic gold medallist has a cookbook to his name — Cook for your life.

And he certainly looks the sportsman to beat as he wanders the other benches, offering his help to his fellow celebs.

Riewoldt, who is himself an extremely competent cook, laughed in surprise at seeing Thorpe at his bench.

“Talk about a pinch yourself moment,” he said. “Never did I think Ian Thorpe would come up to me in the kitchen and offer me help.”

Celebrity MasterChef headlines a run to the end of the ratings year of celebrity-packed shows.

Seven’s Big Brother VIP is expected to air this month. Lego Masters will have a Christmas special and much-loved cult quiz show Letters and Numbers is back on SBS with a celebrity twist as three comedians will join new host Michael Hing and returning favourites wordsmith David Astle and numbers expert Lily Serna each episode.

The Celebrity MasterChef Australia 2021 cast.

David Knox, of blog TV Tonight, said the pandemic could be the reason celeb shows are the current flavour of the month with a “flurry of available stars currently unable to tour”.

“Celebrity MasterChef has drawn a very recognisable cast including Rebecca Gibney, a darling of the viewing public,” Knox said.

“It should draw good numbers if they show they are having a go – that’s what viewers really care about.”

Knox said networks felt they could minimise the risk on a project with recognisable talent.

“Big Brother VIP has thrown in some polarising names but will they deliver better numbers than a season with ordinary Aussies? Let’s hope there’s no fakeness given they know they have to turn it on for the cameras and have a ‘brand’ to protect,” he said.

“It’s great to have Letters & Numbers back on SBS. Lily Serna is so popular with the fans for her charm and numerical skills she will doubtless overshadow everybody else in the room.”

Celebrity MasterChef, Sunday, October 10, 7.30pm, Ten

Originally published as Ian Thorpe and Nick Riewoldt headline Celebrity MasterChef line-up on Network Ten