A who’s who of music, comedy, drama, and show business are set to battle it out this summer for the title of Celebrity MasterChef 2023 on BBC One’s 18th season of the ever-popular series
TV host and entertainer Dave Benson Phillips, musician Max George, radio host Remi Burgz, comedian Shazia Mirza, and award-winning comedian and broadcaster Terry Christian are this week’s five celebrity cook-off contestants.
Here Shazia Mirza tells us why she wanted to take part and what her desert island dish would be.
Why did you decide to participate in Celebrity MasterChef?
I’d always thought about doing it, but it looked so scary. Now I say, just do it! can make egg on toast, egg and chips, beans on toast, so I’ll be alright.
How did you react when you first stepped foot in the kitchen?
Walking into the kitchen for the first time is really strange, because you’ve seen it already. I watch it on TV all the time. So when you go there you feel like you know John and Gregg and you know the kitchen, but it’s totally a different feeling when you’re actually in there. It gets really scary and I got very nervous.
How do your loved ones rate your culinary creations?
My mum and dad are from Pakistan, so they think they’ve had the best. They’ve had the best food cooked by the best chefs that’s really authentic and off the street. Anything I cook is just a recipe, so they’ve always got a complaint when I make something. They’re like ‘I can’t taste the turmeric’ or ‘this needs more salt.’ Every time I cook the same dish, it always turns out different!
Tell me about your favourite home-cooked meals.
My favourite dish to cook at home is either Matar Paneer or Saag Paneer which is cottage cheese and peas or cottage cheese and spinach in a curry.
What would your desert island dish be?
Vegetable Moussaka.
What are the three essential items that are always stocked in your fridge?
I always have butter, garlic and ginger.
MasterChef this week airs Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on BBC One.
Image Credit: BBC
