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How to survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat four with Samira Ahmed

Samira Ahmed — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 07:42:31 +0000

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I was great at school exams so I guess it feels a bit like that. Except it’s all one giant chemistry practical combined with a theatrical performance. The boys are super seriously competitive. That's freaking me out. I'm used to being top of the class.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I love the challenges. They're my best thing. NOTHING fazes me about cooking in a pro kitchen or dealing with a Mystery Box challenge. I'm loving them. Forget being in a band, my inner teen has been unleashed in the restaurant kitchen! That feels like a rock star adrenalin rush. I want to hang out with the dudes in the kitchen and cook like that.

I'm reliving memories of all the TV cooking shows I watched as a child. From Delia to Nanette Newman's Fun Food Factory to the Galloping Gourmet. I feel I should have the chance to pluck a handsome Don Draper type from the audience to eat my food.

Do the heat four cooks have what it takes?

I'm also naturally quite bossy and organised. I think this makes for interesting encounters with my fellow contestant Keith ‘Cheggers’ Chegwin, who is a childhood hero. My husband's school once won Cheggars Plays Pop so this is insanely exciting to be on with him.

Personality wise I am wondering if we are channelling Fanny Craddock and Johnny? I feel like Cheggers and I have the makings of a George and Mildred style 70s sitcom whatever happens on MasterChef.

But it's the coming up with my own menus that I'm struggling with. I've been cooking and entertaining all my adult life and getting great praise, but the idea of showing off for John and Gregg? My natural instinct is NOT to show off with food. And certainly not to do stuff that I've never done before. And clearly you need to do both those things.

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

Big portions of fantastic tasting food. No fancy presentation. Lots of nice flavours. Anything Indian, Moroccan or Korean. No boring baby vegetables on the side nonsense. I don't do fancy and I don't do show off. But if you came round to my house you'd have an amazing time.

Also there's nothing that my tin of Indian spices can't improve. Even baked beans. Oh and rhubarb. I love rhubarb. I can't get enough of rhubarb.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

There is no cheating. Practice practice practice in advance. But perhaps think ahead about timesaving with any processes you could speed up. Like using a food mixer instead of hand mixing that chappati dough.

Samira Ahmed is a journalist and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 9 July at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat three with Craig Gazey

Craig Gazey — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 07:23:56 +0000

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I’m not really doing well with that to be honest! Before signing up to do this I thought we might be given a few little tips, or that off camera it wouldn’t be quite as gruelling as it was... but everything you see on TV is exactly as it happens. This does not help with the nerves!

It started on the Invention Test and just got harder from then on. But, all that said, I am loving every minute of it.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I’ve come to the realisation that I’m more highly strung than I’d like to be! But even under the circumstances I find myself able to make some cracking decisions that I never thought possible, added with some not so great ones.

The heat is on for the week three, er, heat!

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

The secret of good cooking is to cook from your heart and just to deliver nice, homemade comfort food that puts smiles on people’s faces.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

This isn’t a cheat but it’s a tip. When dealing with pastry, you need a warm heart and cold hands. Put your hands under a cold tap when making the pastry, don’t overwork it and put it in the fridge for half an hour. Then, when rolling it out, get the flour everywhere. I do. Pastry making is not a clean task, so it’s often wise to get other people to do the washing up!

Craig Gazey is an actor and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 2 July at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat two with Sam Nixon

Sam Nixon — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 07:42:30 +0000

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I usually shout at myself in my head like: "Come on Sam, concentrate. You can do this!"

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I'm learning that I definitely have a style of cooking. I think the stuff I cook is very classic, no nonsense food.

Which heat two contestants will give Sam a run for his money?

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

I've definitely learnt that it doesn't matter how many ingredients you put into a dish, it's care and love that makes a dish taste really good. Its sounds really cheesy, but I now truly believe that.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

Similar to my answer above. My top tip is to be passionate about what you are cooking. Cook to your strengths and it will come out good.

Sam Nixon is a presenter and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef continues on Thursday, 25 June at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.

How To Survive Celebrity MasterChef: Heat one with Tish Potter

Tish Potter — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:22:27 +0000

What do you tell yourself to help cope with nerves in the competition?

I had to have a firm chat with myself and made the decision to have a bit more gumption. I really enjoy cooking but not under pressure. I don’t know why it should be so nerve-wracking, but for some reason it really is.

What are you learning about yourself during the competition – any strengths or weaknesses you were not aware of?

I am learning that I respond really well to pressure, funnily enough. Give me clear instructions, a bit of pressure and a bit of encouragement and I will happily work for as long as you like. However, I'm hopeless at making decisions and taking initiative... When I have to make up a recipe for example in the invention test, I panic.

Will the heat one cooks survive service at two busy London restaurants?

What is the secret of good cooking, for you?

Good cooking absolutely relies on good ingredients. Keep it simple. Make it tasty. Salt.

What’s your best cheat tip in the kitchen?

Best cheat in the kitchen? A tablespoon of hazelnut spread in a chocolate fondant stabilises it so it'll (almost) always have a spongey edge and a lovely gooey middle. Also herb scissors and garlic squishers save tons of time.

Tish Potter is an actress and Celebrity MasterChef contestant.

Celebrity MasterChef starts on Thursday, 18 June at 9pm on BBC One. Each episode will be available in BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.