Series 12 line-up announced

Vic Reeves is to be a contestant on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef.

The BBC has announced the full list of contestants for series 12, which also includes Outnumbered and Cuckoo star Tyger Drew-Honey and comedian Abdullah Afzal, who has appeared on Citizen Khan and Lunch Monkeys.

Over six weeks, the celebrities will cook for critics and past winners in their quest to reach the final stage: cooking with Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton and serving up their ultimate three-course menu for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

BBC commissioning editor Carla-Maria Lawson said: ‘Celebrity MasterChef is an astonishing test of culinary ability from people who are not recognised for their talents in the kitchen.

‘Every year we are blown away by celebrity’s gastronomic prowess and this year doesn’t disappoint. The line-up is one of the strongest we have ever seen and we hope it will entertain and tantalise viewers in equal measure.

Previous winners have included Ade Edmondson, Emma Kennedy and Phil Vickery,.

David Ambler, the executive producer for Shine TV added “The challenges we set for MasterChef are designed to test and expand contestant’s cooking skills and knowledge. This year is no exception and the development that we see from our celebrities is truly inspiring. It’s no mean feat to cook to restaurant standard, to take instruction from Michelin-starred chefs, to face respected food critics and to continually deliver exceptional food for John and Gregg.

The show is due to return later this summer and the full list of celebrities is :

Opera star Lesley Garrett
Seven times World Snooker champion Stephen Hendry
Comedian Jim Moir – aka Vic Reeves
Actor and director Nick Moran
Pop star Rachel Stevens, formerly of S Club 7
Pop star Jaymi Hensley from Union J
Actor Brian Bovell
French tennis legend Henri Leconte
Actor and comedian Abdullah Afzal
Broadcaster Dev Griffin
TV presenter Angellica Bell
Double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington
Presenter Julia Somerville
Magician's assistant Debbie McGee
Actor and presenter Tyger Drew-Honey
Children’s TV presenter Barney Harwood
TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson
Journalist Aasmah Mir
Singer Patti Boulaye
Presenter Reverend Kate Bottley

Of course, it's not the first time Vic Reeves has taken on Masterchef...

Published: 25 Jun 2017