Eshaan Akbar and Jamie MacDonald sign up for Celebrity MasterChef

'Can blind folk cook?'

Comedians Eshaan Akbar and Jamie MacDonald are taking part in this year’s Celebrity MasterChef, the BBC has announced.

A total of 20 hopefuls will be trying to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace witht heir dishes in this summer’s contest.

Akbar said: ‘Very excited about appearing in this season’s Celebrity MasterChef. My mum will be screaming at this (in a good way!)’

Meanwhile MacDonald will become the show’s second blind contestant after presenter Amar Latif in 2021. He posted on X: ‘It’s a question as old as time. Can blind folk cook?’

In the heats, contestants will have to complete an ‘under the cloche challenge’ - creating a dish from scratch that shows off what they can do – then deliver a two-course dinner party menu. The most successful chefs then go on to quarter finals and beyond.

Later rounds involve making pizza, creating an opulent dining experience on the British Pullman Train, and cooking something they don’t like to eat.

Also taking part are reality stars Charlotte Crosby and Chloe Burrows, models Emma Thynn (the Marchioness of Bath) and Christine McGuinness, presenters Edith Bowman and Craig Doyle, actors Rochenda Sandall, Tamer Hassan and Danielle Harold; Traitors contestant Diane Carson, make-up artist and TV judge, Dominic Skinner, Gladiator and Team GB sprinter, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey; pop stars Mutya Buena and Ian ‘H’ Watkins; singer and ex-footballer Jake Quickenden; Radio 2 presenter, OJ Borg and Radio 1Xtra’s Snoochie Shy and dancer Vito Coppola.

BBC commissioning editor Sarah Clay said: ‘The standard of this competition gets higher every year, so expect lots of laughs and some fierce rivalry as we’re set for some of the hardest challenges yet.’

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Published: 20 Jun 2024