Comedians, TV presenters and a YouTuber will be among the stars competing with each other to be crowned the winner of Cooking with the Stars. The ITV cooking show is back for its fourth series as celebrities are paired with top chefs who will mentor them during each challenge and hopefully transform them into restaurant-level cooks.
Cooking with the Stars returns at 8pm on Tuesday, July 30 with Emma Willis and Tom Allen back as hosts. The first episode will see Carol Vorderman, Abbey Clancy, Pasha Kovalev and Harry Pinero go head-to-head as they attempt to deliver standout dinner party dishes in a bid to progress to the next round and avoid the dreaded cook-off.
But who is appearing on Cooking with the Stars and win the coveted golden frying pan?
We share below the familiar faces who will be battling it out.
Abbey Clancy
Abbey Clancy is a model and TV personality who became famous after finishing runner-up in season 2 of Britain's Next Top Model. She returned to the series as the presenter from 2015 until its cancellation in 2017.
Clancy also won Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 and currently co-hosts the podcast The Therapy Crouch with her husband Peter Crouch. Clancy says she loves "learning new skills" and she wanted to join the ITV series to improve her cooking.
She will be paired with chef Michael Caines. She said: "I actually asked Pete for cooking lessons for Christmas and then this opportunity came up. I was so excited to be taught by a Michelin starred chef."
Carol Vorderman
Carol Vorderman, the renowned presenter renowned for her 26-year stint on the quiz show Countdown, is a prominent figure on British screen and radio.
Having hosted programmes such as The Pride of Britain Awards, Have I Got News for You, and Loose Women, Vorderman has revealed her desire to reignite her passion for culinary arts.
She remarked: "I used to cook all the time and then about ten years ago, I just stopped literally. I think after cooking for the kids and my mum and the family, as I started cooking for the family when I was ten, I think I just had enough."
She added: "The knowledge is there but I just fell out of love with it, so my motivation was to get cooking again."
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins, aged 75, is an esteemed actor and TV personality noted for his victory on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Alongside appearances on Celebrity Come Dine With Me, Channel 4's Celebrity Five Go To, and Celebrity Masterchef. Biggins expressed excitement over collaboration with Rosemary Shrager, especially after a delightful experience alongside her on Tipping Point.
"We had a lot of laughs so I knew it would be a fun show to do with her and indeed it was," he commented. "It was lots of fun and I learnt one or two things."
Ellie Simmonds
Ellie Simmonds OBE, the exceptional former Paralympian swimmer, boasts an impressive record with five Paralympic Gold medals and numerous accolades from the World Championships. Additionally, she set the world record in the 200m medley at the Rio Paralympics in 2016.
Ellie Simmonds, the Paralympic champion, has been showcasing her versatility by appearing on a variety of shows including Strictly Come Dancing with Nikita Kuzmin, Saturday Night Takeaway, Would I Lie to You?, The Crystal Maze, and several documentaries. She's now set to team up with culinary expert Shelina Permalloo.
Ellie expressed her passion for cooking, "I think everyone wants to cook," she said. "I think it's something that everybody loves doing, whether it's cooking for yourself or cooking for your loved ones and impressing people. I think to have that extra knowledge is just an amazing opportunity you can't so no too."
She added, "Also, I love competing, I love competition."
Harry Pinero
Harry Pinero, 33, is a well-known YouTuber and social media influencer who has collaborated with YouTube groups like the Sidemen and Beta Squad. Pinero is eager to learn how to cook under the guidance of Great British Menu champion Michael O'Hare.
"My whole life I have basically been getting cooked for like a King or a Prince, however you want to put it but I definitely wanted to learn some skills," he shared. He stressed that his goal wasn't just to win: "So it wasn't about winning the competition, it was about learning skills and techniques and what it actually takes to cook.
"I am getting taught by a Michelin star chef and that's not something everyone has the opportunity to do, so I feel like I have won just based off that."
Harry also looks forward to cooking for his son: "Also, I have a son so to be able to cook for him and cook fun food for him, and once he starts growing up and he sees me cook, he will want to as well."
Katherine Ryan
The Canadian comedian and TV presenter, a familiar face on hit shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, A League of Their Own, and Mock the Week, is set to spice things up in the kitchen on Cooking With The Stars.
Teaming up with culinary maestro Jack Stein, son of the legendary Rick Stein, she's ready to add some zest to her screen presence.
She shared her excitement about the show: "When I'm watching television, I really want to get to know somebody's personality. I want to know who they are when they are caught off guard and not focusing on being a character. I think this show really gets to the heart of who someone is."
She's also looking forward to getting to know Carol Vorderman better, saying, "I think I'll know Carol [Vorderman] better just by seeing when her hands and mind are distracted, and she is her funny true self."
Despite her many talents, cooking isn't one she's mastered yet. She confessed, "I'm a really terrible cook. Well, I don't think I'm bad at cooking, I just think I haven't got the tips, tricks and the hacks to put together delicious flavours and take the time to make things."
Linford Christie
Linford Christie, the only British man to clinch gold in the 100 metres across all four major international competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games, is also donning the apron alongside Poppy O'Toole.
Christie expressed his eagerness to join the culinary fray: "I'm always bragging about how I can cook," he revealed. "So I thought I should give it a go and learn some new skills."
Pasha Kovalev
Pasha Kovalev, renowned for his tenure on Strictly Come Dancing from 2011 to 2018, will take on the culinary challenge with April Jackson.
Tying the knot with TV personality Rachel Riley, Pasha expressed his culinary aspirations outside the iconic ballroom: "I cook a little bit but it's always nice to learn new skills in that department and there is no better way of learning than when you are under pressure," he admitted.
Simultaneously relishing the challenge and opportunity for growth, he added, "As you have to learn fast and I love learning and this is the best show to mix those things together."
