Celebrity MasterChef is set to sizzle with star power as Rochenda Sandall from Line of Duty and Doctor Who fame. The actress straps on her apron to battle it out in the kitchen and showcase her culinary skills in the anticipated summer 2024 series of the hit show.
Competing against an eclectic mix of stars including a Team GB speedster, prominent broadcasters, and a Strictly Come Dancing professional, Rochenda will make her debut in tonight's heat on BBC One, Tuesday, August 20. She'll be sharing the spotlight with names like Gladiator and sprint champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, actor Danielle Harold, comic Eshaan Akbar, and reality TV sensation Chloe Burrows.
Rochenda explained her decision to join Celebrity MasterChef, telling us, "The reason that I wanted to do Celebrity MasterChef was to compete, first and foremost. Cooking is something I love to do at home."
She added, "I'm a self-taught cook. It wasn't at the forefront of home life when I was a kid, so I got a natural, organic interest in cooking. I wanted to see how good I was, so I joined MasterChef."
Beyond her TV roles, what else is known about the actress and her life off camera?
Rochenda Sandall's early life
Rochenda Sandall was born in 1988 and raised in the small town of Goxhill near Grimsby, Lincolnshire. While her father served with Humberside Police, her mother pursued a career in teaching.
Throughout her school years, Rochenda attended Cliftons Dance Academy, owned by Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton's parents Judy and Keith Clifton. It wasn’t until she was 18 that she took her first foray into acting at Baysgarth School’s musical production Sister Act II in Barton.
And it proved a local hit. It was reviewed in the Bartonian newsletter in July 2004, giving Rochenda a mention and labelling the show a “huge success.”
This sparked a TV career that led to being one of the main characters in BBC hit Line of Duty. She celebrated her Line of Duty role with a plate of Swedish meatballs and a new wardrobe at IKEA.
What TV shows and films has Rochenda Sandall appeared in?
Rochenda's journey on the small screen began with roles as police officers in Doctors and Coronation Street as well as a role in Criminal: UK. But it is her portrayal of Lisa McQueen in Line of Duty, where she stars opposite Stephen Graham, that has become her signature role.
McQueen, entangled within an organised crime group, is initially suspected by AC-12 of being an undercover officer. She is a high-level member of the organised crime group and becomes a target for AC-12.
Beyond the gritty world of Line of Duty, Rochenda's talents have shone through in productions such as Small Axe, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, the epic Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Azure in Doctor Who, and the Apple TV+ thriller Hijack.
Is Rochenda in a relationship?
In her personal life, Rochenda found love with Game of Thrones and Happy Valley actor Mark Stanley. Their paths first crossed at East 15 Acting School during their teenage years.
Mark, a familiar face to TV enthusiasts, has starred in numerous popular dramas such as Trigger Point, Criminal, Honour, Sanditon and White House Farm. He also made appearances in Game of Thrones and the third series of Happy Valley.
Away from the small screen, Rochenda offers slight peeks into her personal life. Over the past year, she was spotted at the Cheltenham Races with friends and her boyfriend Mark, enjoyed a skiing holiday, and attended various film festivals.
