Celebrity MasterChef UK

JP Liz V1

Celebrity MasterChef returns to BBC Two next week with Greg Wallace and John Torode back at the helm as hosts and judges.

This year's contestants include Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, actress Laila Rouass, radio presenter Jamie Theakston and Bucks Fizz Eurovision icon Cheryl Baker.

Zoe Salmon, comic Jenny Eclair, children's TV duo Michael Underwood and Richard McCourt, and actress Emma Kennedy are also taking part.

Swimmer Steve Parry, footballer Danny Mills, George Layton, Diarmuid Gavin, Javine Hylton and cyclist Rebecca Romero complete the list.

Challenges for the celebrities will include cooking at The Royal Holloway University, Chessington World of Adventures, feeding former winners Lisa Faulkner and Phil Vickery and catering on the set of New Tricks.

Celebrity MasterChef starts on Monday, August 13 at 6.30pm on BBC Two. The show has returned to its evening slot, following complaints from fans after last year's celeb series aired on weekday afternoons.

Basq

Thankfully moved back to a more sensible time!

Basq

Good God.. Theakston doing the pasta was hilarious!

Dotcomdolly

Agh recording clash on sky box and kid deleted MY show!! Anywhere online I can watch it?

JP Liz V1

Source Digital Spy

Celebrity MasterChef returns to the BBC this summer with a new lineup of famous faces attempting to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

16 celebrities will be putting their palates to the test and proving their culinary worth on primetime BBC One.

Sugababes star Heidi Range, comic Les Dennis, actors John Thomson, Denise Black and Brian Capron, and Bottom star Ade Edmondson are among the competitors.

Katy Brand, Shappi Khorsandi, TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff and sports stars Phillips Idowu, Matthew Hoggard and Joe Calzaghe are also taking part.

Completing the lineup are Jo Wood, rapper Speech Debelle, Boyzone's Shane Lynch and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter.

Exec producer Carla-Maria Lawson said: "The return of Celebrity MasterChef to this BBC One peak time slot sees thrills and spills and some extraordinary cooking from our lineup of well-known faces.

"In this series, the contestants' enthusiasm in their pursuit of the MasterChef trophy is palpable, often inspiring and sometimes very, very funny."

Airing across six weeks, the show's challenges will include mass catering for Cirque du Soleil and the Harlequins rugby team, cooking for former Celebrity MasterChef stars Lisa Faulkner, Phil Vickery and Andi Peters, and dishing up meals for the dreaded restaurant critics.