EXCLUSIVE: Emma Willis is back on our screens as a new series of Cooking with the Stars kicks off tonight, but she admitted there was a major benefit to presenting the ITV show
Emma Willis loves presenting Cooking With The Stars because she gets loads of free grub. The TV favourite watches contestants rustle up countless tasty dishes and it makes her pretty hungry. As soon as the cameras stop rolling, Emma and her co-host Tom Allen race to have a taste.
She said: “We do have so much fun. Tom and I run to the cooking benches the minute we’ve finished talking. It could be dangerous, but I wear flat shoes now!”
Emma was impressed by the meals she got to eat during filming for the latest series, which kicks off tonight (August 1st) at 7pm on ITV1. She added: “I thought everyone’s first cook looked great and tasted great… well, from what we’ve managed to snatch off the counter anyway!”
This series will see eight famous faces battle it out in the kitchen. The line-up is EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy, Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, Outnumbered actor Hugh Dennis, interiors expert Kelly Hoppen, radio presenter Jordan North, reality star Jack Osbourne, TOWIE’s Jessica Wright and ex-footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Emma reckons they’re the strongest bunch of celebs since the show started in 2021. She said: “Looking at those first few days in the kitchen, this is the highest level we’ve ever had.
“You’ve got people like Ekin-Su saying, ‘Don’t worry, this round is mine!’. Hugh very much plays it down, but his food is spectacular. And Jack is really good, too.”
Not all of the celebs were good under pressure. Even if they’re good at cooking normally, doing it against the clock can prove tough.
Emma added: “Jess is really capable in the kitchen, but sometimes her nerves can take over a bit.” Cooking With The Stars celebrates simple dishes so viewers can have a go at home.
Emma is convinced the contest is turning many of us into keen chefs. She said: “The dishes have to feel doable so you want to watch it and think, ‘Hang on, I could actually make that!’
“It’s giving people more in their locker. I have so many cookbooks, but I never pull them out. I just stick to the same old things, otherwise it feels like extra time and effort, but these recipes take an hour, so if you can afford that hour so many times a week to put that effort into that meal, that’s great.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
