FOOD for thought

SAMANTHA FOX on showcasing her culinary skills and celebrating 40 years in the industry

- VICTORIA WILSON

CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF

WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY, TIMES VARY, BBC1 COOKERY

Samantha Fox relishes cooking up a storm on TV culinary competitions, so she’s delighted to be adding another to her CV this week when she takes part in BBC1’s Celebrity MasterChef.

‘I’ve appeared on about four different cooking shows, including C4’s Come Dine with Me [in 2010], but I’ve watched MasterChef for many years and have always wanted to do it,’ smiles the singer and former glamour model, 57, as she joins TV Times for an exclusive interview.

‘It was nerve-racking suddenly being in that kitchen. When you stand behind your work station, you’re like, “Wow, this is it – I’m on MasterChef !”’

The third heat sees Samantha compete alongside opera star Wynne Evans, drag artist Cheryl Hole, musician Locksmith, as well as singer and Hollyoaks actor Jamelia.

Here, Samantha tells us about trying to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, dream dinner-party guests and celebrating 40 years in showbiz…

You’re clearly very pleased to finally be competing in this show, Samantha! What are your favourite things to cook at home?

I love cooking Thai food. I go to Thailand almost every year and stay on an island that has no electricity, so they have to cook using a generator. I would go into the kitchen and they’d show me how to prepare massaman curry, green curry, pad Thai noodles and chicken satay. So that’s where I’ve learnt how to cook Thai food.

I also love to prepare classic British dishes like roast dinners and shepherd’s pie.