'I'm proud of the MILITARY WIVES'

Choirmaster Gareth Malone OBE and now Celebrity MasterChef contestant discovered you can have just too much of a good thing

- KATHERINE HASSELL

Being more at home with semibreves than soufflés didn't stop Gareth Malone from donning his apron for the new series of Celebrity MasterChef. The choirmaster and broadcaster, who found fame teaching choral singing to schoolchildren in BBC2 reality series The Choir, was itching to test his talents.

'It sounded a lot of fun, he enthuses. 'I really enjoy cooking and who doesn't like food? I'm not super technical, but I'm definitely competent. I can do bolognese, chili, and lasagne. I'm pretty good at a roast too. I'm interested in ingredients and adventurous in my taste. I like to experiment in the kitchen.' 

Having already won Star Baker on Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, Gareth could be one to watch. 'I am very competitive,' he admits. So you like to beat the kids at games? 'No, I'm not that bad,' laughs the 46-year-old, who has three children - Esther, 11, Gilbert, nine, and Dvora, three, with their wife Becky. I'm happy to let the children win.'

'I took great issue with competition in secondary school sport because it wasn't my thing. I thought, "If I can't win, what's the point? I'm clearly no good at football. Why are you trying to teach me?" But, in life, I am competitive. If I can see someone is doing better than me and there's something I can do about it, I will.'