Ulrika Jonsson signs up for Masterchef as she bids for telly comeback eight years after Shooting Stars
MASTERCHEF is recruiting a load of celebs who are trying to relaunch their careers by showing off their culinary skills.
And I can reveal ULRIKA JONSSON is the latest to sign up to the BBC1 show — eight years after her last major telly appearance, on Shooting Stars in 2009.
The Swedish presenter makes big claims for her own cooking skills — well, I bet she is better than her fellow countryman, the Muppets’ SWEDISH CHEF.
In a recent interview she said: “I am a bloody good cook, especially baking, but I’m a perfectionist — I always want to be better.”
Ulrika was a guest judge on MasterChef in 1996, with then presenter LOYD GROSSMAN, then in 2000 she was a contestant on the Celeb MasterChef one-off special.
A source said: “This shows Ulrika is ready to restart her career. She was very public in opting to step out of the limelight, now she’s doing something she’s comfortable with — and even has a chance of winning.”
I revealed yesterday that Gogglebox’s REVEREND KATE BOTTLEY and S CLUB 7’s RACHEL STEVENS have also signed up.
In all, 20 stars will try to impress veteran judges JOHN TORODE and GREGG WALLACE when MasterChef returns in June.
THE ISLAND
YOU’D expect people of a certain age who want a holiday to head to the Costa del Sol or maybe book a Saga break.
But a brave bunch of mature explorers will be roughing it on the new series of The Island with BEAR GRYLLS, above, which, for the first time, will pit old against young. The gruelling Channel 4 show will test which generation is the toughest by marooning two groups of castaways separated by age on a Pacific beach. A source said: “This extreme social experiment will answer whether it’s youthful vigour or wise experience that keeps you alive.” It’s expected that the two groups will eventually meet and live together during the series, which returns later this year. I’m sure the old camp will manage to find time for a game of bingo.
Phelan yer collar
IT doesn’t look good for Pat Phelan in CORONATION STREET. He is arrested over the attempted murder of Ken Barlow, as Todd Grimshaw, Billy Mayhew and Tracy Barlow look on.
It comes four months after conman Phelan walked away from Michael Rodwell as he lay dying from a heart attack.
The whodunnit sees Tracy, Adam and Peter Barlow, Daniel Osbourne and Sinead Tinker all in the frame – and there must be more twists to come.
The Stig ton up in dodgem
THE only record Top Gear has broken recently is hitting its lowest ever ratings last year.
But THE STIG has claimed a new speed title after hitting more than 100mph in a dodgem, above.
The anonymous racing driver clocked the Guinness World Record in a pimped-up former fairground ride.
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Engineer and YouTube star Colin Furze put a 600cc Honda motorbike engine into the Sixties dodgem, below, which previously ran at 5mph.
It hit 100.3mph when tested last week at a Suffolk airfield.
The stunt was filmed for Top Gear, which has seen ratings rise following CHRIS EVANS’ disastrous reign last year.
Sunday’s episode has MATT LeBLANC review the new Ford GT while CHRIS HARRIS and SABINE SCHMITZ have a Californian buggy race.
At least she can’t make Chris Evans sick again.