But it won’t be as easy as it sounds, with those in the bottom two having to fight for their place in the competition, creating a dish without any help from their mentor.
So, who is taking part? Read on for more about the eight celebrities cooking up a storm.
Cooking with the Stars line-up
- Natalie Cassidy
- Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
- Hugh Dennis
- Kelly Hoppen
- Jordan North
- Jack Osbourne
- Jessica Wright
- Shaun Wright-Phillips
Scroll on to learn more about this year’s celebrities.
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy. South Shore
Age: 42
Job: Actress
Instagram: @natcass1
Mentored by Tony Singh, EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy has joined this year’s cast as she loves to cook.
“I love cooking at home but I cook the same dishes over and over again,” she said. “I really wanted to be with a chef all day long. What an amazing job.”
Cassidy was last seen on screens earlier this year as she, along with on-screen sister Patsy Palmer, exited EastEnders following an eventful 40th anniversary.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu. South Shore
Age: 30
Job: TV personality
Instagram: @ekinsuofficial
Best known for winning Love Island in 2022 and subsequently taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, The Traitors US and Love Island: All Stars, Ekin-Su is back on screens alongside mentor Poppy O’Toole.
The actress-turned-influencer was keen to challenge herself and move out of her comfort zone, with Cooking with the Stars being much different to the other TV shows she has appeared on before.
She said: “I wanted to test myself to see if I can cook under pressure and also enjoy myself at the same time. I’m in it to win, but I also want to have fun.”
Hugh Dennis
Hugh Dennis. South Shore
Age: 63
Job: Actor
Hugh Dennis is no stranger to TV screens, having appeared on the likes of Not Going Out, Mock the Week and, more notably, Outnumbered.
The comedian decided to take part in Cooking with the Stars having enjoyed being in the kitchen in the past, but he has never cooked “in a constant long-term way”.
“I quite like looking at cook books and I have quite a few, but say out of the 50 recipes, I can do one,” he said. “Every time I get a cookbook, I always think I should cook more as I really like it. Life is too busy really for cooking.
“It’s all about the tastes and the flavours and actually if I can do it or not; I’m pretty sure I can’t. I can generally do things reasonably well, but I’m not going to be one of these people who says, ‘This needs more paprika,’ as I will have no idea if it does. It is good fun, though.”
Kelly Hoppen
Kelly Hoppen. South Shore
Age: 66
Job: Interior designer
Instagram: @kellyhoppen
Paired with Michael Caines, Kelly Hoppen had to search for how to chop an onion, so was slightly unsure as to why she joined the series.
She joked: “I’m either going to get through to the next round or I’ll literally be doing that cook off. I’d rather do a dance off, to be honest.”
Hoppen is an interior designer, and for two years she was a Dragon on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den.
Jordan North
Jordan North. South Shore
Age: 35
Job: Radio DJ
Instagram: @jordannorth1
Radio DJ Jordan North is stepping into the kitchen alongside chef and mentor Rosemary Shrager.
Currently in a “bit of a rut” when it comes to cooking, Jordan explained he is at a stage in his life “where it’s less nightclubs and more people coming round for dinner”.
He added: “I’m making the same dishes every time and I want to be able to step it up a level in the kitchen and make some nice, new, quick and easy but fancy dishes for my friends and family.”
Jack Osbourne
Jack Osbourne. South Shore
Age: 39
Job: TV personality
Instagram: @jackosbourne
Jack Osbourne is a TV personality who some may know as the son of Sharon and the late Ozzy Osbourne.
He said of taking part: “I have a complicated household when it comes to eating. I have four daughters and their ages are 13, nearly 10, seven and nearly three.
“They all have particular requirements, it’s not one meal that feeds the whole house. I wanted to expand my cooking knowledge, as I always cook the same thing. Also, what an opportunity to sit with a world-class chef and learn how to cook.”
He will be mentored by chef Elliott Grover.
Jessica Wright
Jessica Wright. South Shore
Age: 39
Job: TV personality
Instagram: @jesswright77
Sister to Mark Wright and star of The Only Way Is Essex, Jessica is “absolutely buzzing” to be on Cooking with the Stars.
After losing touch with cooking when she had her child, Jessica is keen to get back cooking again and will be mentored by Jack Stein.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips. South Shore
Age: 43
Job: Pundit
Instagram: @shaunwp98
Shaun Wright-Phillips is a former professional footballer, having played for the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers, and is the son of Ian Wright.
Looking forward to the challenge, Shaun will be mentored by chef Shelina Permalloo, and he is keen to expand his cooking abilities.
He said: “Some of the dishes I have learnt during this show, I have cooked myself at home but in my own way, trying to recreate them now I know the basics of it.”
Cooking with the Stars begins on Sunday 3rd August at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
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