John Torode was impressed with Kem Cetinay's "fascinating" use of rhubarb on 'Celebrity MasterChef'.
Kem Cetinay
The TV judge - who returns alongside co-star Gregg Wallace for the latest spin-off of the culinary competition - has opened up on a new challenge which sees the stars given a single ingredient to work with, and he was pleasantly surprised by the 'Love Island' star's handling of the vegetable.
Speaking to Radio Times magazine, he laughed: "Kem was given rhubarb in his Under the Cloche round but he'd never come across it before.
"What he did with it was quite fascinating. Gregg and I were like, 'Wow, really?' He's resilient, so it was interesting.
"Katie Price tackled a whole crab. Melanie Sykes was given pears, which she doesn't like and never eats.
"They just had to get on with it, but food is really personal and when you criticise contestants it can become quite emotional."
It's a stacked line-up for the upcoming series, with 'Love Island' winner Kem also joined by the likes of Happy Monday dancer Bez.
Reflecting on his own approach, John added: "In series two, an Olympic sprinter plated up his food on the floor because there was no room on his bench.
"I have probably mellowed on the celebrity version of the show, though.
"Bez, Joe Swash and Kem Cetinay were all incredibly messy, but we simply told them to clean up."
The show kicks off on August 9 on BBC One, and John urged viewers to "expect the unexpected".
He said: "You get plenty of contestants who can't cook. They look shocked when you say, 'You've got an hour. Off you go.'
"And rarely does the celebrity who's best at the start go on to win. It's the one who learns the quickest. You have to expect the unexpected."
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