Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver reportedly needed medical attention just 30 minutes into her first day on Celebrity MasterChef after slicing her finger open with a sharp Japanese knife.
The 62-year-old actress, known for playing Eileen Grimshaw on Corrie from 2000 to 2025 and now a Loose Women panelist, was chopping a salad when the accident happened, according to a report in The Sun.
Medics called in after kitchen mishap
Cleaver was using a Japanese knife her son had bought her for the show when she cut through her right index finger. In as-yet-unaired scenes, she is reported to have said: 'Oh, plaster already. I've cut myself.'
'It didn't take long. I nearly cut my finger off and it's only day one. I'm panicking a bit,' she added, according to the publication.
New judge Giorgio Locatelli, who joined the series this year alongside Grace Dent, reportedly told her: 'That's a Japanese knife. It's a very sharp one.'
Cleaver continues after treatment
The on-site medics patched Cleaver up, allowing her to carry on with the competition. She is set to compete against the likes of Melvin Odoom and Una Healy on the show, which airs on BBC One on September 1.
Locatelli, a Michelin-starred restaurateur who has judged MasterChef Italia since 2018, joined Dent for series 21. Dent called him a 'fabulous addition', having long admired his work.
When his involvement was confirmed, Locatelli said: 'Hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside Grace is a real honour. I can't wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series.'
The 2026 batch of celebrities will aim to follow RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson, who won the 20th series. Metro has contacted the BBC for confirmation.
