Soul music legend Jaki Graham has become the latest celebrity contestant to be eliminated from Celebrity MasterChef, missing out on a place in the quarter finals by just one episode.
Veteran Singer's MasterChef Journey Ends
The 69-year-old singer, who rose to fame in the 1970s with hits including Could It Be I'm Falling in Love and Ain't Nobody, was given her marching orders from the BBC cooking competition during Wednesday's episode. Graham expressed her disappointment at the pressure getting to her during the challenging culinary tasks.
'I'm being honest, I'm gutted the pressure got to me,' the Birmingham-born star confessed after her elimination. 'I am so happy I have had this experience.'
Michelle Heaton's Kitchen Nightmare
Meanwhile, Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton faced her own kitchen disaster that nearly brought her to tears. The 46-year-old pop star suffered a major setback when she accidentally burned her sweet potato fries while preparing a halloumi burger with sweet chilli jam.
Heaton had initially removed the fries from the oven believing they looked 'soggy', but when she returned them to crisp up further, they emerged blackened and smoking. 'Oh, no! I actually can't believe it. Burned my sweet potato fries,' she cried, clutching her head in despair.
Showing remarkable resilience, Heaton quickly chopped additional sweet potatoes into cubes to fry as a replacement, though she admitted being 'absolutely gutted' by the error.
Judges Praise Contestant's Recovery
When presenting her dish to judges John Torode and Grace Dent, Torode immediately noted 'You had a bit of a disaster,' to which Heaton corrected, 'I had a massive one.'
Despite the kitchen mishap, Torode praised her ability to recover under pressure. 'You picked yourself up and you went and sorted it out. That's what MasterChef is all about, Michelle. Good on you,' he commended.
While the judge noted that the combination of sweet chilli jam, sugary fries and brioche bun made the dish 'on the edge of too sweet,' he complimented her halloumi as 'cooked really nicely.'
Heaton later reflected on the emotional experience: 'I am feeling OK considering I had a massive disaster. I was about to cry, but I didn't, because I usually do. And I just ploughed on. I'm really, really happy that I did, because I learned something about myself.'
Quarter Finalists Confirmed
Graham's departure means the remaining contestants progressing to the quarter finals include:
- Love Island's Chris Hughes
- TV presenter Dawn O'Porter
- Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas
- Liberty X's Michelle Heaton
The episode continues to showcase the intense pressure and dramatic moments that have made Celebrity MasterChef a favourite among BBC viewers, with contestants facing both culinary challenges and personal growth throughout the competition.
