Jason Mohammad has described his Celebrity MasterChef quarter-final exit as one of the best experiences of his life, saying the show has changed him somewhat and left him eager to cook even more at home.
The Welsh presenter was knocked out of the BBC show on Friday night, but he is far from scarred by the experience. Speaking from his home in Cardiff, he was joined by his teenage son Max, 19, who joked about his dad's cooking: "I was fairly impressed with him. I think that is the best cooking I've ever seen him do because he doesn't cook like that here!"
Family reactions and a holiday viewing
The family watched the show while on holiday in Greece. "We watched the second episode together as a family out on holiday which was hilarious," Jason laughed. "The family were all laughing all the way through."
He had kept the extent of his progress a secret, as they had asked not to be told so they could enjoy watching him. "They didn't know and they obviously didn't want to know how it ended, so they were cheering when I got through to the quarter finals. A quarter finalist on Celebrity MasterChef? That's not bad is it? TV people say that when you take part in shows that aren't your own the golden rule is don't go out in the first round."
He missed the live broadcast while dining in Greece. "I was out for dinner in Greece when it was on and my phone has never pinged so much in all my life!" he said, recalling messages from people saying they were "crying with laughter on the sofa" and joking that he should never cook pancakes for them.
Family cooking inspiration and a sticky toffee pudding boost
The experience has been an ego boost, confirming his skill at sticky toffee pudding. Jason recalled cooking for his children most nights when they were younger, between their tennis, drama, singing, dancing and football activities. "Whether that was a spag bol or a chilli or a curry, we'd keep it simple and sometimes have a pizza or something, but I'd always make sure there was something nice on the go," he said.
He also remembered dinner parties before having children, and cooking for Christmas and Eid celebrations. His younger daughter Poppy, 16, has inherited his baking talent. "She's a great baker. Her and I used to bake cakes all the time. I think my baking skills helped me out there and just kind of hauled me back into the competition a little bit. Seeing Grace and Giorgio actually enjoying a bit of food just warms the heart, especially in those tense moments."
Dealing with a tough critic
There were tense moments with judge Giorgio Locatelli, who called Jason "cocky" and said he had "too much confidence". Jason took a philosophical view: "I go into every show, every TV show, every radio show I do, even this interview, I go into it with as much energy and enthusiasm as I would if I was presenting Final Score, Match of the Day, Good Morning Sunday on Radio 2, or Radio Wales."
He acknowledged the clash of personalities: "I wonder whether it was a bit too much for him. I genuinely think he was thinking: 'Hang on a minute. This town ain't big enough for the both of us.' Two big personalities, two big characters, and when he's in the kitchen he's the boss, right? So, in a way, I had to just kind of say 'Yes, chef,' and just get on with it."
He added: "A lot of people have said: 'What is it about Giorgio? Does he not like you?' I was like: 'No, I'm sure he's just having to do that. Someone has got to be the harsh critic.' I love Grace - I really gelled with her, but Giorgio was a tough crowd. I suppose that's just part of his shtick really."
Heritage dishes and future plans
Jason used the show to explore his dual Pakistani-Welsh heritage, cooking a keema dish in the first episode and Welsh lamb pie for Paddy McGuinness in the second. "I thought if I'm going into the show then I need to give a little bit of personality as well," he said. "I'm very proud of being from Cardiff as well, very very proud of being who I am really, and I thought the keema dish was something that I could bring to it that's slightly different."
He explained the personal significance: "Some of my earliest memories are eating that amazing rich earthy lamb keema with potatoes mopped up with chapatis, and that's what I wanted to evoke... It was about showing the kind of the depths of my soul as well and who I am."
He also recalled making cheese straws with his nan, and was pleased that the judges liked his meaningful dishes. "It pleases me that the big dishes I made, the keema and the pie, were dishes that meant a lot to me, and they both liked them. So I walk away with my reputation intact and knowing that I brought a little bit of pleasure to them."
Back to some sort of normality, Jason is about to begin another season of Final Score with the start of the Premier League this weekend, but he has the chef bug. "I'm not too sure if I'll be opening J-Mo's keema stand as endorsed by Giorgio Locatelli," he laughed. "But you never know, that could happen. So, maybe have a look at some festivals in the future. Who knows? If you see a queue forming outside Cardiff Castle you know I managed to get in there with a curry van!"
He is also looking forward to Tuesday, when his beloved Cardiff City host Norwich City at the Cardiff City Stadium. "I was texting the Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy on Tuesday after the game [against Wrexham] saying congratulations on the point. I'll be down there as much as I can this season, hoping for a good season."
His mind is never far from food, even at matches. "They do a great pie down at Cardiff City," he said, recalling childhood trips for chips on the way home. "If we've won it might be a toast and a cup of tea. If we've lost it might be straight to bed and being a bit miserable."
He has been taken aback by the wave of support, especially on social media. "I must give a big shout out to all the people who've supported me along the way, especially the people of Wales," he said. "I was flying the flag for Wales in there and the people of Wales really got behind me. I love them to bits and God bless them."
Jason admitted the experience was slightly terrifying but something he would repeat. "Nothing prepares you for stepping into that kitchen," he said. "Suddenly I was not in control, I was in someone else's territory and that is slightly terrifying. Especially when Grace and Giorgio walk out for the first time that's when it hits you that this is real."
He loved working with the crew and played up to the cameras. "I get people saying to me on a Saturday afternoon, do you speak like this at home when you turn the camera forward and say 'Go on Anfield?' Of course I don't. It's a bit like acting in a way, that's my stage."
He concluded: "It's one of the best experiences of my life. I mean, what a thrill. One of the biggest shows on the BBC, one of the biggest shows on telly, great food show. I loved every minute of it. It was such a great experience, and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."
Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
