Former Ready Steady Cook host Peter Everett has lifted the lid on the wild and unpredictable world of the beloved BBC cooking show, sharing never-before-heard stories from his time in the presenter's chair.
In a candid interview, Everett revealed that the fast-paced nature of the show often led to hilarious mishaps, with ingredients going missing, chefs improvising on the fly, and even the occasional kitchen fire causing chaos behind the scenes.
The Unpredictable Nature of Live TV
"You never knew what was going to happen next," Everett admitted. "One minute everything was running smoothly, the next we'd have a chef frantically trying to salvage a dish after realizing they'd forgotten a key ingredient."
The presenter recalled one particularly memorable incident where a contestant's shopping bag turned out to be filled with entirely the wrong ingredients, forcing the chefs to think on their feet and create something entirely unexpected.
The Pressure of the Clock
With just 20 minutes to create a dish from mystery ingredients, the pressure was always on for both the chefs and the presenters. "The clock was our biggest enemy and our best friend," Everett said. "It created that incredible energy that made the show so exciting to watch, but it also meant things could go spectacularly wrong at any moment."
Despite the challenges, Everett looks back on his time with the show fondly, praising the creativity of the chefs and the enthusiasm of the contestants. "There was a real magic to Ready Steady Cook," he reflected. "It wasn't just about cooking - it was entertainment, it was drama, and above all, it was fun."
The Legacy of a British Classic
First airing in 1994, Ready Steady Cook became a staple of daytime television, running for 17 years before its initial cancellation in 2010. The show's unique format and charismatic presenters, including Everett and later Fern Britton, made it a household name.
While the show was briefly revived in 2020 with new presenter Rylan Clark, many fans still associate it with its original heyday and presenters like Everett, whose quick wit and charm helped make the show such a success.
