Gok Wan has shared his hopes to appear on the next instalment of Celebrity Masterchef – although he admits his nerves might get the better of him.
The broadcaster was catapulted into the limelight in the noughties in shows, How To Look Good Naked and Gok’s Fashion Fix, where he gave women the tools to feel their most confident selves both on the inside and out.
In recent years however, the TV star has turned his attention to the kitchen regularly presenting This Morning’s cooking segments as well as releasing two cookbooks and has fronted his own Food Network series, Gok Wan’s Easy Asian.
And now it appears he is eyeing up his next cookery project – Celebrity Masterchef – just as the BBC series announced their latest famous line-up.
While some would argue that Wan has the credentials to be a judge, the celebrity chef admitted that he wants to sign up as a contestant to impress Greg Wallace and John Torode – but may have a tough time, as he recalled having his food critiqued during his time on Bake-Off.
Speaking to The Standard, Wan, who recently partnered with Philadelphia UK, told us: “I would love to go on [Masterchef]. I would love to do it.
“Although my nerves get the better of me. When I did the Bake Off many years ago for Stand Up For Cancer, I found that one of the most stressful experiences of my life because I’m really competitive and I don’t like to get things wrong at all, and I’m not very good with judgement.
“I kind of crumble when I think that people are judging me and when you go onto a program like that, which of course is a competition and the whole the format of the program is to be judged and your work to be judged, I crumbled.
“But I’d give Masterchef a go.”
It always seemed inevitable that Wan’s passion for both broadcasting and cooking would collide, having grown up helping out at his parents’ restaurant in Leicester.
Although he comes from a family of caterers, don’t expect the presenter to open his own eatery any time soon, despite having come close several years ago after being inspired by his beloved French bulldog, Dolly Albertine Dishcloth.
“I really wanted to open up a kind of Shanghai-style cocktail bar called Dolly’s Dim Sum and serve delicious morsels and great cocktails,” he recalled. “It was at the height of Sex and the City so everybody was dressed up to the nines, looking for great food and cocktails.
“But the problem that I’ve got with that is I’m not very good at not being all over every project I’m involved in – and with a restaurant, having grown up in catering and seeing just how much of a tough job it is…
“It’s exhausting and it takes hundreds of hours a week, it’s all consuming. I would have to then give up something, and I’ve never ever been very good at letting things go so maybe when I give everything else up at some point in my life then I’ll open up a restaurant.”
Aside from cooking, Wan loves nothing more than spending time with his dog, Dolly, who he credits with “changing my life”, and regularly features on his social media.
Knowing his admiration for animals and TV, could Wan see himself stepping into the late Paul O’Grady’s shoes to front ITV series, For The Love of Dogs? Probably not, only because he couldn’t leave the animals behind.
The DJ shared: “I mean what a show? How could anybody follow in the footsteps of the legend that is Paul? I was lucky to know him through friends. He was such a great man.
“While I love animals, I think there’s probably people out there that will do a much better job because I would have to take all the animals home and there’s no way I could.
“I remember Paul saying the most difficult part of the show is not taking those dogs home and I don’t think I could do it. I’d be heartbroken.”
Wan spoke to us as he partnered with Philadelphia UK for their Intense by Philadelphia pop-up tour and explained his love of hosting was at the heart of why he collaborated with the brand.
He shared: “I love hosting friends and family, especially for stand-out moments in life, so, getting involved with the Intense by Philadelphia pop-up tour is right up my street.”
