Love Islander, comedy legend, boyband star and Olympian announced as week one Celebrity Masterchef contestants

THE first batch of Celebrity Masterchef contestants have been revealed – and it includes a Love Island star and an Olympian. With the BBC show set to return later this summer, it comes after The Sun previously revealed that comedian Joe Pasquale would be taking part. Emily Campbell, Jason Mohammad, Shakira Khan, Joe Pasquale and Jay McGuiness have been confirmed as the stars taking part in Celebrity Masterchef’s first heat Credit: BBC /Shine TV Love Island star Shakira describes herself as a ‘simple cook’ but is looking forward to improving Credit: BBC /Shine TV And it has now been confirmed Joe will join The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness, Love Islander Shakira Khan, Olympian Emily Campbell and presenter Jason Mohammed in the first heat. The BBC show typically features three weeks of Heats to put the celebrity line-up through their paces. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! And with this batch of stars first to the kitchen, they’re hoping they can impress new judges Grace Dent and Anna Haugh. Describing himself as a ‘huge fan’ of the show, Joe has a love for cooking. While Olympic weightlifter Emily is confident in her skills as she heads to the kitchen Credit: BBC /Shine TV Jay will be the third member of The Wanted to take part in the show Credit: BBC /Shine TV The Sun previously revealed that Joe was amongst the celebrities taking part Credit: BBC /Shine TV While the BBC’s Jason says he wants to bring his hearty home meals to the show Credit: BBC /Shine TV He said of the show: “I love a good challenge. I don’t like to be in shallow water; I love the deep end… and I love the adrenaline that goes with pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. “I’m a huge fan of the show and have watched it for many years. I really hope to learn something as I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a chef as I love to experiment but never had the confidence to pursue it.” While Jay is the third member of The Wanted to give Masterchef a go, as he explained: “My bandmates Tom and Max had a great time on the show, and I was so impressed watching them! I like challenges and learning new things. What’s the worst that could happen?” Shakira, who was in the final of last year’s Love Island, is hoping to bring some of the South Asian flavours she grew up with into the Masterchef kitchen. Most read in TV She said: “I’m always up for a challenge and I love cooking, but I’m a simple cook. I’m good but I want to go out of my comfort zone and learn ‘sick recipes’, it will be fun. “I want to make my family proud and show the flavours I grew up with. I also want to prove to myself that I can improve and surprise people.” For Jason, it’s more about the hearty home cooked flavours that has sparked his love of cooking. “I love food and I’m passionate about feeding people. Some of my greatest memories in my life have been surrounded by food, especially after Ramadan. Tables full of food at Eid and feeding and eating with my fellow Muslims at my mosque during Eid celebrations,” said the BBC host. Emily, who has been regarded as one of the most successful British female weightlifters ever, is up for a new challenge and has been inspired by pal and former show winner Kadeena Cox, she says. The sportswoman said: “I’ve always been a massive fan of the show and always wanted to be on it! I love cooking and love food and really want to challenge myself in the culinary space.” The Sun previously revealed that stars such as Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver and The Saturdays singer Una Healy will also be taking part. Comment now