Celebrity MasterChef 2023 week 2: Dave Benson Phillips - TV Presenter and Entertainer

What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?

Mrs Phillips made me! She's a big fan of the show and she's always nagged for me to be on it. I never thought it would happen and I did harbour a secret longing to be on it but didn't tell anybody. So, you can imagine my surprise when I was called by the show. When I was called, they said ‘Dave, what are you doing? Would you like to achieve a life's ambition?’ and I thought, right, I'm going to go on MasterChef. So here I am, hoping to learn skills and make new friends. I'm just looking forward to being part of the MasterChef alumni.

How did it feel to walk into the kitchen for the first time?

Walking into the kitchen is nerve-wracking. You’ve seen it on television and you think your brain can handle it. I walked in with the other celebs who are taking part, looking around to my left and seeing Gregg Wallace and John Torode and it just all of a sudden got very real.

What do your friends/family think of your cooking?

The kindest quote from Mrs Phillips would be that it is a ‘work in progress!’

What is your favourite dish to cook at home?

My favourite go-to dish is chicken. I'm always cooking chicken and pretty much all other meats: lamb, beef, a bit of pork every now and again and a few veggies to go with it.

What is your desert island dish?

I wouldn’t necessarily cook it myself. There is a kebab house near where I live, which does the best kebabs. I normally get a mixed grill from there because it lasts me about two and a half days. It's just got everything in there, so that would do for me.

What three things that you always have in your fridge?

Chicken, gin, tonic. Those are the three things I always have.