Interview with Celebrity MasterChef 2023 contestant Sam Fox

What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?

Number one, it’s my favourite cooking programme and I’ve watched it for many, many years. I really want to learn more culinary skills and become a better cook. I’ve only properly cooked for my partner and now I’ve got my own family I’m always thinking of trying out new things and teaching my son to cook. He’s at university so we’re always trying out different things. I want to learn more dishes, more flavours and what a way to learn! I’m in awe of these two guys – John and Gregg.

What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen?

I had palpitations like you wouldn’t believe. I couldn’t believe I was on MasterChef, my favourite cooking programme. I’ve watched it for years and I can’t believe I get to be on it. It’s a bit like the first time I went on Top of the Pops - that feeling that I’m actually doing a show that I love.

How have you prepared to take on the challenge?

I’ve got quite a good imagination when it comes to cooking because I am a creative person, whether it’s producing or writing songs, or whether it’s planning videos, choreography and stuff like that. Hopefully my imagination and my creativity will go into my cooking. I am a foodie and I’m willing to try anything.

What do your family think of your cooking?

My family love my cooking. My mum has always been my inspiration ever since I was a little girl. She taught me how to cook a spaghetti bolognaise when I was about 11. When I got home from school and mum would get home from work, I’d always be hovering around the kitchen. I would get on her nerves quite a lot actually! This little hand coming around and taking things. If she was carving a nice piece of lamb on a Sunday I would always wait for the bone because it was the best part.

What would be your desert island dish?

It would be a traditional British roast beef dinner with horseradish and all the trimmings.

What are the three things you always have in your fridge and why?

I always have milk, eggs and garlic. I’m a great lover of garlic. I think sometimes you can make a boring dish into something more flavoursome with some garlic. Eggs and milk are kind of standard, you’ve always got to have them in. If you’ve got a bit of stale bread you can make bread and butter pudding!

Favourite dish to cook at home?

Lately I’ve been doing some Thai curries and Massaman curries. Every year I go to Thailand. I love the food and I’ve been trying out green curries and Pad Thai noodles. I do go through phases. I’ll probably get into the cooking the food from my next travels soon! I remember coming back from Morocco and cooking tagine because I just fell in love with it when I was there. If I come back from Italy I’m straight onto doing pasta!