BBC Celebrity MasterChef: Leicester Radio 2 star OJ Borg to star on cooking show

Leicester’s BBC Radio 2 star OJ Borg is among the star-studded line-up for this year’s Celebrity MasterChef. It’s shaping up to be an emotional moment for the presenter who revealed she ‘laughed’ and ‘cried’ in the famous kitchen.

OJ, who was born and raised in Leicester, is among BBC Radio 2’s best-known voices, regularly hosting the late-night show and covering teatime for Sara Cox. He even brought the station ‘home’ to Leicester last year for BBC Radio 2’s spectacular In the Park, which saw the legendary Kylie Minogue grace Victoria Park.

Now OJ is swapping the two for knives and spoons as he takes on the Celebrity MasterChef challenge – something he’s happy to finally reveal. He said: “I’m terrible at secrets so I can finally say I’m part of this year’s Celebrity MasterChef. I laughed. I cried. I threw an egg at someone.”

READ MORE: Who is Leicester-born BBC Radio 2 presenter OJ Borg?

OJ is one of 20 famous faces facing the heat in the MasterChef kitchen this year, with the group split into four heats of five celebrities to be whittled down over six weeks. OJ’s first challenge will see him take on the famous Under The Cloche challenge – a task that will see him and his contestants create a dish from scratch that shows what they can do.

From there, he will be tasked with delivering a two-course dinner menu and if he progresses, the world of professional kitchens awaits. Watch the Food Truck challenges before they get even hotter as the final stages of MasterChef will test the celebrities’ skills to the limit.

OJ isn’t the only Leicestershire-linked star taking part this year, with Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey also taking part in the competition. The Commonwealth Games medalist and Team GB Sprinter is now known to millions as Nitro in the reboot of the 90s TV classic, but as an athlete Harry trains at Loughborough University.

He said: “Olympic. Gladiator. Now MasterChef. We’re about to cook up a storm.”

Other stars taking part this year include the former EastEnders actress and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! star Danielle Harold, Steps legend Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Sugababes star Mutya Buena. Fellow OJ Radio 2 presenter – and 6 Music host – Edith Bowman, Strictly pro dancer Vito Coppola and Traitors icon Diane Carson will also battle it out to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

MasterChef series editor Katie Attwood said: “MasterChef celebrity fans are in for a treat this summer – with a line-up of top celebrities and the always thrilling John and Gregg on the judging panel. These stars will have to pull out all the stops this year as we really test their mettle. It’s one you won’t want to miss!”

Celebrity MasterChef will air on BBC One this summer, with a broadcast date yet to be confirmed. Past series can now be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

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