‘I’ve put on half a stone from eating real food’
Benidorm actress Crissy Rock, 61, on how doing CelebrityMasterChef has made her ditch the beans on toast…
Are you any good?
When I was asked to do this I was going, “Are you having a laugh?!” I mean, I can cook my tea, but I can’t cook professionally. I went on it for the experience, and I’ve now realised that food doesn’t just come out of a tin. I’m a baked beans with sausages on toast kind of girl. What did you cook?
For the first challenge I had to go into a massive larder, which was like a walk-in wardrobe. There were things I’ve never seen in my life – but I had to pick my gear and they said I’d got 50 minutes to make a meal. I was like, “What’s this? What’s that? Is that a sweet potato or a turnip?” I didn’t have a clue and I was laughing my head off. The only thing I recognised was a fish, but don’t ask me what kind it was. That went well, then?
I thought, “You can’t go wrong with fish.” I gutted it, took the bones out and stuffed it with rice, tomatoes – and a pear, to give it one of the five a day. I wanted to make chips but couldn’t find a chip pan so I made some from sweet potatoes. I put them in the oven with honey on and they came out looking like something from a joke shop. Did Gregg and John like it?
When I had to take my plate up I just couldn’t stop laughing. John said that the pear didn’t go nice with the fish. I said, “It’s a bit late telling me that!” Poor Gregg nearly choked on a bone, and I went hysterical. I did really well on that round…
What were your fellow contestants like?
Even though it’s a competition we all encouraged each other, our little gang. And when the Sir [Matthew Pinsent] did this tart I said to him, “You brought that in!” It looked like something from Marks & Spencer’s, it was fabulous. He went, “Well, I cooked the pastry blind…” I said, “How did he see how to cook it?” I didn’t know that you had to put the pastry in the oven first with these beans on top of it…
Has your cooking improved?
By the second round – when I had to make a rack of lamb – I was getting a bit adventurous. I made a jus thing, and John said my asparagus tips were cooked to perfection. They kept saying that I had a knack for flavouring things, which I didn’t even know I had. Now I’ve put half a stone on from eating real food!
How have you been keeping busy during lockdown?
I like to paint pictures and draw, and I’ve been cooking! Since doing MasterChef I’m remembering not to over-cook and to keep checking on things. I’ve picked up so many little tips and I’m made up with myself. Who have you been locked down with?
My husband [Julian Buck, who Crissy wed two years ago]. He’s lovely, and usually I’m so spoilt because he just loves cooking. Tell us more about your art?
I’m a big supporter of domestic violence and mental health campaigns. I worry about the people who are having to go through lockdown with an abusive partner, so I’ve done a load of sketches and I’m hoping that they can raise money for charity.
Will you be watching your MasterChef episode?
I’d love to. I really can’t wait to see it and remember the laughs. I loved the whole experience.