Gemma’ just like ’s adorable.. e Diana Dors
SHE’S a Marmite character but the outlandish personality of Gemma Collins helped take the heat off singer and actress Mica Paris when she returned to the kitchen for next month’s MasterChef Christmas Cook-Off.
Former EastEnders star Mica made the Celebrity MasterChef semi-final in 2015 and is now championing new pal reality TV veteran Gemma’s plans for a pop career.
Mica says: “Gemma is adorable – she’s got a great voice, work ethic and reminds me of Diana Dors.
“We got on like a house on fire but I don’t know if we’d be able to record together as we would spend too long chatting in the booth.
Pally
“I love to cook but when you have four cameras staring at you in that studio you turn into a five-year-old and feel like you’re in front of your teacher.
“You think you’re pally then John (Torode) and Gregg (Wallace) turn and say: ‘It’s a bit soggy, Mish.’
“My food this time is a Caribbean Christmas vibe starter and a main.”
Last week, Mica, who released her debut album So Good in 1988, was presented with her MBE.
She’s well versed in spending time in the presence of royalty.
“My grandmother met Princess Diana with me at the Royal Variety,” recalls Mica. “Diana gave her flowers, which she kept in her bible until her death. “I’ve met Prince Charles a few times. “He’s a big Aretha (Franklin) fan and has asked me for her songs.
“I’m like: ‘What about mine?’”
She adds: “I feel very honoured to be given an MBE. My grandparents came over in the Windrush and drilled into me to be respectful and always be on time.”
Despite the highs, this year also brought a tragic low for Mica, 52, when her nephew Sebastian – son of boxer Chris Eubank – died from a heart attack in July.
Mica says: “Chris has this crazy image. However, he’s a very kind person with a good heart. It was
such a bolt out of the blue. Seb was the image of my little brother Jason, who was shot and killed – the family are struggling.” Turning to music – like she has throughout the pandemic – has given Mica a focus.
She duets with the late Jimmy Ruffin on a version of What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted on
Motown with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s A Symphony Of Soul album.
The collection of top Motown songs reimagined with fresh orchestration is heading for the Top 20 this week.
Mica says: “When I make albums it’s like being naked in Tesco at 6pm.
“You never know what people are going to think.
“As a black person in the UK growing up in the Seventies seeing Motown artists like the Jacksons and Diana Ross on TV, I wanted to be like them.
“They dressed immaculate like at my church so I felt like I belonged, even though I loved the Osmonds and Bay City Rollers as well.” Despite having successfully shown her huge vocal range can deliver on soul, R&B and last year’s Gospel album, Mica was initially cautious about touching a Motown classic.
She says: “They’re so slick that I thought, ‘What can I do to make it better?’
“When I was in the studio I felt like Jimmy was still alive and we were there together. That song spoke to me.”
Motown with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (A Symphony of Soul) is out now on Island Records. See Mica live at London’s Jazz Cafe on December 7.