GUIDE Dogs’ National Breeding Centre, near Leamington, played host to the latest episode of Celebrity MasterChef, as the eight remaining contestants took on an intense mass catering challenge.
But it wasn’t all hard work, as the celebrities also found time to get acquainted with Guide Dogs’ newest recruits – a litter of eight-week-old Labrador puppies – and enjoy some backstage cuddles.
Cooking in tents at the Guide Dogs site at Bishop’s Tachbrook, the celebrities divided into two teams and attempted to win over 120 of the charity’s local staff, volunteers and special guests with their menus.
In a happy coincidence, the line-up for this series has included Amar Latif, a contestant navigating the kitchen and cooking up a storm with sight loss.
Matthew Bottomley, head of breeding operations at Guide Dogs said: “Having Celebrity MasterChef come to the Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre gave us a fantastic opportunity to come together and give thanks to the site’s amazing staff and volunteers, who are instrumental in caring for generations of our life-changing dogs.
“It was a treat to share a delicious meal and be waited on by all the celebrities. The lunch was a perfect way to kick off what will be a year of celebration throughout 2021 for Guide Dogs, as it will be the ninetieth anniversary of the first guide dog partnership in the UK.
“It was great to have Amar Latif among the contestants. Diverse representation on popular shows like MasterChef can have a huge positive impact on public perceptions of disability. As Amar has shown, people with sight loss can be equally capable and determined in competitions and high-pressure situations – often relying different skills and gadgets to help them adapt.”
The programme is available on iPlayer.
