Liz McClarnon's celebrity masterchef trial

Jul 24 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Former Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon at the official opening celebration of the Hard Days Night Hotel on North John Street _240

CHOPPING off the head of a dead pig with a cleaver and preparing a hot meal for Sandhurst cadets was not part of her job description as a member of top-selling girl group Atomic Kitten.

But these formidable tasks and much more were on the menu when Liz McClarnon took part in the final of BBC1’s Celebrity Masterchef.

Among the challenges she faced – along with contestants, Toxteth-born actor Mark Moraghan and presenter Andi Peters – were making break-fast for army cadets and cooking in the South African bush.

Last night, viewers saw the last three finalists face their toughest challenges yet – first cooking breakfast for army cadets fresh from a 10-day field-training exercise – while in the midst of a “dawn attack”.

Then they were sent to some of London’s best restaurants to fine-tune their individual cooking styles – before returning to the studio to show judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace what they had learnt.

In tonight’s penultimate show, the three finalists are flown 6,000 miles to the Mozambique border to cook in intense heat at one of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

This involved jointly preparing a meal for safari guides coming to the waterhole for a lunch break.

Of the African trip, Liz said: “It was just so hard and the heat was unbelievable. I was close to passing out and I was ordered by the chef to go and sit in the freezer to cool off.

“When I was told to chop off the pig’s head, I was dying inside, but with my good Irish blood I was full-on and got it done with a big cleaver. I then had to take the whole pig apart.”

Fortunately, viewers will not see this in tonight’s programme, although Liz refers to it.

The 27-year-old from south Liverpool, who has been busy recording a solo album, added: “I’m so happy I took part in the programme. My mum and my brother are cooks and it means we can now all muck in.

“I’ve also got a real love for Africa, as I’ve been out there a lot, either on holiday or visiting Aids projects.”

Taking part in Celebrity Master-chef has changed her approach to food: “Before, I just ate it, now I’m up for cooking all the time.”

The three contestants will need to produce dishes to impress judges, culminating in them preparing their best three-course meal to win the Celebrity Masterchef 2008 title.

Liz McClarnon’s fellow contestant, one-time Holby City actor and dad-of-three Mark Moraghan, 45, said: “It was an amazing experience. I al-ways thought I was a decent cook, but I expected to go out in the first round.

“Aside from acting, this was the most profound thing I have ever done. Cooking is a passion. I would love to have a little seafood restau-rant by the sea and cook all day.”

CELEBRITY Masterchef continues on BBC1 at 8pm tonight.

alanweston