![Shazia Mirza Shazia Mirza](/images/photos/small/sm_shazia_mirza_17.jpg)
![Shazia Mirza Shazia Mirza](/images/photos/small/sm_shazia_mirza_17.jpg)
'I prepared for MasterChef by burning two kitchens down'
Shazia Mirza on entering the BBC cookery programme
Shazia Mirza appears on Celebrity Masterchef next week – starting at 9pm on Wednesday August 9. Here she shares her culinary experience…
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
I’d always thought about doing it, but it looked so scary. Now I say, just do it! can make egg on toast, egg and chips, beans on toast, so I'll be alright.
How did it feel to walk into the kitchen for the first time?
Walking into the kitchen for the first time is really strange, because you've seen it already. I watch it on TV all the time. So when you go there you feel like you know John and Gregg and you know the kitchen, but it's totally a different feeling when you're actually in there. It gets really scary and I got very nervous.
How have you prepared for the series?
I prepared for MasterChef by burning two kitchens down. I burnt down the home economics room at school once and my mum’s kitchen once. But I've learned my lesson, I know not to leave the oven on when there's nothing in there!
What does your family think of your cooking?
My mum and dad are from Pakistan, so they think they've had the best. They've had the best food cooked by the best chefs that's really authentic and off the street. Anything I cook is just a recipe, so they've always got a complaint when I make something. They’re like ‘I can't taste the turmeric’ or ‘this needs more salt.’ Every time I cook the same dish, it always turns out different!
What is your desert island dish?
Vegetable moussaka.
What are three things that you always have in your fridge?
I always have butter, garlic and ginger.
What is your favourite dish to cook at home?
My favourite dish to cook at home is either Matar Paneer or Saag Paneer which is cottage cheese and peas or cottage cheese and spinach in a curry.
Published: 1 Aug 2023
![Tez Ilyas and Shazia Mirza set for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins | Filming gets under way in New Zealand Tez Ilyas and Shazia Mirza set for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins | Filming gets under way in New Zealand](/images/photos/small/mirza-ilyas.jpg)
Tez Ilyas and Shazia Mirza set for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Tez Ilyas and Shazia Mirza are to be put through…
7/07/2023
![Comics join Celebrity MasterChef | Marcus Brigstocke, Shazia Mirza and Inbetweeners star James Buckley Comics join Celebrity MasterChef | Marcus Brigstocke, Shazia Mirza and Inbetweeners star James Buckley](/images/photos/small/masterchef23.jpg)
Comics join Celebrity MasterChef
Marcus Brigstocke, Shazia Mirza and Inbetweeners star…
15/06/2023
![Shazia Mirza joins Commonwealth Games opening ceremony | Comic will be introducing nations – just luke Joe Lycett Shazia Mirza joins Commonwealth Games opening ceremony | Comic will be introducing nations – just luke Joe Lycett](/images/photos/small/sm-shazia-bham.jpg)
Shazia Mirza joins Commonwealth Games opening ceremony
Shazia Mirza will be taking part in the opening ceremony…
28/07/2022
!['This pilgrimage has made me more tolerant' | Shazia Mirza on taking part in the BBC's latest religious trek 'This pilgrimage has made me more tolerant' | Shazia Mirza on taking part in the BBC's latest religious trek](/images/photos/small/sm-shazia-mirza-pilgrimage.jpg)
'This pilgrimage has made me more tolerant'
Shazia Mirza is one of the celebrities in the new series…
7/04/2022
Shazia Mirza joins BBC's next Pilgrimage
Shazia Mirza is to follow in the footsteps of 6th Century…
25/02/2022
Shazia Mirza has been locked in solitary confinement…
3/09/2018
Shazia Mirza has been named magazine columnist of the…
12/05/2008
Several British stand-ups have got through to the semi-finals…
3/02/2008
Ben Elton’s return to TV comedy has been a ratings…
26/04/2007
The weeks' trivia, in case you missed it:Readers of…
19/01/2007
Shazia Mirza has performed her bridge-building gigs…
13/11/2006
Some trivia sparklers for your bonfire weekend...
Zharmakhan…
3/11/2006
Past Shows
Agent
We do not currently hold contact details for Shazia Mirza's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.