Christine McGuinness eliminated from Celebrity MasterChef as fans praise her for bravely addressing autism struggle
CHRISTINE McGuinness said she was “relieved” upon being eliminated from Celebrity MasterChef.
The model and television personality, 36, joined Jake Quickenden, Jamie MacDonald, Emma Thynn and Tamer Hassan in the latest heat.
While she failed to advance to the next round, the model swiftly shared that she was “relieved” by the outcome.
Viewers praised Christine as she addressed her struggle with autism.
She was diagnosed in recent years and previously opened up about her experiences in documentary Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism.
Speaking during Celebrity MasterChef, she said: “I do have a lot of sensory issues around food, the smells, the textures, not just cooking, but tasting, it is something I avoid an awful lot.
“I know it’ll take a lot more energy for me to try and shut out the sensory issues of the smells, the noises, the textures of the food on my hands, and try not to get too overwhelmed by it all.”
A viewer wrote on X: “As an autistic person myself, Christine did extremely well on #celebritymasterchef outside her comfort zone. ( I know it’s out of most people’s comfort zone ) but for someone who struggles with sensory issues and gets overwhelmed she did so well.”
While another added: “I have a niece and nephew with autism. My niece, in particular, really struggles with food, so I admire Christine McGuinness for challenging herself on #CelebrityMasterchef.”
Meanwhile, Christine told judge Gregg Wallace: “The smells, the textures of everything is quite a lot, but I wanted to do it.
“My children are all autistic, really, really struggle with food.
“The only way to really overcome that is to touch food, to taste it, to smell it.”
She also admitted to eating a “beige diet” but had entered the contest to overcome her culinary fears.
In the second challenge, the star channelled her children’s favourite meals and her own mum’s recipes as inspiration.
She presented an enhanced chicken nuggets and chips with a dipping sauce, as well as a “child friendly” alcohol free tiramisu as dessert.
Who is in Celebrity MasterChef 2024?
Who are the stars taking part in the 2024 BBC series?
- Charlotte Crosby – Former Geordie Shore star
- Chloe Burrows – Former Love Island star
- Christine McGuinness – Model and media personality
- Craig Doyle – Radio and TV Presenter
- Danielle Harold – Former EastEnders actor
- Diane Carson – Star of series two of The Traitors
- Dominic Skinner – Make-Up Artist and TV Judge (Glow Up)
- Edith Bowman – Radio and TV Presenter
- Emma Thynn – Model and TV Personality
- Eshaan Akbar – Actor and Comedian
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Team GB Sprinter and Gladiator (Nitro)
- Ian ‘H’ Watkins – Steps
- Jake Quickenden – Actor, Singer, and TV Presenter
- Jamie MacDonald – Comedian
- Mutya Buena – Sugababes
- OJ Borg – BBC Radio 2 Presenter
- Rochenda Sandall – Actor
- Snoochie Shy – Radio and TV Presenter
- Tamer Hassan – Actor
- Vito Coppola – Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer
In the end, John and Gregg decided to not send Christine through to the next round.
She told the camera: “I’m really, really proud of myself that I even went into a kitchen I wasn’t familiar with, that I tried to make food I’d never made before, but I was well out of my comfort zone, that was too much of a stretch for me.
“I’m happy I’ve done it, but I’m relieved I don’t have to keep practicing in front of the nation.”
Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One.