EASTENDERS stalwart Adam Woodyatt, more commonly known as chippie owner Ian Beale, left fans baffled at his real life lack of cooking skills.
The soap star actor pitted it out in the fourth heat of BBC One series MasterChef, yet some viewers were taken aback as he faltered.
Ian owns Albert Square foodie institution, Kathy’s Cafe as well as sole stylish eatery Walford East and the fish and chip shop, Beale’s Plaice, too.
He started out selling fruit and veg on Walford market and additionally dabbled in Indian cuisine with Masala Queen, while his Beale’s restaurant closed in 2017.
Perhaps confusing the foodie talents of the hapless Walford dad for culinary prowess in real life, they were baffled when he could not whip up a top scratch curry dish.
Adam admitted to MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace his east London character set a high bar for his kitchen expectations.
IAN BEALE'S EASTENDERS RESTAURANT EMPIRE
IAN Beale, EastEnders' main foodie man, has owned a number of tasty establishments on the BBC One soap – here they are:
- Fruit and veg stall, Walford Market, 1993 and 2007-2013
- The Queen Victoria, 2005
- Kathy’s Cafe, 1989–1991, 1995–2000, 2004–2011, 2012, 2013–2017
- Beale’s Plaice, 1995–2000, 2002–2012, 2013–
- Masala Queen, 2008-2011
- Beale’s, 2013-2017
- Walford East, 2018
He proceeded to serve up a prawn, tomato and coconut rice, alongside a raita, chapati – and a pretty grim side of raw rice.
One fan took to Twitter to comment: “Anyone else looking at Ian Beale on #MasterChefCelebrity thinking why the hell cant you cook when you own two restaurants.”
Another added: “Ian Beale is on Celebrity Masterchef but they aren’t making him cook fish and chips. “Huge missed opportunity.”
A third simply giggled: “Watching #MasterChef just to see if Ian Beale can actually cook.”
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Meanwhile judge Gregg seemed equally gobsmacked at his lack of prowess in the MasterChef kitchen.
He quizzed: “Hang on a minute, in Albert Square, you’ve owned a caff.”
Adam admitted: “Yeah, I know, but the props boys do a wonderful job.
“I’m only as good a chef as the props boy that day.”
He added: “How good I am at cooking it, I have no idea cos I don’t do a lot of cooking.
“I do a lot of eating.”
Adam’s foodie faux-pas did not seem to matter in the end, though, as he was given another chance and put through to the next round of the cooking series.
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