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Aberdeenshire councillor Geva Blackett to star on MasterChef TV show tonight

If you're a fan of MasterChef then you'll want to meet local face, Geva Blackett, who hails from the north-east.

Geva Blackett will feature in tonight's episode of MasterChef. Image: Supplied by BBC/Shine TV
Geva Blackett will feature in tonight's episode of MasterChef. Image: Supplied by BBC/Shine TV

North-east MasterChef fans may recognise a familiar face on the long-running BBC programme tonight as it returns to our screens for series 19.

Those tuning in to the show, which kicks off at 8pm on BBC One, will see Aboyne and Upper Deeside councillor Geva Blackett competing against eight fellow home cooks in the first heat of the next series.

The episode will see Geva, 66, create her ‘family favourite dish’ and take part in an invention test.

MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
MasterChef’s John Torode and Gregg Wallace will judge Geva Blackett’s dishes. Image: Supplied by BBC/Shine TV

The mum-of-four’s cooking skills will be put to the test by judges and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

For those of you keen to find out more about the Aberdeenshire councillor, who resides in Braemar with her four daughters, husband and two cocker spaniels, ahead of her TV appearance, here is a brief Q&A.

How would you describe your style of cooking?

Lazy… But I do plan for the week ahead and I do experiment a lot. I could probably open a cookbook shop as I have shelves full of them.

I cook from scratch 99.99% of the time – my husband loves puddings and cakes and I guess I show my love for my family by cooking them nice food when they come home.

Geva Blackett giving an interview on MasterChef.
Many Aberdeenshire residents will recognise Geva Blackett on tonight’s episode of MasterChef. Image: Supplied by BBC/Shine TV

What is your earliest cooking memory?

I feel like I’ve always cooked but it was only really when I met my husband almost 40 years ago that I really bothered to cook from scratch.

I guess falling in love was a huge inspiration and then there were four daughters to feed and often their friends too and now their husbands and our grandchildren too.

Why did you enter MasterChef?

It seemed like a good idea at the time… I’d love to inspire young people to learn to cook from scratch and maybe even become chefs.

By me showing myself completely out of my comfort zone and giving this a try, hopefully others might do the same and who knows what rewards lie ahead. Take a chance! Be brave!

What is your food dream?

That someone watched me on MasterChef and thought ‘I could do that’ and then went on to change their life.

As the old saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

More local talent

Also featuring on tonight’s episode is 26-year-old Zoe Fraser, who works as a manager in a tech start up.

Born in Aberdeen, Zoe studied in Edinburgh and now lives in Stirling with her fiancé Matteo.

She will be tasked with the same challenges as Geva in the first heat.

Local MasterChef fans will also be wishing Zoe Fraser the best of luck.
Local MasterChef fans will also be wishing Zoe Fraser the best of luck. Image: Supplied by BBC/Shine TV

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