Homosexual Steps legend Ian H Watkins is hanging up the microphone… for just a few weeks. (Getty)
Ian Watkins, extra affectionately often known as H from Steps, is all set to participate within the new sequence of BBC cooking sequence Superstar MasterChef.
Watkins, who makes up one-fifth of the gloriously camp British pop group, shall be hoping to keep away from a kitchen “Tragedy” when he’s requested to whip up two dinner-party dishes that may win over famished visitors. It begs the query: what would Lisa Scott-Lee and Claire Richards make a beeline for at a celebration buffet?
The singer shall be competing within the first week of heats with 4 different celebrities, and hoping to earn a spot within the quarter last in week 5. Watkins shall be feeling the warmth alongside Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, radio presenters Edith Bowman and Snoochie Shy, and This Morning‘s Craig Doyle.
A complete of 20 celebrities will compete for a spot within the quarter-finals.
They are saying to not reinvent the wheel, so Watkins could be sensible to make a dish harking back to his pop profession: tacky but undeniably moreish.
Chatting with the BBC about why he was briefly swapping pop music for working a pestle and mortar, Watkins stated: “I wished a problem to sink my enamel into. I’m recognized by my family and friends for not having the ability to prepare dinner up till this level!
“In terms of cooking, I’d say that I’m an knowledgeable with the air fryer and the microwave, so I wished to tackle Superstar MasterChef to develop a ability that I might contain my kids and household with going ahead.”
Regardless of having carried out for royalty, Watkins revealed that throwing some grub collectively was going to be one of many greatest challenges he’s confronted ever confronted.
“Intimidating to say the least,” he stated. “I’m used to performing within the O2 enviornment, put me on a stage and I can try this with my eyes closed. Ask me to boil an egg in entrance of [judges] John [Torode] and Gregg [Wallace] and I fall to items.”
H from Steps is an authorized homosexual legend
Watkins got here out publicly as homosexual in 2007, as he ready to enter the Superstar Massive Brother home.
Whereas Steps have already solidified themselves as a favorite with LGBTQ+ individuals, because of gold-certified hits together with “One For Sorrow” and “Stomp”, Watkins’ popping out reaffirmed the band’s connection to the group.
He revealed that the opposite members of Steps had recognized about his sexuality for some time, however he felt pressured into staying silent. And one particularly typically helped him deflect intrusive questions from the media.
“After we did interviews with magazines like Smash Hits and TV Hits, I might all the time get requested questions on girlfriends and who I fancied,” he advised PinkNews in 2017. “That was when Lisa [Scott-Lee] would dive in and have my again. She would chip in and take the eye away from me.
“I felt large stress to maintain my sexuality a secret however I used to be not alone.”
Watkins has since spoken out in help of the trans group, and revealed that Steps as soon as turned down a gig in Dubai due to the United Arab Emirates’ strict anti-LGBTQ+ legal guidelines.
Superstar MasterChef begins on BBC1 at 8pm on Tuesday (13 August) and on BBC iPlayer.