Daily Express Friday, August 23, 2019 11
DX1ST
Pictures: SWNS, PA
MasterChef to keep serving for three more years
Regular presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace
MASTERCHEF and its spin-off
series will continue to entertain
the nation’s food lovers after a
new three-year deal was signed.
Shine TV has renewed its
contract with the BBC to
continue airing MasterChef,
MasterChef: The Professionals
and Celebrity MasterChef.
There will be two more series
of MasterChef – hosted by
Gregg Wallace and John Torode
- following the one that aired
earlier this year.
And there will be three more
series of the other two versions,
with the upcoming series of
Celebrity MasterChef kicking
off on September 2. The new
series includes Joey Essex,
Dame Zandra Rhodes, Vicky
Pattison, Adam Woodyatt and
Oti Mabuse.
MasterChef launched in 1990
in a format designed by Franc
Roddam, but was reformatted
in 2004 by Shine TV’s John
Silver and Karen Ross, with
Torode and Wallace at the helm
on BBC One.
Celebrity MasterChef, also
hosted by Torode and Wallace
on BBC One, debuted in 2006
and is the BBC’s second
highest-rated cookery show
after MasterChef.
MasterChef: The Profession-
als, which airs on BBC Two, is
fronted by Wallace alongside
chefs Marcus Wareing and
Monica Galetti.
Now in its 12th year, the
show, which puts professional
chefs to the test, is BBC Two’s
highest-rated cookery show.
Carla-Maria Lawson, BBC
commissioning editor, said:
“MasterChef is the beating
heart of modern British televi-
sion cookery.
“It is constantly evolving to
reflect contemporary tastes. To
remain so popular and relevant
to viewers over so many years is
a real tribute to the talent and
passion of the teams, both on-
screen and off.”
David Ambler, of Shine TV,
added: “MasterChef is an
incredible format which I’ve
been honoured to produce for
many years.
“The BBC have always been
incredibly supportive and we
are thrilled to be making it for
them for the next three years.
“So long as there are
passionate cooks in the world,
we will never run out of
brilliant stories.”
By Lucy Mapstone
... yet top grades keep on rising
new system. There were sepa-
rate exam reforms for Wales
and Northern Ireland.
Mr Williamson said: “Today
is a proud day for students,
teachers and parents up and
down the country, and I wish
them all the very best for their
results.”
He added: “It should also be
an exciting day. It’s a day that
marks the culmination of years
of hard work and opens doors
that can create life-changing
opportunities.”
School chiefs had earlier
raised concerns that the revised
GCSE courses were “demoral-
ising” for lower-achieving
students.
An Association of School
and College Leaders poll in
England found eight in 10
believed the new courses were
having a detrimental effect on
struggling teenagers.
But Jamie Undrell, who
founded revision platform Save
My Exams, said yesterday:
“Many students were confused
by the new grading system at
first and parents were con-
cerned that the changes would
impact their children’s grades.
“However, the brilliant
results show that students
clearly rose to the challenge,
and refutes expert predictions
that fewer students would
be hitting the top grades
this year.”
Brilliant
Scholarship... Hasan Patel
Aaliyah wants to be an actress She weighed 12oz when born
Britain’s smallest baby makes her mark in exams
A MIRACLE teenager, who was
Britain’s smallest baby, has
celebrated receiving her GCSEs.
Aaliyah Hart was just seven inches
long and weighed 12oz when she was
born three months prematurely at
Birmingham City Hospital in 2003.
Despite her size, she went to
mainstream school and five years
ago moved to Queensbridge School,
Birmingham.
Yesterday Aaliyah picked up her
GCSE results – a day which her
mother Lorraine, 53, said she
thought she would never see.
She received three grade threes in
performing arts, English literature
and English language, twos in
religious education and food
preparation and a one in Science.
The 16-year-old will now start a
performing arts course at Solihull
College in September.
Aaliyah, who wants to emulate her
favourite actress Lauren London,
said she was “really pleased” with
the results and is going to celebrate
with her friends.
Lorraine, a social worker, said:
“I’m very proud of her, especially
as a single mum.
“I never thought she’d live to take
GCSEs. She has come a long way
and she doesn’t need to go for
check-ups anymore. She’s just
small for her age, but healthy.
“Doctors and teachers always said
she would struggle due to learning
difficulties. It’s an achievement for
her just to take the exams.”
NINE sets of twins at Robert May’s School, Hampshire, gained more than 360 GCSEs. Back row: Harry Wall (missing brother Jack),
Rosie Dolan, Nya Halliday, Cara Holmes-Henderson, Lucy Whittaker, Lauren Collins, Hattie Miles, Jaiden Hall, Liam Thompson. Front:
Helena Dolan, Lyndon Halliday, Ellie Holmes-Henderson, Eleanor Whittaker, Holly Collins, Clara Miles, Cameron Hall, Ashley Thompson
School’s 18 twins gain
more than 360 passes