Scottish presenter Jean Johansson joins Celebrity MasterChef line-up

Scottish TV presenter Jean Johansson is part of the 20-strong line-up of celebrities hoping to impress Gregg Wallace and John Torode. Picture: BBC

Stella Parton, 69, actor Keith Allen and English cricketer Monty Panesar form part of the 20-strong line-up of celebrities who will be hoping to impress judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode when the BBC One series returns.

They will be joined by former Holby City and Strictly star Chizzy Akudolu, former The Bill actor Lisa Maxwell and EastEnders’ John Partridge.

Also hoping for culinary success will be TV presenter Michelle Ackerley and social entrepreneur and designer Jay Blades.

Dolly Parton's younger sister Stella has joined the Celebrity MasterChef line-up. Picture: BBC

Comedian Zoe Lyons, former rugby union star Martin Bayfield and World Champion Paralympian Stefanie Reid are also among the eclectic mix set to turn up the heat in the kitchen.

Completing the line-up is Union J’s Josh Cuthbert, radio presenter Clara Amfo, eighties pop star Carol Decker and singer Anita Harris - who rose to fame with the Cliff Adams Singers.

Former Strictly contestant and member of The Saturdays, Frankie Bridge, and professional Strictly dancer AJ Pritchard will be hoping their dancing skills translate into cooking ones as part of the cooking line-up.

The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins rounds off the line-up.

Former Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews is hoping for culinary success. Picture: BBC

Collins will be hoping for better success than her 2014 appearance in the I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle, which saw her leave the show after just three days.

Sports star Panesar crashed out of ITV’s latest Dancing On Ice line-up when he injured himself while training.

This year’s series will span six weeks and 12 episodes.

During the first four heat weeks, consisting of 60-minute episodes, each week five celebrities will compete in the Mystery Box Challenge, and will also have to cook in a professional restaurant kitchen.

Following their external adventure, they will have to cook a two-course menu, designed themselves, for the judges. One contestant will be sent home after each episode.

The four remaining celebrities will have to return the following evening to face a trio of challenges, including the newly-introduced Pairs Challenge, which involves the celebrities being split into two teams of two.

Each team will cook the same dish, but a wall will separate team members, so instructions will have to be served up vocally to ensure team dishes are identical.

The contestants will also take on the Catering Challenge and four contestants will have to cook for the judges and previous series winners to secure a place in the semi-final.

Among the semi-final tasks featured is a cooking challenge which forms part of the 100th birthday celebrations of Antiques Roadshow.

The final will be a 90-minute episode featuring the remaining three celebrities.

The BBC’s commissioning editor, Carla-Maria Lawson, said: “Celebrity MasterChef is a real treat in BBC One’s summer schedule. This series features a wonderfully diverse line up of celebrities donning the iconic aprons.

“They’re out of their comfort zones, but determined to make their mark in the MasterChef kitchen. Along the way, viewers can expect high drama served alongside some great food.”

TV and radio presenter Angellica Bell was crowned the winner of the 2017 series of Celebrity MasterChef.

The series will air in the summer.