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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Entertainment
Karen Antcliff

BBC MasterChef viewers left confused after Pookie 'instantly recognised"

The hunt for the next culinary great is back. BBC MasterChef has returned but viewers of the popular show have been left questioning where they have seen one of the contestants before.

Pookie, who lives in Solihull, may be listed as a beauty salon owner, but some viewers were left puzzled as they watched the show, talking not about her cooking but how familiar she looked. The 45-year-old stole the show on the first episode of the new series - the 18th competition to air. And judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace with her imaginative dishes.

She cooked up a dish called 'Shallow Sea-Bed Life'. It consisted of tiger prawns served with a Tom Kha Thai coconut milk soup, coral, a lime foam and garnished with cherry tomatoes masago and salmon roe, coriander and samphire.

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But BBC viewers were distracted by more than her food as they were convinced they had seen her on another TV show, reported Birmingham Live. They took to Twitter to comment as they said they instantly recognised the talented cook.

One viewer wrote: "Googling Pookie… where have I seen her before… cannot find anything but she’s definitely been on something else @MasterChefUK #masterchef." Another agreed: "What has Pookie been on before?"

Others asked: "Where have I seen Pookie before? #MasterChef." And another said: "I've just said the same... I've definitely seen her on something before but I can't remember and it's really bugging me #Masterchef."

Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace (BBC)
Did you watch the show? What did you think? Tell us in the comments section.

Pookie doesn't appear to have been on any other TV shows before, but maybe viewers have previously popped by her old beauty salon. It looks like her cooking is due to pay off, with judges John and Gregg seriously impressed by her dishes. Gregg Wallace told her: "Pookie we think you're amazing, you've got yourself an apron."

She has made it through to the next round of the BBC show and will appear again next week. MasterChef airs on BBC One on Wednesday's at 8pm.

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