Cooking with the Stars continues tonight on ITV1 as Joey Essex, JB Gill and Lesley Joseph face barbecue challenge

Cooking with the Stars returns tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with hosts Emma Willis and Tom Allen welcoming Joey Essex, JB Gill and Lesley Joseph for a three-way cooking battle.

The heat is on in the kitchen as Cooking with the Stars continues tonight, with three familiar faces battling to impress the judges with their culinary skills in the latest episode of the ITV cooking competition.

Airing at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, the series sees Emma Willis and Tom Allen return to host as celebrities step away from their usual careers and into the kitchen, guided by professional chef mentors who help them develop their cooking abilities.

Tonight, reality star Joey Essex, singer and television presenter JB Gill, and actress Lesley Joseph will go head-to-head in a challenging barbecue-themed task. With the help of their mentors, the three celebrities must prepare delicious dishes using indoor grills, putting their creativity, technique and ability to work under pressure to the test.

But with only some of the contestants able to avoid the dreaded cook-off, the stakes are high. Two of the stars will face a final showdown, after which one celebrity will leave the competition.

What to expect from Cooking with the Stars tonight

This week’s challenge is all about bringing barbecue flavours into the kitchen, with the contestants tasked with creating impressive dishes using indoor grills.

While barbecue cooking might sound straightforward, the celebrities will need to demonstrate that they can do more than simply follow a recipe. Getting the flavours right, managing cooking times and producing a dish that looks as good as it tastes could make all the difference.

With Joey Essex, JB Gill and Lesley Joseph competing against one another, viewers can expect plenty of tension as the trio attempt to impress their mentors and secure their place in the competition.

The episode will also test how well the celebrities have taken on board the advice they have received throughout their time on the show. With the pressure mounting, even a small mistake could prove costly.

By the end of the challenge, two contestants will be sent into the cook-off, where they must fight to remain in the competition. For one of them, however, the culinary journey will come to an end.

Cooking with the Stars 2026: Meet the celebrities and their mentors

This year’s series is bigger than ever, featuring 10 themed episodes filled with recipes, cooking inspiration and practical kitchen shortcuts that viewers can try at home.

The celebrity line-up includes a mix of television personalities, sporting stars, musicians and performers, each paired with an experienced chef who will help them develop their skills.

Among those hoping to cook up a storm are:

• JB Gill and Poppy O’Toole
• Caroline Quentin and Michael Caines
• Bez and Kate Austen
• Harry Aikines-Aryeety and Rosemary Shrager
• Joey Essex and Nokx Majozi
• Karen Hauer and Angelo Sato
• Dame Laura Kenny and Tony Singh
• Lesley Joseph and Jean-Philippe Blondet
• Mark Charnock and Shelina Permalloo
• Scarlett Moffatt and Jack Stein
• Seann Walsh and Sam Holland
• Zara McDermott and Elliot Grover

With such a varied group of celebrities taking part, the series promises plenty of different approaches to cooking, as the contestants learn new techniques and attempt dishes they might never have considered making before.

Their mentors will play a crucial role throughout the competition, sharing professional tips and helping the stars turn their initial ideas into dishes worthy of the judges’ attention.

Watch a previous episode in full, here:

How to recreate the recipes at home

For viewers inspired by the dishes on screen, there is an opportunity to bring the experience into their own kitchens.

The series features recipes that can be recreated at home using ingredients from M&S, with everything from family favourites to more ambitious dinner-party dishes available to explore online.

The ingredients can be found in M&S Foodhalls or ordered through Ocado, making it easier for home cooks to follow along and try the recipes for themselves.

You can find the recipes here: M&S Cooking with the Stars recipes.

Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration for a midweek meal or hoping to impress guests with something a little more adventurous, the recipes offer a chance to put some of the show’s cooking tips into practice.

How to watch Cooking with the Stars tonight

Cooking with the Stars continues tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Emma Willis and Tom Allen host as Joey Essex, JB Gill and Lesley Joseph take on the indoor-grill barbecue challenge, with two celebrities facing the cook-off and one contestant ultimately leaving the competition.

With the pressure building and the competition becoming tougher, tonight’s episode promises another serving of culinary challenges, celebrity nerves and mouth-watering food.

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