Hell's Kitchen

07 April 2009, 14:46

Adrian Edmondson
Age: 52

Food Heaven: Yorkshire puddings, roast beef, ice cream, curry & Mediterranean food.
Food Hell: Microwave meals.

Actor and comedian Adrian Edmondson admits that the one thing he is most looking forward to about Hell’s Kitchen is skinning a rabbit.  Living on a farm with his family Adrian reveals that wife Jennifer Saunders is the better cook.

“I know [skinning a rabbit] can be quite smelly but I am not particularly squeamish. We have our own cows and sheep at home, as we live on a farm and I make great roast beef. I’m very good at cooking pasta or roast dinners. I do Christmas dinner for 20 people every year.

“Jennifer is such a good cook. I want to learn how not to do the thing that I do which is chuck too much in – herbs and spices and soy sauce.”

Adrian has strong opinions about the amount of cooking shows on TV and and is looking to Marco to help bring back his cooking mojo. 

 “There are too many cooking shows on television. I think there should be just the one: Hells Kitchen. I think it’s going to be funny I hope to get my mojo back about cooking and find out how to do new things. My repertoire consists of pasta and Sunday lunch.

“I used to think I was good at cooking, but then I got bored and started to do quick meals. When you’ve got kids you constantly think of what to cook for the next meal and whether you have to go to the supermarket to get the ingredients.”

The comedian is hoping his Yorkshire roots will help him bond with fellow Yorkshire man and head chef Marco and that he is the “the most interesting kind of chef”.

“My philosophy is fresh ingredients cooked well and I think that is also Marco’s philosophy…I can’t see the point in not doing what you have been asked to do, because ultimately he (Marco) knows how to do it better than you. So the challenge is to do it as well as you can.”

The star of  Teenage Kicks, Adrian’s ideal dinner party would feature an eclectic group of celebrities alongside his friends.

“I think I would have John Lydon, Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper, Giorgio Armani, Fearne Cotton and a group of mates that are not famous, so nobody would know who they were.”

“My most memorable food experience was when I was in Sardinia. I had some tomatoes and they were the best tomatoes I have had in my life. I shouldn’t really eat tomatoes, as they are bad for gas, but I love them. People get it with strawberries as well.”

Looking to have fun in the kitchen, the actor admits that he is used to working in a room of strong personalities and hopes there are no rows.  

“I’m capable of working in a room with strong personalities. I am hoping Hell’s Kitchen is not going to be difficult at all. I hope we all get on with it and have a really good time. I am looking to have fun, as I am not very good in a row - I don’t like to row.”
 

Last updated: 28 April 2009, 14:25