BBC Celebrity MasterChef 2022: Who is ex-EastEnders actor Cliff Parisi, how to watch and full line-up

Celebrity Masterchef 2022 is back for another year, with London having plenty of representation this year.

This year’s series has a star studded line-up, including former heavyweight boxer Christ Eubank, former McFly star Danny Jones and more, as they take on baking challenges and fight it out to be crowned Celebrity Masterchef champion.

One person who’s taking part in the popular BBC One show this year is former EastEnders star Cliff Parisi.

With the actor having no real social media presence, it took one of the TV shows he currently stars on, Call The Midwife to confirm his appearance.

Taking to Instagram in July the show’s official account said: “News! Call The Midwife’s Cliff Parisi stars in the new season of Celebrity Masterchef!

“The new cast of celebrities has just been announced for the latest season of this hit BBC cookery programme Celebrity Masterchef - and we discover that our very own Fred Buckle will be joining them!

“Cliff is just the type of lovely man you’d want in your kitchen, but would you trust Fred with your flambé?

“Mind you, if he proves to be the winning chef we could always get him to cook the Nonnatus meal this Christmas…”

Who is Cliff Parisi?

Cliff Parisi is an actor born in Poplar, London.

He is best known for his stint in EastEnders, where he portrayed Minty Peterson, and left the show in 2010 after eight years.

More recently, he has been seen on Call the Midwife, playing the role of Fred Buckle, a role he has held since 2012, and was a contestant on the 2019 series  of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

Parisi originally started out as a comedian, but that all changed in 1989 when he was cast in the film Queen of Hearts, which enabled him to land roles in The Bill, A Price Among Men and more.

Celebrity Masterchef 2022 full line-up

In total, 12 celebrities will take part in Celebrity Masterchef 2022, with a Coronation Street actor, a former heavyweight boxer, a former Premier League footballer and a drag act amongst the dozen.

Listed below are all the names of those taking part in this year’s series.

• Adam Pearson - actor - Disability rights campaigner 
• Chris Eubank - former boxer - Former heavyweight boxer, can now be seen on Gogglebox
• Kirsty Gallacher - presenter - Most known for being on Sky Sports
• Cliff Parisi - actor - Portrayed Minty on EastEnders
• Kitty Scott Claus - drag performer - RuPaul Drag Race UK series three
• Danny Jones - musician - Was in McFly
• Lesley Joseph - actor - Dorien Green in the television sitcom Birds of a Feather
• Gareth Malone - choirmaster - Presenter of a BAFTA-award-winning TV series
• Richard Blackwood - actor - Was Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap opera EastEnders
• Jimmy Bullard - ex footballer - Played for Fulham, Hull, Wigan and more
• Melanie Blatt - musician - Was a member of the girl group All Saints.
• Ryan Thomas - actor - Most known for his role on Coronation Street - his brother is also an actor, with another on Love Island

How to watch Celebrity Masterchef 2022 on TV

The 2022 series of Celebrity Masterchef airs on BBC One and BBC HD at 8pm on Wednesday, 10 August.