Ready Steady Cook viewers were left amazed after watching the show’s first blind contestant show off his impressive cooking skills today.
Alex Pepper, 29, from London, who lost his sight four years ago, demonstrated the gadgets and techniques he uses to help him move around the kitchen on this afternoon’s BBC One programme.
He had sticker bumps to show where the hob was, a beeper to measure the level when pouring hot water, and special oven gloves.
Fans were fascinated with the helpful items and also loved Alex’s guide dog River, who was in the studio audience.
Ready Steady Cook viewers were left amazed after watching the show’s first blind contestant Alex Pepper, 29, from London, (pictured left with presenter Rylan Clark-Neal) show off his impressive cooking skills today
Alex, who lost his sight four years ago, demonstrated the gadgets and techniques he uses to help him move around the kitchen on this afternoon’s BBC One programme. Pictured: A beeper to measure the level when pouring hot water
Fans were fascinated by the helpful items and also loved Alex’s guide dog River (pictured), who was in the studio audience
One person wrote: ‘Today’s Ready Steady Cook is a must watch! If you ever wondered how someone partially sighted cooks, Rylan is demonstrating with his contestants.
‘I am so glad we are giving a platform to diverse contestants and being educated at the same time.’
Another said: ‘The blind contestant on Ready Steady Cook has brought some fascinating gadgets with him to help in the kitchen. Interesting stuff!’
Alex revealed on the show that he was four months old when he suffered from cancer of the eye, leaving him partially sighted. Four years ago, his condition worsened and he was left fully blind.
Viewers were wowed by the gadgets which aided Alex in the kitchen while others explained how they loved seeing guide dog River in the studio audience on today’s show
Alex also explained while on the show, how when cooking at home, he used a bar code reader for identifying ingredients and a speaking set of scales.
He said he wanted to take part in the programme to show that ‘anyone can get in the kitchen if they want to, it’s just finding the know how’.
Alex, who starred in Guide Dog’s latest advertising campaign, won the episode against his cousin Joe Pepper, who is also visually impaired.
He was voted the winner as part of team green pepper by the studio audience with his chef Mike Reid, defeating team ‘red tomato’ consisting of chef Romy Gill and his cousin Joe.
Alex (above) said he wanted to take part in the programme to show that ‘anyone can get in the kitchen if they want to, it’s just finding the know how’
Alex said: ‘Winning Ready Steady Cook was an amazing experience, especially as I got to take part with my cousin Joe! Rylan and the team were so welcoming and seemed genuinely interested in how I navigate the kitchen.
‘It was a great opportunity to demonstrate how blind and partially sighted people can cook just like anyone else, and the producers spent a lot of time asking me what tools, tips and tricks I use that I thought people at home would be interested in.’
The iconic daytime programme returned to our screens this week, ten years after its last episode, with Rylan Clark-Neal, 31, replacing Ainsley Harriot, 63, as host.
Speaking ahead of today’s episode, Rylan told the Mirror: ‘Alex is fully blind and was just unbelievable in the kitchen.
Alex, who starred in Guide Dog’s latest advertising campaign, won the episode against his cousin Joe Pepper (pictured right), who is also visually impaired
‘He wasn’t treated any differently to any other contestant. The first thought I had was, ignorantly, how is he going to get on with the chopping?
‘How is he going to get on with the gas hob? Is it going to be dangerous? Absolutely not, because there’s little things we learnt from him.’
The BBC decided to leave the show’s format largely unchanged for the new series and as before, two contestants are paired up with a professional chef.
For the first challenge, contestants bring in ingredients bought on a £10 budget and create a dish in 20 minutes with their chef.
Alex (pictured left) was voted the winner as part of team green pepper by the studio audience with his chef Mike Reid, defeating team ‘red tomato’ consisting of chef Romy Gill and his cousin Joe
The second task has been changed slightly and sees the studio audience hold up cards with letters on them to be picked from by the two contestants.
They randomly select three cards, which are then turned around to reveal three different ingredients. The chef’s have ten minutes to create dishes from the items and the audience picks the winners.
But while the format hasn’t changed, the show has certainly become more sustainable.
Gone are the famous plastic bags that the contestants brought their goods in – replaced by reusable ones.
Meanwhile unused food will be given to a food bank, and locally sourced produce is favoured.
Ready Steady Cook, Monday to Friday, 4.30pm, BBC1