Celebrity MasterChef star ‘nearly cut her finger off’ 30 minutes into first day

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 25, 2026 2:07pm Updated August 25, 2026 2:07pm Michelin-chef Giorgio Locatelli joined the series as a judge this year alongside Grace Dent (Picture: BBC) Celebrity MasterChef rumbles on this month, with successive rounds of heats to test out the famous faces in the kitchen. In the coming week’s episode, Coronation Street fixture Sue Cleaver will be among those trying to impress the judges. But, according to a new report, the 62-year-old’s stint is set to live up to her surname. It has been reported that the MasterChef medics had to be called in within the first 30 minutes of her kitchen arrival, after slicing her finger open with an extra-sharp Japanese knife. The actress, who played Eileen Grimshaw on Corrie from 2000 to 2025 and can these days be found on the Loose Women panel, was said to have been chopping a salad when disaster struck. Using a Japanese knife her son bought her for her turn on the show, Cleaver sliced through her right index finger, according to a report in The Sun. Corrie star Sue Cleaver is set to live up to her surname (Picture: BBC/Shine TV) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The publication has claimed she said, in the as-yet unaired scenes: ‘Oh, plaster already. I’ve cut myself. ‘It didn’t take long. I nearly cut my finger off and it’s only day one. I’m panicking a bit.’ Giorgio Locatelli, who joined the series as a judge this year alongside Grace Dent, is reported to have told her: ‘That’s a Japanese knife. It’s a very sharp one.’ All was saved by the on-site medics, who reportedly patched Cleaver up so she could carry on. ‘It didn’t take long. I nearly cut my finger off and it’s only day one. I’m panicking a bit.’ (Picture: BBC/Shine TV) She will compete against the likes of Melvin Odoom and Una Healy on Celebrity MasterChef on September 1 on BBC One. Michelin-starred restaurateur Locatelli joined food critic Dent for series 21, having featured as a judge on MasterChef Italia since 2018. Dent described him as a ‘fabulous addition’, having been a long-time admirer of his work. When he was confirmed for the series, he said: ‘Hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside Grace is a real honour. I can’t wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series.’ The 2026 batch of celebrities will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson, who took home the coveted gong for the 20th series. Deals of the Day Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer Metro contacted the BBC to confirm this story. Arrow MORE: The Traitors star comes out one year after splitting from girlfriend Arrow MORE: Race Across the World winner pays tribute to Jo Gardiner: ‘I hope you and your son are together again’ Arrow MORE: Joe Marler reveals cute reason he is transforming into first ever celebrity Gladiator TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.