Im A Celebrity Gino D'Acampo: 'This is a real cookery show'

Gino D'Acampo teams up with Melanie Sykes for ITV1's new daily lunchtime cookery show, Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel. And he wants everyone to get involved...

What's the main aim of this new show?
"Lunchtime is the worst part of the day as far as food is concerned; no one wants to make an effort at lunchtime, most people just grab a quick sandwich or pasta. We want to show people how to make quick, tasty lunchtime meals from scratch."

So this is real food, for real people?
"Yes, I just like food that's easy. I don't want to be in the kitchen getting stressed, I can't be bothered. I can't stand complicated, fussy recipes because life is too complicated already. What is froth?"

How is this different to other cookery shows?
"This is a real cookery show. There are no Michelin-starred chefs, no fancy pots and pans. It'll be organised chaos - so anything can happen!"

You'll have a celebrity guest helping you cook, while Mel asks the questions...
"I think you can get away with a lot when you're cooking and asking questions. For the celebrity, if it's an awkward question and you're chopping onions, you feel like you're among friends and say what you want to say."

We understand that the studio audience will also get to take part in the show?
"Yes, for instance, if someone says they don't know how to chop properly, we'll bring them down to show them. Or they can just put their hands up and we will run to them so that they can ask whatever they like. We want people to feel like they're really having lunch with Gino and Mel!"

Sounds like fun...
"Absolutely! We want to make this show fun. It's lunchtime, which is about easy food and great company - what more could you want?"

*Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel begins on Monday, August 8 at 12.30pm on ITV1