Jack Lucas from Solihull in the semi-finals of this year’s MasterChef
Aged just 22, it’s not only Jack Lucas’s culinary skills which have impressed viewers – his good looks have earned him the nickname of “MasterChef Fittie”.
Viewers will find out tonight (7th) whether he makes it into the final of the smash-hit BBC show.
He beat dozens of other amateur cooks to win a place in the programme’s final six after he was encouraged to apply by his girlfriend Abi Murcott.
Speaking from Australia, where he is spending his gap year, Jack said: “She is pretty persuasive and encouraged me to apply.
“I didn’t think I’d be good enough but thought it could be a good experience, especially as I had time on my year off.”
Former Solihull School pupil Jack said his proud parents Linda and Tony, from Dorridge, were his biggest fans.
“My mum sends me emails nearly every day saying how she’s spoken to so many people about me and my progress,” he said.
“I think she gets even more excited than I do about it all!
“Every night MasterChef is on, my parents invite people round to watch it.
“Mum is apparently being introduced as ‘Jack’s Mum’, instead of Linda, which she finds very funny.”
Jack, who graduated from Exeter University with a First Class degree in geography last year, said all young men should learn to cook – to help pull girls.
“My girlfriend will vouch for the fact that being able to cook is definitely a hit with the ladies,” he said.
“If you can rustle up a good meal on a date, it will surely impress.”
Jack said he taught himself to cook by watching culinary clips on YouTube.
“Abi and I would head to the supermarket late in the evening to bag a good bargain he said.
“We would sometimes come away with venison, fish and steaks that were 80 per cent off – but when I didn’t have much time, I stuck to student classics like spaghetti bolognaise and risotto.
“You can’t go too far wrong with them.”
Jack has a job lined up in Sainsbury’s buying and marketing division – but he said MasterChef had boosted his dream of owning his own restaurant and following in the footsteps of his cooking idol Gordon Ramsay.
Read the full story here: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/solihull-jack-lucas-masterchef-glory-7080532