Emma Willis and Tom Allen return for Cooking With The Stars

ITV has announced that the sixth series of Cooking With The Stars will begin on October 5 at 7:30 p.m. on ITV1 and ITVX, with Emma Willis and Tom Allen returning as hosts. The upcoming season is set to feature 12 celebrity contestants across 10 episodes, each paired with a professional chef mentor. The contestants named for the series are Scarlett Moffatt, Dame Laura Kenny, Caroline Quentin, Karen Hauer, Seann Walsh, Zara McDermott, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Mark Charnock, Joey Essex, Bez, JB Gill and Lesley Joseph. They will work with chefs to develop their cooking and prepare dishes for a judging panel. Hauer and Aikines-Aryeetey previously appeared together on Strictly Come Dancing. Hauer left the BBC dance competition in March after 14 years, while Aikines-Aryeetey competed in her final series in 2025. Their return as fellow contestants gives the new cooking series a connection to the dance show, where Willis has recently begun a separate hosting role alongside Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe. Willis said the cast had surprised her with its cooking ability.