Lisa Faulkner considers winning ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ to be a "sliding doors moment".
The 44-year-old actress won the BBC One show in 2010, and has since gone on to front a number of food-related projects, including co-hosting a TV show called ‘Real Food Family Cook Off’ and releasing her own cookery books.
Lisa shared: "I never consider myself a chef – I am just very lucky that I get to write about food, create recipes and cook on TV.
"Chefs I see as grown-ups who work in kitchens for 18 hours a day. I am a home cook and proud of it."
Despite this, Lisa admitted her life was transformed by her appearance on the show, in which she defeated Christine Hamilton and Dick Strawbridge to claim the coveted title.
She said: "’MasterChef’ changed everything – to think I nearly said no to it is crazy!
"’MasterChef’ was a real sliding doors moment – I like to think I would have cooked as much as I do regardless as I have always loved food, but the fact is winning allowed me to write books about food and have a career on TV cooking."
Although Lisa loved the ‘MasterChef’ experience, she has no ambition to replace either Gregg Wallace or John Torode – whom she embarked on a relationship with two-and-a-half years after being crowned the winner – as a host on the programme.
She said: "I love working with John and we will be doing some more filming for ‘This Morning’ later in the year, but ‘MasterChef’ is his gig and I don’t think Greg would be too happy if I tried to nab his job.
"John and Greg work so well together and I love the series more than ever, the last episode of the regular ‘MasterChef’ was the best in years."
Lisa Faulkner has curated a kids menu for the Sky Kids Café, inspired by shows from the new Sky Kids app.
Open from 30 May to 1 June, book your free visit at skykidscafe.eventbrite.co.uk
Lisa Faulkner: Celebrity MasterChef was my sliding doors moment
