Come Dine With Me Season 16 Episode 1 Celebrity Come Dine with Me Christmas Special

In this episode of Come Dine With Me, it's a Celebrity Christmas Special that sees four famous faces compete to win the coveted Come Dine With Me Christmas crown. The contestants are former Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson, singer and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! champion Joe McElderry, TV presenter Linda Barker, and comedian and actor Stephen Bailey. Each celebrity will take turns hosting dinner parties in their homes, with the others scoring them out of ten based on the quality of their food, hosting skills, and overall entertainment value.

First up in the competition is Joe McElderry, who is known for his impressive singing voice. He wants to win this competition badly and has chosen a menu that will showcase his culinary skills. To start, he serves a smoked salmon starter with creme fraiche and capers, followed by a main course of roast beef with all the trimmings. For dessert, Joe puts his own twist on the classic Christmas pudding by serving it with a brandy butter and a sweet cherry sauce. As the evening goes on, Joe's entertaining personality comes out, and he sings for his guests as a special surprise, which is well received.

Next up is Linda Barker, who is a former Changing Rooms presenter. Linda is known for her style and design skills, so she has gone all out with her decor, even including a purple Christmas tree in her living room. For her menu, Linda is going for a more traditional Christmas meal, with a starter of smoked salmon terrine, followed by turkey with all the trimmings. Linda's guests appreciate her attention to detail, and the atmosphere is very festive.

Third to host is Stephen Bailey, who is a comedian and actor. Stephen has opted for a slightly less traditional Christmas menu, with a starter of scallops, a main of pork belly, and a dessert of a chocolate fondue. Stephen's guests appreciate his humour and wit, and he impresses them with his hosting skills.

Finally, it's Nikki Sanderson's turn to play host. Nikki, who is best known for playing Candice on Coronation Street, has gone for a very modern menu, with a starter of goats cheese and beetroot tart, a main of slow-cooked lamb, and a dessert of chocolate orange tart. Nikki's guests appreciate her food, but they are slightly underwhelmed by her hosting skills, and the night lacks the festive atmosphere of the other parties.

Throughout the episode, the guests are shown giving their honest opinions of each other's cooking and hosting skills, and there are a few tense moments as one contestant fails to impress. However, the show is light-hearted and fun, and it's clear that all of the celebrities have enjoyed being part of the competition.

Overall, the Come Dine With Me Celebrity Christmas Special is a festive treat that will please fans of the show and those looking for some light-hearted entertainment. It's fun to see the celebrities out of their usual context and trying their hand at cooking, and there are plenty of laughs to be had as the guests give their opinions on each other's efforts. Who will be crowned the winner of the Christmas Special? Tune in to find out!