TV cooking show has participants seeing red

THE CHANNEL 4 programme Come Dine with Mehas become an unlikely ratings winner often because of the tensions between guests which can spill over into verbal sparring.

However, the Irish celebrity version of the programme, which is broadcast on TV3, went a stage further. Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy saw red, literally, when showbiz journalist Paul Martin criticised his song P ut the Message in a Boxas "the biggest pile of s**t you ever put out".

Kennedy responded, in an episode to be broadcast tomorrow night, by saying to Martin that he was punchable, but instead threw a glass of red wine over him.

Martin responded by throwing a glass of white wine over Kennedy. “Two can play that game,” Martin replied.

Martin’s presence in the celebrity version of the programme riled Kennedy from the first night when the singer hosted the guests in his home, in an episode broadcast on Monday night, when Kennedy said he would not let him into his house in normal circumstances.

Tensions escalated throughout the week.

On the final night (to be broadcast tomorrow), Martin invited everybody to be frank about each other’s failings before delivering his verdict on Kennedy’s music, although Kennedy warned him that he would take it personally.

“Everything I thought about you at the beginning of the week, I still think to the hundredth,” Kennedy said.

“It was a classless act by somebody who must be regarded as a classless man,” Martin said afterwards.

“I got Brian Kennedy’s number. He lost the plot. Paul Martin won,” added Martin.

“He just went a bit too far tonight,” said Kennedy. “He had that smug look on his face and I said, ‘you know what would look good on you, my glass of red wine’.”

Celebrity Come Dine with Me Irelandalso features actor George McMahon, model Rozanna Purcell and television personality Noel Cunningham.

The programme is being aired on TV3 every night this week at 9pm, with all five being shown again on Saturday from 4.25pm.