AN AMATEUR Pilot told how he has “no regrets” from his Come Dine With Me experience – as the 20th anniversary airs today from Belfast.
As tonight’s episode nears, Belfast based James Rodgers admitted he’s anxious to see the final cut.
James told The Irish Sun: “I’m nervous for what it’s going to look like on TV. I can’t remember what I said. I don’t think I said anything bad.
“But that’s the whole worry that you might end up regretting something because you said something about someone or something.”
The amateur pilot saw a casting for the show pop up on Facebook.
James recalled: “For me, it was just about having a bit of fun, foremost.
“The second was really about trying experimenting new foods, you know, trying new foods.
“It was just a pretty cool way to try and eat new foods, especially because I was not really a big food fan.
“I was looking forward to trying a few new things, which we definitely did.”
While James isn’t a “big foodie”, he worked hard to get the house ready for the show.
He said: “I think everyone takes a different outlook on it. For me, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. So for me, the house had to be spotless.
“I was painting the house and getting everything immaculate.
“Whereas you see some people’s houses that are like student digs and maybe not quite as precious around what the house looks like.
“But for me, I wanted the house to be pretty, pretty spotless.”
James told how “the chat” was the best part of the experience.
He said: “The best part really was just the chat between different people. I think we were all just such different people.
“We weren’t the kind of people that I think we would naturally come together around the table.”
The aviation enthusiast told how he was feeling “comfortable” when his night came around.
He said: “I was the last day of the week. So I had the week to eye everyone else’s food up and eye everyone else’s entertainment.
“Some people think going first is probably good. Some people think coming last is good.
“But I was the last day, so I feel like I was pretty organized. I was definitely very organized. That’s what was going through my head.
“I was probably feeling quite comfortable because I was organized, but its long days.”
AWKWARD MOMENTS
With no music playing at the dinner table, the Come Dine With Me fan discussed how guests find themselves in awkward moments.
He said: “Some people’s food sometimes is really good. Sometimes, people’s food was really bad.
“Sometimes, people’s food was just not edible. And even the hosts are going ‘yes it’s not edible’.”
As the host prepares the meal, guests snoop through bedrooms.
James said: “There’s always something there to talk about.
“But you don’t really know 100 per cent because you don’t see this. You’re cooking in the kitchen.”
Entering the TV show for a bit of fun, James admitted it’s hard to forget it’s a competition.
He said: “You’re very aware that it’s competitive. You’re very aware that it’s a competition because you’ve got the scoring, of course.
“It’s hard to shy away from the scoring of everything. But I think maybe we were just a really friendly group.”
TV TRUTHS
James insisted “nothing is scripted” but it means “things take a little longer”.
He said: “You always think it’s scripted, all these things are planned, but it genuinely is not.
“And the thing that stood out to me was just how fun things happened without even planning it.”
As the competition heated up, James told how his Belfast group were really “good craic”.
He said: “Things just happened just because it happened. It was very natural.
“I was really surprised at just how natural everything was. Literally the cameras are just filming you having a chat really.
“You have conversation starters in your mind anyway that you maybe would have thought about beforehand.”
SPICY NIGHT
With a fiery Mexican night in store, James revealed he didn’t have to go too far for some spicy ingredients.
He said: “Mine was just all from Tesco, to be honest. Nothing too extravagant.
“I know people go to the butchers or do something more. But I think mine was all just from Tesco, really.
“But it was all from scratch. That was my selling point to my meal.”
James explained how hopeful applicants should be prepared to share their story.
He added: “You’ve got to have a bit of personality. They’re looking for people that have a lot to talk about, that have maybe have different opinions about different things.
“I don’t think it’s just about being a good cook. I think you’ve got to have some thoughts and opinions. And have something unique about you.
“I say, like, when you watch it, everybody has something like a story to tell.”
Come Dine With Me airs at 5.30pm today on Channel 4.
