Inside the minds of the showbiz chefs

Comedian Al Murray is one of the celebrities feeling the heat in Gordan's kitchen
The Weekender

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Leading psychologist Linda Papadopolous gives her view on how the celebrities - and their leader - are coping.

Abi Titmuss:

Kitchen task: gutting pigeons
Highlights: Abi started off confidently but her cooking didn't go well. She has incurred the wrath of Gordon several times
Verdict: Abi started off playing the girly, flirty card. But she seemed shocked when it didn't work with Gordon, so she has had to change tack. She now seems to be trying to work as a team player. She is the type who has to have a best friend in the kitchen, and if they leave, she will crumble and go

Amanda Barrie
Kitchen task: bread rolls, desserts
Highlights: Amanda seems unable to go an hour without crying, following several childish displays during training.
Verdict: Hilarious, absolutely loopy. Her mechanism for coping is to regress to childhood. She bats her eyelids, makes faces and acts like a 10-year-old. She doesn't seem to realise it is not working. She has obviously gone her whole life using this tactic, but she is headed for an early exit here

James Dreyfus
Kitchen task: risotto, gutting pigeons
Highlights: James has been the kitchen's drama queen, and has burst into tears twice after several rows with Ramsay. He had to be taken aside by Ramsay for a man-to-man chat
Verdict: James just wants to be liked by Gordon and do well. He is a performer but genuinely cares about the food being good. I think Gordon understands James and wants to help him . He takes criticism well and knows when he is at fault

Jennifer Ellison
Kitchen task: main courses
Highlights: after being told off for refusing to kill a lobster, Jen has melted into the background
Verdict: She has surprised me. I think she has got through life by being very pretty and young. But to be fair, she hasn't tried that here. Her tactic is to be disengaged; she seems to withdraw into her own world and simply gets on with things

Matt Goss
Kitchen task: starters
Highlights: Matt has been quietly comforting the others, trying to build a team spirit. He comforted Dwain and James after they had been reduced to tears by Gordon
Verdict: Matt is the ultimate team player. He seems to be almost emotionless in the kitchen, not externalising his feelings at all

Al Murray
Kitchen task: Beef Wellington
Highlights: initially very quiet but has suffered a severe tellingoff-from Gordon. He failed to produce main courses to the required standard and dozens were binned
Verdict: Al worked out quickly you need to be deferential to Gordon. He is doing very well, and seems to be able to get on with almost anyone. He knows this is just an experience that lasts a few weeks, so doesn't let things affect him

Belinda Carlisle
Kitchen task: kitchen dogsbody
Highlights: close to tears on day two Belinda was demoted to dogsbody and forced to gut fish
Verdict: Belinda is the only celebrity who came into this wanting to improve her cooking. As a result, she is the only one that sees Gordon as a mentor rather than an ogre. By far the most mature of the group

Edwina Currie
Kitchen task:
main courses and souffle
Highlights: Edwina's defining moment came on day two when she answered back to Gordon, telling him her soufflé was actually fine
Verdict: Edwina is very funny and highly composed. She can deal with Gordon with no problem, and just isn't reflective enough to be bothered by events. She genuinely believes she is doing very well

And Gordon's mental state?
Kitchen task: everyone and everything.
Highlights: by the end of day two, Gordon was slumped in a corner with his head in his hands after twice having to shut the kitchen, leaving diners without food.
Verdict: Gordon is playing up to the camera with his intimidation tactics. He invades the celebrities' personal space as much as possible and never fails to stare them in the eye. He doesn't just look at them, he glares.

However, he is finding it far tougher than even he thought. When he was slumped in the corner, it was his way of showing the team he felt let down by them. Gordon is also a very good manager. He is inclusive of people and makes sure he shows people what they are doing wrong, and is consistent with his advice.

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