Glasgow man set for Come Dine With Me debut and promises 'surprises and mishaps' along the way

A Glasgow man will appear in the upcoming series of Come Dine With Me which will air tonight.

Garry MacDonald will go head-to-head with four other contestants in a battle of culinary skills on the hit Channel 4 program.

The 35-year-old, who works as an assistant catering manager for a local primary school, told us his family have been urging him to go on the show.

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Speaking ahead of the first episode, which is due to air at 5.30pm, he said: "I've always loved hosting dinner parties (and a bit of friendly competition!), so when the chance came up to be on Come Dine With Me, I thought, why not?

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"It's the perfect mix of good food, meeting new people, and, let's be honest, a bit of drama well a lot of drama! Plus, friends and family had been telling me for ages that I should apply, so I finally gave in. I wanted to see if my cooking could actually impress strangers—or if I'd be serving up a disaster on national TV!"

Garry says he is used to cooking for a tough crowd and hopes the experience will give him a chance to put his skills to the test.

He continued: "I'm used to cooking for a crowd and keeping things running smoothly in the kitchen. I love creating meals that bring people together and Come Dine With Me felt like the perfect way to put my skills to the test—just with a bit more competition (and hopefully fewer fussy eaters!). Plus, I thought it would make a nice change from cooking for school kids every day!"

The Glaswegian promises the show will bring plenty of laughs and surprises along the way.

He added: "I have a real passion for fine dining and love getting creative in the kitchen. I enjoy experimenting with flavours, presentation, and techniques to make every dish feel a bit special. Cooking isn't just about feeding people for me—it's about the experience, from the first bite to the last. I love pushing myself to try new things, whether it's a beautifully plated dish or a bold flavour combination that surprises my guests!"

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He added that viewers should expect "So much drama and even more laughter! I honestly hadn't laughed that much in a whole week—mostly at myself! There were plenty of unexpected moments, a few kitchen mishaps, and, of course, some big personalities clashing. Let's just say it's definitely one to watch!"

The week-long competition will run from Monday, February 3 to Friday, Febuary 7, with the winner taking home a £1000 prize.

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