Loose Women star says she's 'excited to announce' as she confirms career move

Loose Women presenter and comedian Judi Love has been confirmed for a brand new ITV series away from the daytime talk show. The 44-year-old is fronting a brand-new food and travel adventure.

The five-part series is called Judi Love's Culinary Cruise and will see the star sail to five different destinations via a luxury yacht named Emerald Azzurra. Judi will be taking in all the culture and scenery that each destination has to offer before grabbing some local ingredients and heading back onto the ship to cook some fabulous local dishes for the guests onboard.

The self-confessed foodie will combine her love of fun and adventure with her interest in local cuisine whilst turning her hand to making a daily delicious dish which is famous at each of the destinations en-route. Funded by Emerald Cruises, the series will see Judi setting sail from Kotor in Montenegro, then travel to Parga, Kerkira, and Kefalonia before finishing in the popular Greek town of Itea.

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Judi showed off her love of food and cooking skills when she was crowned champion of MasterChef back in 2021, serving up a winning Jamaican-inspired feast. Judi said of the new series: "I am so excited to be setting sail on this new adventure with ITV. Growing up within a Jamaican family, food was always at the heart of any function and occasion. So I’m truly excited to experience the culture, people and food of the beautiful Mediterranean.

"I'm looking forward to exploring all of the different destinations as food has such a way of telling a story for many, especially in the Mediterranean where it’s about sharing love, traditions and identity.

"I have always loved watching loved ones cook and I truly love serving up a hearty plate of food for my family and friends. So I’m thrilled to be able to embrace this with ITV and the audience at home… I can’t wait to get started."

Judi also shared the news on Instagram, where she wrote: "Excited to announce that I have a new cooking show that will air later this year!! Travelling around the beautiful Mediterranean. Exploring the local cuisine and of course adding my own flare to make delicious dishes."

Flooding the announcement with support, Carol Vorderman wrote: "Booooommmmmmm top bird," while Denise Welch commented: "Wow!!! Love to be guest on that boat."

Ruth Langsford said: "Amazing! Need an assistant?!" as Angellica Bell wrote: "AMAZING SCENES! Congratulations babe!" You can keep up to date with the latest TV and showbiz news by signing up to the newsletter here.