Redcar singer John McGrath wins Come Dine With Me

A singer from Redcar has proven he’s a grand cook by rustling up a winning meal for four strangers on Come Dine With Me.

John McGrath has taken part in the popular Channel 4 cooking show which sees a group of strangers cook a three course meal for each other over a week.

Guests give each cook a score out of 10 and the winning contestant wins £1,000.

Tonight viewers watched the 28-year-old scoop the top prize.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said John, a singer with the stage name John-Andrew.

John, who was born in Middlesbrough and grew up in Redcar and Guisborough, served up teriyaki tiger and scallop skewers for starter, Brazilian feijoada - a black bean stew - for the main course and French crepes with boozy berries for dessert.

“I have travelled all over the world so that inspired my menu,” said John, who now lives in Heaton, Newcastle with his partner, Gavin.

“I worked on the cruise ships in South America and in the Caribbean, I lived in France for over a year and in Australia and been to more than 20 countries.

“But I think it was my entertainment that swung it for me. I sang - of course - but I sang a song I’d written myself.

“It’s a ballad called The Man with the Beard, it’s a happy tune with sad lyrics. I wrote it about my life when I was not expecting to find anybody, I’d seen all these beautiful things but I have now met my love!”

John McGrath took part in Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me

The filming wasn’t strange for John, a self-confessed “born performer” but squeezing 11 people - the contestants plus the film crew - into his flat was a challenge, he said.

“The three women - Clare, Liz and Vicky - were just fantastic,” he said.

“Clare was my favourite, she was so funny. I didn’t realise how funny she was until I saw the show.

“David was a right miserable git and always had a face on him. We didn’t get on with him.

“I was lovely all week but I finally said something to him on the last night.”

When his show was aired last night he watched it with his mum Angela and sisters Sophie, Deanna, Natalie and Kiera.

“I was actually quite gobsmacked when I won, I didn’t know what to say,” said John, who made it to the final audition stages for Star Academy - the French version of Fame Academy - in 2007.

“I couldn’t believe I’d won a grand.”

So what did he do with his winnings?

“I bought a new pair of shoes and we went out for a meal at the Steakhouse in Newcastle and blew the rest gambling in Vegas on holiday!”