Wolverhampton's cooking show star Dipa serves up a treat for Mary
Dipa Jakhu is fast on her way to taking the crown of new BBC One television show Britain's Best Home Cook.
The 44-year-old mother and civil servant from Wolverhampton glided through the quarter final on Thursday evening and was catapulted through to the semi-finals thanks to her winning Indian celebration sharing feast, which led to her being awarded this week's best cook.
She cooked up spiced lamb chops, chicken biryani, fish curry, dhal and chapatis for judges Mary Berry, Chris Bavin, and Dan Doherty as part of a sharing feast challenge.
Then all five cooks were tasked with creating an identical chicken kiev dish, to secure their place in the semi-final.
Dipa said: "It's unbelievable. I can't believe it - I don't think anyone can. It's like a dream. I'm still in shock.
"I was so nervous as the chicken kiev is not something I make. I bought it frozen once and didn't like it at all. It was the hardest challenge so far."
Speaking about what it would be like to reach the final, Dipa said it would be 'amazing'.
She added: "It's going to be quite a hard achievement. In the semi-final we are going to make canapés. I've never even tried a canapé, I come from Wolverhampton, I'm just a common girl. They're quite posh. So I think it's going to be the hardest challenge."
The new cooking programme, judged by former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry, started with 10 would-be chefs but is now down to just four.
Dipa will fight for her place in the final on Wednesday, June 13 at 8pm on BBC One. The final will take place the day after, on Thursday, June 14 at 8pm.
