What it’s really like to win Come Dine With Me

A Birmingham presenter and businessman who has won Come Dine With Me said he intends to spend his prize money on a 50th birthday holiday which he missed out on last year due to Covid restrictions.

Well-known local presenter, host and co-founder of Birmingham Pride, Phil Oldershaw, appeared on the Channel 4 reality television show this week, and took home the £1,000 prize money after his food was voted the best by his fellow contestants

Phil, who was announced as the winner to the public on this evening’s episode of series 19 (Friday November 12), was able to utilize his years of experience in the hospitality industry and cooking skills to wow his diners.

Following his win, he said he became more and more confident as the week went on that he would be taking home the prize money after seeing what the other contestants were serving up.

Speaking to BirminghamWorld, Phil said: “As the week went on and I saw what was being served, I was quietly confident I was going to steal the show,” he said.

“I could see that none of them were really delivering on point - you could see they didn’t really have a passion for food and doing it at home, whereas I do.

“Although being in the hospitality industry I eat out a lot of the time, but when I do cook at home I like to cook something special.”

He added: “I’m confident in my own skills but you don’t know what you’re going to be up against when you arrive.

“I just know that I’m a passionate cook, and I like to cook at home and entertain people for fun, and I put heart and soul into it when I do it - I’m very good with flavours, and I have a natural ability to mix things together.”

Traditionally, the popular cooking show is filmed in the contestants’ homes, but due to to Covid, Phil and the others served their meals at a secret location in the East Midlands.

What were Phil’s winning Come Dine With Me dishes?

For his starter, Phil cooked Thai soup (vegetarian gluten free), served over a bed of rice noodles and decorated with coriander and chili and fresh lime.

For the mains, he wowed his contestants with cherry brandy and honey soaked gammon, on a bed of pineapple and mixed berries, garnished with chili flakes on a bed of sweet and crushed garlic cheese potatoes.

And he finished off with cherry chocolate orange trifle - yum!

“Initially I wanted to do the trifle in my nan’s trifle bowl,” Phil said.

“She passed away in the early 90s, and I wanted to use her bowl and serve out of that, but because of Covid I couldn’t serve out of the bowl, so I had to make it in individual ones.”

Phil said he now intends to put the £1,000 prize money towards a holiday this summer.

“My partner and I are looking at going on a cruise so we’ll put it towards that,” he said.

“It was my 50th last year and I was due to go to Peru, but we had to cancel due to Covid, so I’m yet to take that holiday, so it’ll either be a cruise Peru.”

What inspired Phil to apply for the Channel 4 show?

Through his work, Phil has met many famous stars, including the likes of Sir Ian McKellen, Michelle Collins and Roger Moore.

And he was the only man in the city that managed to grab an interview with Tom Cruise when he stayed at The Grand Hotel a couple of months ago.

He has also raised in excess of £300,000 for city charities over the years including Acorn’s Children’s Hospice and Love Brum.

But he lost nearly all of his presenting, hosting, and hospitality consultancy work during the pandemic.

However, at the start of lockdown he decided to take his knowledge for food online, combining his passion for presenting and cooking to entertain those watching along.

Many tuned in to his private page, and socials as he created culinary delights, including Michelin starred celebrity chefs Glynn Purnell and Aktar Islam (Opheem restaurant).

When Come Dine With Me announced its plans to film in the Midlands people soon started tagging him in to enter.

After he applied, the show came back to him saying they loved his entry.

He added: “It was amazing to be recommended by people, apply, and then be accepted onto this legendary show. I love the show as it’s very tongue-in-cheek and has to be enjoyed as such.

“I couldn’t wait to give my flair for cooking, and love of people, an opportunity to profile as I pitched against others. It was a gruelling week but an incredibly wonderful experience filming over five days”.

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