Regular listeners to Isle of Wight Radio will already be well aware that news editor, Michael Coombes, will be appearing on Channel4 this Sunday night in the popular food and drink show, Come Dine With Me.

We caught up with Michael after he knocked off work yesterday to find out how it all came about.

Knowing what pranksters Michael works with, it’s not in the least bit surprising to hear that he got stitched up by his work colleagues at Isle of Wight Radio.

Apparently when he was on leave, the producers of Come Dine With Me contacted the radio station looking for some publicity for the show. The IW Radio team were happy to plug the show but also put Michael forward for it.

Not just radio … now a TV star
The first Michael knew about it, was when he returned from his hols to find out he’d been entered. Being the good sport that he is, he went along with the whole thing and a few weeks later found out that he’d been accepted onto the show along with travel rep Mandy Gale, car salesman Steve Morris and teacher and actress, Charlotte Barton-Hoare.

The idea of the show is that each contestant puts on a dinner party for the others and over the course of a week they each sample the other’s menus whilst having a snoop around their homes checking the dust levels.

Chez Coombes
A keen cook, Michael decided to bring a little of himself into his menu, starting off with Homemade Tuna Pate served on Homemade Toasted Bread. He followed this with Duck a l’Coombes and for his finale, Fruit Coombler

Mandy, who served a fish and chocolate dish apparently described Michael’s food as ‘homely but pretentious’, but as Michael confirms all the critiques were delivered and received in good humour.

What to expect
If you’ve ever met Michael, you’ll be surprised to hear that he tells us he’s the quietest of the bunch appearing on the show – that really does say something about the ‘vivaciousness’ of the others.

It sounds as though the whole thing was a brilliant experience and full of twists and turns. Charlotte who insisted on black tie and put on a very grand affair had to deal with Steve getting locked in her loo!

Listen to what else Michael has to say about the experience

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Join the stars at Chicago Rock
The show goes out at 8pm on Sunday on Channel4, but everyone is invited down to Chicago Rock in Newport on Sunday for a screening of the show between 7-10pm. All the contestants will be there and it’ll be the first time they have seen the programme.

Asked whether he’s nervous about the screening, Michael told us “Not yet, but I know that at about ten to eight on Sunday I’ll be a bunch of nerves.”

Image: IW Radio

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