Profession: musician.

Signature dish: sweet chilli prawns with a light but creamy garlic and cinnamon sauce.

Now based in the UK and living in London, musician Alex Lloyd has returned home to compete in Celebrity MasterChef and is looking forward to impressing the judges with his culinary talent.

"I think I'd probably score myself eight out of ten in the kitchen. On a bad day I would say a six or a seven. Recipes are not my strong point, so I tend to vary them, which doesn't really work when it comes to cakes and desserts. Desserts are definitely not one of my strengths."

While Alex's wife Amelia generally does all the cooking for the family, including their two children Jake and Isaac, Alex takes care of entertaining for friends. Visiting farmer’s markets on the weekend, he likes to choose fresh, seasonal and organic produce.

"To me cooking is a great way to express myself. It's always been a really creative outlet and it’s a great way to unwind after a long week in the
studio or on the promo trail. Just throw a dinner party for good friends, it works every time."

"I'm quite a creative cook. I like to go to the market see what’s fresh and then decide what to make. I like to use a good solid protein like lamb or beef or even a European surf and turf with sea scallops and chorizo depending on the weather."

"My wife Amelia would say it’s a disaster every time I enter the kitchen – let’s just say I am not the tidiest cook in the world. I do tend to get lost in the food moment. But if I manage to pull off a good dish she is always very forgiving."

Alex first learnt to cook from his father, and it's a traditional home style of cookery that he replicates himself.

"My father was a fantastic cook and I think as a kid I loved the idea of following in his footsteps in the kitchen.

Bolognaise sauce was one of the first things I learned to make. I'd describe my cooking as being homey in style with a lot of heart and imagination and in the hope that I create something that tastes good and has a pinch of originality."

"I tend to find starters and mains more exciting to make. I have a savoury more than a sweet taste. Although in saying that I recently have acquired a new found respect for the art of desserts and the picture they can create on a plate."

Although he's not had a chance to see MasterChef before, Alex confesses that he's a real foodie and a fan of cooking shows in general.

"Unfortunately I have not seen much of the Australian MasterChef as I have been living in the UK, although I did get the chance to see a couple of episodes when I last toured Australia and I really enjoyed it. Cooking shows in general are one of my guilty pleasures."

"I love the release that cooking gives me. It’s a beautiful world of scents, sights and sounds, not to mention flavours. To be able to share this with good people is a pleasure in itself."