John Torode gives rare insight into marriage to Lisa Faulkner in huge admission

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Inseparable off-screen, Lisa Faulkner and John Torode team up for a new season of their Weekend Kitchen. The couple recently lifted the lid on their life away from the spotlight.
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode are back for another helping of feel-good food and easy-going charm in Weekend Kitchen 's 10th series on ITV.
It was a no-brainer for the couple. 'Having very busy lives and lots of different things happening means we get a proper buzz about cooking together and spending all the time planning, testing and then finally filming the show,' John Torode, 59, says.
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This season, the duo are serving more than just great food. Packed with clever tips, creative twists on classic dishes and heartfelt moments, the show has become a weekend staple for viewers – and a passion project for the pair themselves.
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'We both love what we do and we both relish the amount of time we get to spend with each other filming,' John says. 'As always, we have a bit of everything,' Lisa Faulkner says.
'But I'm excited to show some easy twists on everyday ingredients. Like four different ways of cooking rice. People of all cooking abilities can make them.'
The show takes inspiration from the couple's own travels, blending sun-drenched flavours with accessible ideas. 'As long as the sun is shining, I am a happy man.
Being an Australian, sun is a must but I do love eating 'posh' outside,' he says. 'Cold wine in ice buckets, friends over, in the sun, is there anything better than that in life?'
The couple don't just cook on-camera either – their home life revolves around good food. John, a MasterChef legend, says, 'For lunch today we made a burger, that's what we fancied. I reckon we make a better burger than most.' Lisa, on the other hand, jokes, 'Our friends come round and say it's like watching an episode of Weekend Kitchen!'
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Lisa, 53, adds, 'We love going away during the summer and finding little places off the beaten track. Our summer holidays are usually made up of Greek tavernas and eating lots of fish and salad.
It's all about food. The first thing we do when we arrive in any new place is we go to a market and see what's on offer and what locals are buying.'
In one upcoming episode, the duo rise to the challenge of creating dishes with just five main ingredients. 'The budget is important and making sure we aren't throwing too much away; it is very much about planning and thinking ahead,' John says. 'I myself am a sucker for leftovers and reimagining them.'
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That balance between resourcefulness and indulgence is something the show leans into – especially with two cooks who know how to make a dish sing.
But what makes the show such a hit isn't just the food – it's the dynamic between John and Lisa, who combine decades of culinary and creative experience with warmth and humour.
'We're always learning from each other, the kitchen is a place we both love to be, we get to see how the other cooks and to hear each other's ideas,' Lisa says. 'We often do things differently so I'm always learning something new from John.'
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But sometimes, things don't quite go to plan. 'Of course, we have mishaps, in fact I think there may even be a bloopers social media post somewhere,' John says. While Lisa has her own strategy to avoid a kitchen disaster: 'Just rename it and go with it!'
Behind the scenes, a strong team helps drive each series forward with new concepts and viewer-friendly formats. But John and Lisa both have their go-to favourites when it comes to home cooking, and they don't shy away from the basics. For Lisa, nothing beats a classic Sunday roast. 'Once you've mastered the timings of a roast, you can do so much,' she says.
As for how they'll mark the premiere of their 10th season? There'll be no cooking that night. Instead, the couple will celebrate with a glass of champagne. 'We'll raise a glass and watch the first episode together at home!' Lisa says.