Will it be green peppers or red tomatoes for an Essex woman on Ready Steady Cook?

Karen Roberts at home

Karen Roberts applied to the BBC cookery show, hosted by Ainsley Harriott, in October and after being interviewed, she was invited to appear on an episode, recorded on Friday.

She likes cooking and wanted to use her skill to secure a television appearance, saying: "It was something I hadn't done and it needed to be done."

Karen, 29, of Longfield, Witham, works as a nursery nurse at Essex University's day nursery on the Wivenhoe Park campus, Colchester.

She said: "Ainsley comes over just like he does on the telly, very friendly and relaxed."

The show with Karen on is due to be screened on BBC2 on June 5.

Published Thursday, March 14, 2002