High school girls’ TV stir

Oct 10 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TEACHER and two former pupils from Blairgowrie High School are all set to make their television debut.

Lynn Smith (Principal Teacher of Home Economics), Nicola Smith and Paula Masterton filmed a new cookery programme called ‘Step Up To The Plate’ over the summer holidays.

And to find out if the team won the £5000 prize, viewers can tune into the BBC2 show later this month.

The ‘Flash in the Pan’ team were challenged to beat celebrity chefs, James Tanner and John Burton Race, in a nail-biting challenge against the clock.

Explained Lynn: “The task was to make a three course meal in a set time. The chefs were given trays containing the same food as ourselves and were only told on the show what we were making. They had to make the same dishes ‘on the hoof’ in the same time.”

But Lynn’s attempt to put Blair High on the culinary map nearly ended in disaster after her ‘first choice’ team was disqualified for being “too skilled”.

She continued: “Originally the team included ex-pupil Gordon MacGregor (who is currently a chef at Murrayshall Hotel in Scone) and Claire Houstoun who was being mentored by Gordon and was one of the 12 national finalists of the Futurechef Competition.

“Unfortunately at the auditions 20-year-old Gordon proved he was just a bit too skilled, even although has was still training. He is captain of the Junior Culinary Olympic team and Claire wasn’t old enough.”

Luckily two former pupils stepped up to the plate at the last moment – Nicola Smith and Paula Masterton who both came through the department. Paula was head girl, Nicola a senior prefect, and both left school three years ago.

Lynn added: “They flew us down to take part in the show and were very impressed with us and what I do with the pupils.

“It was very nerve wracking but good to experience being out of the ‘comfort zone’ as all too often I ask kids to take on challenges. I can now empathise with them!”

Anton du Bec was the host and Lloyd Grossman was the food critic/taster.