'Come Dine With Me' sparks 'fakery' row

Channel 4's Come Dine With Me has today been accused of misleading viewers after the broadcaster admitted that celebrity contestants are being lent properties to cook in.

Producers of the cookery show have hired out properties on occasions when stars did not want their real homes shown on TV, the Daily Mail reports. It is thought that the practice has also occasionally occurred for the convenience of filming schedules.

Come Dine With Me follows the progress of amateur chefs as they take turns in hosting dinner parties for the other contestants.

Actor Christopher Biggins is said to be one star who was seen in a rented home on the programme because he was "nervous" about showing his real residence on TV. While the property was not explicitly named as his own, he was seen acting as if it was.

Meanwhile, in a recent Christmas special, Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson reportedly hosted a dinner party in a rented property because her real home in the north-west was too far away from the other contestants.

Responding to the news, Mediawatch director Vivienne Pattinson commented: "I don't think this does anything for public trust when it is not made clear."

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "For logistic and security reasons, some of the celebrity dinner parties are filmed at a rented location rather than their own homes. This is only the case for the celebrity spinoffs. Contributors for Come Dine With Me host their dinners at their own homes."