We haven’t seen him on TV for a while, but Gordon will be back on SBS6 with the cooking program from Thursday The Kookklunzen. The presenter now lives in Dubai and travels to the Netherlands for recordings. If he depends on Gordon, he will continue to do so for a long time to come.
The Kookklunzen it was also shown last year but then once and with Richard Groenendijk as host. Due to his stage show, the comedian had to skip this series, so Gordon was asked.
“I had to think about it for a while,” the presenter tells NU.nl. Gordon calls from the sunny Maldives where he is on holiday. “I was a bit skeptical. I found the fact that it was filmed in a villa a bit uncomfortable. But now the location has moved to a studio. And when I noticed how enthusiastic and motivated the participants were, I was completely convinced”.
Gordon had to temporarily leave his new Dubai residence for the Netherlands for recordings. The presenter moved to the emirate this year and is having a great time there. “Now I see Dubai as my home. I’m already fully settled there, happy and happy.”
In The Kookklunzen teams of three with little or no cooking experience must prepare a three-course meal. Christmas and worthy star. They are supervised by Herman den Blijker or another star chef, but these chefs are only allowed to give instructions via gestures on a screen and limited voice prompts. With interim assignments, candidates can briefly gain some extra time to talk to their supervisor.
‘I am mainly the cheerful note and the disturbing factor’
Gordon has a lot of cooking experience thanks to his culinary training and his restaurant Blushing, but he’s not behind the stove himself. “Occasionally I show some cutting techniques. But I’m mainly the happy note and the disturbing factor in the program, haha. I try to shake things up a bit. And I can also taste the dishes in between.”
That’s not without risk, because the attendees really don’t have cheese when it comes to cooking. “In advance, candidates have to do a little cooking test, like baking a pancake. There was someone who put milk and flour in a pan and just started stirring, haha. Amazing. A few hours later they suddenly conjured a flat star.It is possible that you can’t really imagine at first.
If it depends on the presenter, take The Kookklunzen a sequel. “My contract with Talpa will last at least another year, so that would be nice. I say no to a lot of things because they don’t suit me. But I’m very happy with the plans I’m making now. From Along the road (in which Gordon takes a road trip with young people with Down syndrome, ed). A new series will be released in January. That program is so cool to do. I want to keep doing this until the end of days. And there are two more fun formats coming up that I want to do.”
‘In Dubai, I’m nice and anonymous’
Gordon’s schedule is therefore quite busy, but the presenter can relax well in Dubai. “When I’m in the Netherlands, it’s hysteria. You know people want to take a picture with you and secretly film you. I’ve enjoyed doing this for 35 years, but I want to spend the rest of my life in a different way. And that’s good for me. In Dubai I am nice and anonymous, this is worth a lot to me”.
At least Gordon will be in Dubai for Christmas. “I have to tell you that I am not that busy with Christmas yet, I don’t know what I will do yet. The Christmas tree is already in the house, I will put it up this week when I get home. Creating Christmas mood in Dubai fortunately it is not difficult: there are Christmas trees everywhere and it is well decorated.”
The Kookklunzen viewable on SBS6 from Thursday 8 December at 8.30pm.
