Noughties popstar signs up for Celebrity Masterchef in TV comeback after cancer scare and alcoholism battle
A NOUGHTIES popstar who battled her high-profile booze demons has signed up for Celebrity MasterChef.
The Thinking It Over hitmaker, 45, will make her telly comeback on the BBC series, with her focus being "healthy eating" which "can be delicious."
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The Sun can now exclusively reveal how Michelle Heaton, who first found fame in Popstars: The Rivals band Liberty X, will now swap microphones for mixing bowls.
A TV insider revealed to us: 'Michelle has had a couple of years away from reality TV, since she did Dancing on Ice and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2023, but when she was asked to do Celebrity Masterchef, she couldn't turn it down.
"She's a big fan of the show.
"As a personal trainer, she's also really into healthy eating and wants to show the public that food can be delicious and still really good for you."
Her latest telly stint comes after we told how a Coronation Street actress had signed up after being killed off on the ITV soap.
Food critic Grace Dent has joined John Torode to host the show after taking over from Greg Wallace.
The show is expected to air in the coming months.
CANCER THREAT
Michelle has endured a rough decade of late.
After discovering she carried the BRCA-2 gene in 2012, putting her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, she underwent a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction as well as a total hysterectomy, which put her into early menopause.
Michelle Heaton shares heartbreaking video from the depths of her alcohol addiction opening birthday presents alone
Michelle then had a second boob job when her implants ruptured.
At the time, she said: 'When I had my first surgery, they took away all the flesh inside to eradicate my 85 per cent risk of breast cancer.
"My grandma and great-grandma both died of breast cancer.
'I feel so lucky that I was able to reduce the risk to minimal and still have breasts.
Celebrity Masterchef Previous Winners
The previous Celebrity Masterchef winners so far in the show
2023 - Singer Wynne Evans
2022 - Radio Presenter Lisa Snowdon
2021 - Gold-medal-winning Paralympian Kadeena Cox
2020 - YouTube star Riyadh Khalaf
2019 - Olympian Greg Rutherford
2018 - Actor John Partridge
2017 - Television presenter Angellica Bell
2016 - Real Hustle star Alexis Conran
2015 - Pussycat doll Kimberly Wyatt
2014 - Actress Sophie Thompson
2013 - Comedian and actor Ade Edmondson
2012 - Actress Emma Kennedy
2011 - Former England rugby captain Phil Vickery
2010 - Actress and presenter Lisa Faulkner
2009 - Presenter Jayne Middlemiss
2008 - Singer and actress Liz McClarnon
2007 - Actress and presenter Nadia Sawalha
2006 - Rugby star Matt Dawson
"I know not all women are as privileged.'
MICHELLE'S COMEBACK
Michelle previously candidly admitted she "should be dead" following her crippling alcohol addiction, which struck after her surgery.
The Just A Little vocalist hit rock bottom in September 2020 when doctors told her she was close to death from liver failure.
The singer knew she needed help and went on to endure a 28-day stint in The Priory and has since been sober.
In a clip posted to Instagram, to mark alcohol awareness week in 2024, Michelle spoke to the camera and confessed she was "going to cry" because she was celebrating her birthday by herself.
In the past four years, Michelle, who was drinking two litres of vodka a day at her worst, has been working hard on her health and fitness and has since lost two stone.
The singer celebrated four years of being sober in April this year after kicking a drug and alcohol addiction that almost cost her life.
Now she is focusing on getting in shape and shared snaps from the gym with her social media followers.
In 2023, Michelle told Fabulous magazine: 'Giving up alcohol was the best decision I ever made.
'The bottom line is, not drinking alcohol is way better than drinking alcohol.
'There's so much research out there that proves just how beneficial it is. Your energy levels improve, you feel happier, fitter and more focused.
'For those who don't have alcoholic tendencies and only want to take a break, or give it up for a month, I would encourage that. You would never regret it.'
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And, Natalie is certain her tips work - as she and her husband Jason have been using them for years to take their kids Finn, 14, and Lola, 12, on countless memorable trips. Natalie, 35, said: "We started living like this because we had such a small income when the kids were younger that we knew if we wanted to take them on holidays and trips, we'd have to change things. "Things are easier now, but it becomes a way of life so we're still budgeters. It's what suits our values. "We'd rather do lots of things than have lots of things - so we scrimp in some places to make sure we can travel and have amazing experiences." Weekend Fun Natalie says one of the ways she keeps costs down - while keeping the kids entertained - is to have 'no spend' weekends. This involves tracking down free events. She said: "My biggest tip is to get a Blue Peter badge. These get kids into over 200 attractions across the UK - including theme parks, zoos, museums, gardens etc. - all for free. "Those badges are worth their weight in gold. "Another tip would be to use your Tesco Clubcard points. You don't have to just use them in the shop - you can also put them towards events and days out. Just check the app. "I'd also suggest making use of your surroundings. If you're in a city - or if you want to take a day trip to a city - a lot of stuff is free, like museums, parks, or lidos for the summer. "Take a picnic and that's still a no-spend day out. Where can kids eat for free this summer? THE summer holidays are here, but entertaining the kids need not cost a fortune. Here, we reveal where you can get free and cheap meals for your little ones during the 'endless' summer holidays. ASDA CAFE: Nip into an Asda cafe to feed the kids after the weekly shop. Under-16s get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day. Little ones are covered, too. Kids under 18 months get a free Ella's baby food pouch with any purchase. 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On every day except Fridays, enjoy a pit stop at their famous cafe from 11am to get a kids' pasta or mac and cheese dish for 95p. Other mini meals are available for £1.50. PIZZA EXPRESS: Kids up to age ten can get a free three-course Piccolo meal including dough balls, pizza or pasta and dessert with every adult meal purchased. The offer runs every day until August 11. TESCO: Pop to the supermarket cafe from Monday to Friday until August 30 for free kids' meals when an adult buys any item in the cafe. You must have a Clubcard to redeem the offer. THE RANGE: Kids under 16 get one free meal per adult main purchased at The Range cafes. Options include sandwiches, a cooked breakfast and fish and chips. All kids' meals come with a piece of fruit and a drink. "If you're in the countryside, use the beach, use the woods. Something like Geocaching - where you hunt for geocaches - can make a walk really fun without having to spend money. Jet, Set, Go "Train companies offer good deals too. National Rail does a Two For One, where you can get a London activity, like a River Thames boat cruise, included in the price of your ticket. "And on Southeastern Rail kids can travel for £1. "There are lots of these offers out there but companies don't actively advertise them so people aren't aware." Natalie also says that holidays don't have to be unattainable for people struggling with money - as there are plenty of ways to cut back on costs. She said: "One piece of simple advice I give people is to pick somewhere that offers a 'per party' price rather than a 'per person' price. Then it doesn't matter if you have lots of kids. "Also try to pick a destination that offers free things to do - included in your accommodation cost. "So, there are lots of places where you can do water sports for free - or which include passes to local theme parks etc. "We went to a resort in the Netherlands once which offered free access to attractions nearby - and had a safari park onsite. 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"Recently we did a trip driving around Germany, Austria, and Italy, and spent around four days in each spot we stopped at - camping at local camp sites. "We planned activities for each place and it meant every moment was great. "One day, we were walking up mountains in Austria and the next we were at the canals in Venice, Italy. "And I just think sometimes you can spend a whole day trying to get a flight - when you consider driving to the airport, going through security, waiting to board, getting the flight, then getting your hire car on the other side. "So it's something to consider." Saving Up Natalie says that she and her family also look for ways they can cut back on spending throughout the year - so they can put money aside for their holidays. This includes batch cooking to save on groceries, always taking flasks out to avoid buying coffee, and even having dad Jason learn to cut son Finn's hair so they don't have any barber fees. Natalie said: "We batch cook a lot and always meal prep so we know what we need and what we're using for the week. "I also take a flask everywhere so I don't buy coffee - and just switch small things like cycling instead of taking the bus for any journeys I can. "We've learnt to do what we can for ourselves. We clean our own windows and Jason used a YouTube video to learn how to cut our son's hair. "I just think it's all about making small changes. Obviously, money is extremely tight for a lot of people. We've been there so we know. "But I do think just trying to save where you can - it can make life more affordable. "If you don't buy a coffee or lunch out - then you could save £5 a day. £5 a day adds up to £1,825 a year. "That's a great budget for a family holiday."
