READY STEADY COOK fulfils 3 Muscle Dreams

The boys arrived at the recording studio in London, spending some time in the private restaurant where they meet Ready Steady Cook presenter Ainsley, his two guest chefs Leslie Waters and Paul Rankin and polar pals Pen Hadow* and Michael McGrath* - they watched the filming of a special show that included contestants McGrath and Hadow who battled head-to-head in the kitchen. As to the outcome of their 'men or mice' culinary efforts, tune in to BBC2 on Tuesday 6^th February at 4.30pm and make your own mind up!

After the filming had finished, there was a photo on the actual Ready Steady Cook set, culminating with a group Muscle Salute* symbolizing hope, courage and inner strength for the 40,000 muscular dystrophy sufferers and their carers in the UK. The boys were then presented with 'The Ten-minute Ready Steady Cookbook', personally signed by Ainsley, Leslie and Paul. After leaving the studios, an enjoyable late afternoon lunch concluded the day's proceedings, hosted by Messrs McGrath and Hadow.

Despite dreaming of scrumptious food enroute to both poles, McGrath ('Green Pepper') brought his favorite ingredients including a whole lemon sole for Leslie to cook up in demanding, if somewhat warmer kitchen climes. Hadow ('Red Tomato') brought a number of ingredients that included Dartmoor beef and some Savoy cabbage which Paul turned into a feast fit for a polar bear!

“The show was great fun, Ainsley was fantastic and there were moments I know on both our polar exploits where having Ready Steady Cook chefs on tap would have been magical! Appearing on the show is a privilege and a great way to raise more awareness about this wretched and unforgiving disease that robs sufferers of their independence, mobility and finally, for those with the most severe form, their lives. It's said that time waits for no man; that's why I'm a man in a hurry to inspire action, attract funds and recruit 'muscle champions' to ultimately sell life and hope", said McGrath, the Foundations CEO.

He concludes by adding, “Despite the incredibly slim winning margin of just two red tomatoes, Pen was magnanimous in victory, donating his £100 to The Muscular Help Foundation. He's a true 'muscle champion' and the charity is grateful for his support."

*About Muscle Dreams + Eligibility Criteria

• Funded by, coordinated, planned and executed by MHF
• Aim is to provide memorable experiences
• Click our Muscle Dreams button for eligibility criteria

*About the Muscle Salute

• Visible symbol of hope, courage and inner strength
• Educational sign reinforcing our broad muscle message
• Conceived and established by MHF

*About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [DMD]

• Degenerative disease that destroys lives
• Disease causes immense family pressures
• DMD boys will die in their late teens due to either respiratory or cardiac failure
• About 100 boys with DMD are born each year in UK
• Risk of affected child is about 1 in every 3,500 male births
• No cure / treatment exists to delay or correct loss of muscle cells
• Boys will be confined to wheelchair by their early teens
• Click here to download a DMD factsheet*

*Kindly provided by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign - www.muscular-dystrophy.org/

*About Ready Steady Cook

• Show is hosted by Ainsley Harriott
• It has attracted >3 million viewers in its last series alone
• 3.3 billion viewers in the last 10 years
• It is an Endemol UK production for BBC 2
• Guests Chefs on this edition were Lesley Waters + Paul Rankin
• See the recipes from the most recent programmes yourself by visiting: BBC Ready Steady Cook website

*About Michael McGrath

McGrath has the debilitating muscle wasting disease, muscular dystrophy [MD] and has lost some 65% of his muscle bulk. He is the only wheelchair-bound person in the world, to have made it on foot to both Poles. On the most punishing journey of his life, his legs barely able to carry him, McGrath painstakingly shuffled the last 150 metres to the North Pole in April 2002, also walking the final 310 metres in January 2004 to the Geographic South Pole.

*About Pen Hadow

Hadow, a professional polar explorer, is the only Briton to have trekked without resupply all the way to both Poles. Hadow, equally at the limits of his endurance, trekked alone 770 kilometres to the North Pole, in the process losing some 20% of his muscle bulk. McGrath's first Artic expedition was coordinated by Hadow and the two have since become lifelong friends.