The Britannia will be mixed with ten amateur celebrity chefs and Marco Pierre White to serve up Battlechefs, a new cookery contest set at sea, starting on UKTV’s W on Monday April 4, 2016 at 8pm.

Filmed across two Mediterranean cruises, the first voyage visits ports in Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Valencia and Cartagena and the second Barcelona, Rome, Cannes, Ajaccio and Alicante. Each cruise hosts a self contained competition which sees five celebrities step up to the plate and put their culinary skills to the test as they assume the role of head chef.

Joining Alex James and Jenny Eclair on the first cruise are Debra Stephenson (Playing the Field, Bad Girls), choreographer Jason Gardiner and Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford.  Meanwhile, Keith Duffy (Coronation Street) and John Partridge (EastEnders) set sail with former JLS band member JB Gill, fashion expert Susannah Constantine and The X Factor winner Sam Bailey.

P&O Cruises vice president of marketing Christopher Edgington said: “We are very excited that Britannia is to star on UKTV’s Battlechefs, showcasing the state-of-the-art Cookery Club onboard as the perfect backdrop for celebrities to prepare their speciality meals. To set a celebrity-led cookery contest at sea is a TV first and we are proud to be involved in the show. The channel provides an ideal audience to introduce newcomers to cruising, highlight the P&O Cruises food experience and show the excellent facilities Britannia offers guests. We will be encouraging all our past and present guests to tune in for the first episode and be part of the Battlechefs experience.”