A mum-of-one from East Lancashire is taking part in the new series of MasterChef.

Young MasterChef, a 10-part series dedicated to up-and-coming young food talent between the ages of 18 and 25 launches on BBC Three on January 2.

And 25-year-old social media assistant, Kara Crossley, from Blackburn, joins 14 other hopefuls who will be put through their paces by a panel of expert judges, including Michelin-trained internet cooking sensation Poppy O’Toole and renowned London chef Kerth Gumbs, alongside weekly guests.

Kara, who now lives in Hapton with her partner Dale and two-year-old daughter, will undertake a variety of unique challenges designed to push her to new culinary heights and reflect Britain’s food revolution.

She said: “My earliest cooking memory is when I started primary school as my grandma used to collect me each evening while my mum worked and we used to go straight into her kitchen and bake cakes, homemade pies and cookies.

"It was a lovely way to end the day.

“I cook everyday for my partner and daughter, so my style is varied in what I cook.

"When I started to wean my daughter to food I’d try all sorts of cuisines and now she loves food, which I am so grateful for.

“My partner was such a fussy eater, now he eats all sorts of my homemade cooking.

"If I had to pin point it, I would say homely, family food with a unique Kara surprise to them.”

Kara is hoping her experience hosting dinner parties for friends and family will stand her in good stead for when the show starts, with her love of homecooked food and ‘superb cooking skills’ being her secret weapon.

She added: “I’ve always grown up with homecooked food and I’ve always hosted dinner parties for my friends and family.

“I feel like cooking is a natural thing for me. I love to chat, and I love to make people laugh so that along with my superb cooking skills is hopefully my golden ticket.

“My biggest icons are people such as Tommy Banks - who was on Great British Menu – the passion he has for cooking is amazing and I feel I want to progress my career like him. Who also doesn’t love a little bit of Gordon and Gino too?

“I hope to show off my skills, get some feedback to give me the confidence to take the plunge and try and build my own foodie business. I’ve always loved food, but making that leap is scary so I’m hoping that this will give me the boost.”

To be taking part in the MasterChef competition is an “honour” for Kara, who used to watch the show as a youngster, and hopes to one day open her own bistro.

She continued: “To be here, cooking in the MasterChef kitchen is such a surreal experience - to go from sitting as a youngster with my family, watching MasterChef to now be actually here cooking in the actual MasterChef kitchen is something I have never dreamed of.

“To be taking part in the competition is an honour, never did I think as a young girl from a small town up north would be representing the north on such a huge competition is an honour and such a pinch me moment.

“I’d love somewhere that I could call my own and build a business in my local area serving my food and making people happy. A little bistro would be lush.”

Kate Phillips, controller, entertainment at the BBC, said: “We’re delighted that Young MasterChef will be coming to BBC Three.

“We know how much BBC viewers love MasterChef and the BBC Three series will be a great opportunity to tap into the huge wealth of young budding chefs out there, from all over the UK.”

Fiona Campbell, controller, BBC Three, said: “With its focus on the culinary talent of tomorrow, Young MasterChef has all the ingredients to be a big success for us and we can’t wait to watch the next generation of food lovers from across the UK cook up a storm on BBC Three.”

Young MasterChef starts at 8pm on Monday, January 2, on BBC Three.