Inside Richard Blackwood's famous family from supermodel sister to Only Fools and Horses cousin

The former EastEnders star will appear on Celebrity Masterchef tonight on BBC1 for the festive cook-off special.

EastEnders star Richard Blackwood will appear on Celebrity Masterchef's festive cook off tonight where he will battle it out against other famous faces to be crowned MasterChef's 2023 Christmas Champion.

The 51-year-old actor will be up against All Saints singer Mel Blatt, former Love Island star Faye Winter and musician Duncan James on tonight's holiday special, which will air at 9pm.

Richard has been no stranger to television over the last few decades and has proven himself to be a man of many talents including acting, presenting, comedy and music.

Best known for his role in EastEnders as Vincent Hubbard before he was cast in rival soap Hollyoaks as Felix Westwood, the star has had a pretty well-established career.

In the late 90s Richard secured his own programme called the The Richard Blackwood Show where he would do a series of celeb interviews, pranks, and stand-up comedy segments.

His chat show was axed by Channel 4 after just 23 episodes and the presenter turned to music instead, with his album 'You'll Love To Hate This' becoming the 35th best-selling album in 2000.

In more recent years, the former Top of the Pops host has appeared on Channel 4 Celebrity First Dates in 2016, ITVs Dancing On Ice in 2019 and BBC's Masterchef in 2022.

However, Richard is not the only celebrity in his family with his supermodel step-sister being one of the most iconic models of all time.

The actor also has a famous cousin who many are bound to recognise from a well-known comedy sketch series.

Here we take a closer look at Richard's famous family members that many may not know he is related too..

Naomi Campbell

World renowned supermodel Naomi Campbell is one of the most influential beauty queens of her generation.

She also became Richard's step-sister in the 80s after the actor's father married Naomi's mother.

Their parents later divorced but the two step-siblings decided to keep in touch.

Speaking of their relationship back in 2000 to the Guardian, Richard said: "We were closer when we were younger - then my dad and her mum split up. She's got her life to lead, and I have my own.

"Remember, we were only together for a short space of time; our parents were together for only seven years. But we speak from time to time. Naomi's good people.

"She was a good sister for a long time. She saw me at the clubs. We still talk."

The British model began her impressive career at just eight-years-old and was the first black woman to appear as a model on the covers of Time and Vogue France.

Famous cousin

Richard is not the only talented actor in his family as his cousin previously starred in a famous comedy show.

Vas Blackwood appeared in a classic instalment of the 80s sitcom Only Fools And Horses, playing Lennox Gilbey also known as the ‘The Shadow’, in an episode from 1986 dubbed ‘The Longest Night’.

The 61-year-old has also starred in multiple TV shows and films throughout his career including Winston Churchill in The Lenny Henry Show (1987), David Sinclair in Casualty (1996-1997), Massive in Mean Machine (2001), and George in Creep (2004).

Movie fans may also recognise Vas as Rory Breaker from the 1998 Box Office smash hit, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

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Celebrity Masterchef: Christmas Cook-off 2023 will commence tonight at 9pm on BBC1.

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