Marco backs Emmerdale star Adele in Hell's Kitchen final

Marco Pierre White has tipped Emmerdale's Adele Silva to win this year's series of celebrity cooking show Hell's Kitchen.

The actress is set to go head to head with former boxing star Barry McGuigan in tonight's finale.

The notoriously hot-tempered chef even believes she could make it in a kitchen full time if her acting career falls flat.

He said: "Adele has been fantastic. If she wasn't an actress she could definitely become a chef full-time."

"I think it helps that she is very artistic in the kitchen. None of the other contestants were.

He told The Mirror: "From day one she has been very focused on what she has been doing."

Earlier in the series, he told the 26-year-old: "You've worked the hardest and, in my opinion, you've been the most serious. It's not down to me but if I had to choose the winner in two days' time, it would be you."

Marco still has praise for her fellow finalist Barry, 46, saying: "He would be a great person to have in there but I think he would struggle in a real kitchen. He doesn't like to leave his comfort zone."

The chef concluded: "I am pleased the right people are in the final. They have worked the hardest."

The celebrity cooking show has been plagued by controversy - comic Jim Davidson was axed from the series earlier this week for insulting homosexuals.

The 53-year-old entertainer was asked to leave by programme-makers for homophobic comments, which saw him brand gay men "shirtlifters".

Mr Davidson left the nightly reality show after a series of rows with former Big Brother winner Brian Dowling, who is openly gay.

In an earlier incident, Marco was condemned by the racial equality watchdog after he used the word "pikey" on the show.

The Hell's Kitchen finale airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1.