James May encourages viewers to drink when watching his new cooking show

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: James May attends a screening of 'The Grand Tour' season 3 held at The Brewery on January 15, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
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James May thinks people should drink more, particularly when watching his upcoming cooking show.

The Grand Tour star thinks throwing together a meal while enjoying a drink is the perfect combination and is “exactly what you should do” in the kitchen.

The former Top Gear presenter is launching the new show, Oh Cook!, on Amazon Prime despite previously admitting “I can’t cook”.

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Talking to The Mirror about the show, he said: “I do drink whilst I’m cooking and I think a lot of people do.

“There’s a slight culture of pretending it doesn’t happen, or that it’s a bit of a problem. But it isn’t a problem - it’s exactly what you should do.

“Quite often, the wine or beer ends up in the food as well. You toss a bit in when you think ‘this is a bit boring - a bit of chateauneuf du pape will definitely sort that out’.

“There is the righteous sector that thinks we all drink too much and that anybody who likes a drink must of course be a raging alcoholic - it’s not true.”

May’s move into culinary television sees the 57-year-old work his way through different recipes with the help of sidekick Nikki.

In the trailer for the series May says: “Hello, viewers. I’m James May and I can’t cook. Welcome to my cookery show.

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“I learn, you learn, and then we are all fed by knowledge.”

He adds: “All those things you see being cooked on television are actually made by people like Nikki, not celebrity chefs.

“Celebrity chefs can’t actually cook.”

James May: Oh Cook! airs from 13 November on Amazon Prime Video. The tie in book is out now.

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