These are the participants in "Stars at the Castle"

He has previously been a chef on the programme - but this year, Tareq Taylor returns to "The Stars at the Castle" as a participant, along with others including Maria Montazami as a co-star. It's very different but exciting, honourable and a bit nerve-wracking, says Taylor.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 14 2024

These are the participants in "Stars at the Castle"
Photo: Christoffer Lomfors

He has previously been a chef on the programme – but this year, Tareq Taylor returns to "Stars at the Castle" as a participant, alongside Maria Montazami as a co-star.

It's very different but exciting, honourable and a bit nervous, says Taylor.

Actress and comedian Christine Meltzer is also checking in at Bäckaskog Castle this summer, for the nineteenth version of the SVT programme.

Even guitarist Janne Schaffer and former footballer Tomas Brolin are joining them. It's the second year that an athlete is participating, after the programme was broadened last year with Olympic medal winner Pernilla Wiberg and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.

This year, chef Tareq Taylor is a guest at the castle – where he has cooked for the participants during six previous seasons, until Frida Ronge took over in 2023. Now he's going to "relax and lean back". But talking about himself, he thinks, feels scary.

It's like laying yourself on a plate and saying "here I am". I've luckily spilled out a bit about myself in different places before and have practised it. But it's a completely different thing to have a whole day that's mine and to tell very much about myself to people I haven't met before.

Not Holding Back

Tareq Taylor can't mention a specific event he's going to lift, rather, he thinks it's about compressing life into a story that's "hopefully interesting".

But the complete picture of me hasn't come out before, maybe.

He thinks it's important to continue keeping parts of his life private. The former Hollywood wife Maria Montazami, however, is "not going to hide at all".

This is me, take it or leave it, she says – and adds that she almost fainted from the question.

"Stars at the Castle" is such a prestigious programme. I'm thrilled to be part of it with this gang – what people!

"Dreams in Shambles"

Montazami is going to talk about her life in the USA, all the dreams that went up in smoke, and how it feels not to have a father in her life. In previous interviews, she has told about how she discovered that her husband had a secret child who later became part of the family.

I don't want anyone to get sad, but I have to tell my story. Luckily, the ending is good. You have to have "self-pride" in what you do, but I'm not just a Hollywood wife with a life that's playing.

The nineteenth season of "Stars at the Castle" will be shown as usual around New Year's.

Maria Montazami comes from Västerås but has lived in California for a long time. She made her TV debut in 2009 in "Swedish Hollywood Wives" and has since participated in, among other things, "Let's Dance" and "My Truth".

Tomas Brolin was born in Hudiksvall. He helped take Sweden to bronze in the 1994 World Championship, has won the UEFA Cup, and has been awarded the Golden Ball twice. After his football career, he has been a restaurateur and businessman.

Tareq Taylor comes from Malmö and is a TV chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He has participated in "Stars at the Castle" as a chef and also in "Garden Times" and "History Eaters". He will revive the programme "Here's Your Fridge" on Kanal 5 and Max this autumn.

Christine Meltzer was born in Stockholm. She is a comedian, programme leader, and actress and is behind the humour programmes "Hey Baberiba" and "Friday All Week". She has, among other things, led Melodifestivalen.

Janne Schaffer from Stockholm is a composer and electric guitarist. He has had a solo career and worked with Abba, Toto, Bob Marley, Ted Gärdestad, and with Lasse Åberg and Klasse Möllberg in Electric Banana Band.

Chef Frida Ronge will serve the stars dishes inspired by their lives.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald under license from TT

More news

Concert Cancellations Continue for New
1 MIN READ

Concert Cancellations Continue for New Miss Snusk Artist

Cinemas Boost Security for "Minecraft"
1 MIN READ

Cinemas Boost Security for "Minecraft" Movie Screenings

Karl Fredrik Gustafsson Brings Summer
3 MIN READ

Karl Fredrik Gustafsson Brings Summer Charm to SVT's New Show

Gaza Boy's Portrait Wins World
1 MIN READ

Gaza Boy's Portrait Wins World Press Photo Award

Edvin Törnblom's "Edvin's Paradise" Premieres
1 MIN READ

Edvin Törnblom's "Edvin's Paradise" Premieres on TV4 May 5

Nils Poletti Departs Östgötateatern for
1 MIN READ

Nils Poletti Departs Östgötateatern for Parkteatern Leadership Role

Greentea Peng to Perform at
1 MIN READ

Greentea Peng to Perform at Gothenburg's Way Out West Festival

KAJ Leads Betting Odds for
1 MIN READ

KAJ Leads Betting Odds for European Song Contest Victory

Fyre Festival 2 Cancelled; New
1 MIN READ

Fyre Festival 2 Cancelled; New Date to Be Announced

Bianca Ingrosso Returns to "Wahlgren's
1 MIN READ

Bianca Ingrosso Returns to "Wahlgren's World" Full-Time Next Season

Documentary Challenges Riefenstahl's Claims of
3 MIN READ

Documentary Challenges Riefenstahl's Claims of Ignorance on Nazi Atrocities

Michelle Trachtenberg's Death Linked to
1 MIN READ

Michelle Trachtenberg's Death Linked to Diabetes Complications

Rare Signed Nirvana 'Nevermind' Album
1 MIN READ

Rare Signed Nirvana 'Nevermind' Album Sells for £18,600 at Auction

Matilda Klarqvist Triumphs in "Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Matilda Klarqvist Triumphs in "Sweden's Master Chef" Competition

Bronze Reuterswärd Sculpture Stolen from
1 MIN READ

Bronze Reuterswärd Sculpture Stolen from Swedish Sports Hall

Ewan McGregor to Join Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Ewan McGregor to Join Stockholm Comic-Con This June

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Spotify Restores Service After Hours of Global Disruptions

JK Rowling Applauds UK Supreme
1 MIN READ

JK Rowling Applauds UK Supreme Court Ruling on Women's Rights

Gitte Ørskou's Tenure Extended at
1 MIN READ

Gitte Ørskou's Tenure Extended at Modern Museum Until 2026

Gene Hackman's Wife Sought Covid
1 MIN READ

Gene Hackman's Wife Sought Covid Info Before Her Passing

Gayle King Defends Space Travel
1 MIN READ

Gayle King Defends Space Travel Against Environmental Criticism

Culture Minister Outraged by Activists'
1 MIN READ

Culture Minister Outraged by Activists' Vasa Ship Protest

Samar Yazbek's New Work Debuts
1 MIN READ

Samar Yazbek's New Work Debuts at Royal Dramatic Theatre

The Who Parts Ways with
1 MIN READ

The Who Parts Ways with Drummer Zak Starkey After 30 Years

Christina Schollin Joins Cast of
1 MIN READ

Christina Schollin Joins Cast of SVT's "The Beetle Flies at Dusk"

Björn Gustafsson Stars in 'The
2 MIN READ

Björn Gustafsson Stars in 'The Penguin Lessons' and More This Week

"And Just Like That" Season
1 MIN READ

"And Just Like That" Season 3 Debuts on Max May 30

Medieval Museum Cancels Relocation, Finds
1 MIN READ

Medieval Museum Cancels Relocation, Finds New Temporary Space

Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" Blends Horror
3 MIN READ

Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" Blends Horror and Blues in 1930s Vampire Tale

Contemporary Circus Sees Surge in
1 MIN READ

Contemporary Circus Sees Surge in Popularity Across Sweden

Robert Fux Stars in New
1 MIN READ

Robert Fux Stars in New Monologue "Crown a Queen"

World Culture Museum Declines U.S.
1 MIN READ

World Culture Museum Declines U.S. Embassy Agreement Over Diversity Clause

New Miss Snusk Unfazed by
2 MIN READ

New Miss Snusk Unfazed by Criticism, Unaware of Predecessor's Exit

Sylvia Vrethammar Celebrates 80th Birthday
1 MIN READ

Sylvia Vrethammar Celebrates 80th Birthday with Stockholm Concert

Lil Nas X Hospitalized with
1 MIN READ

Lil Nas X Hospitalized with Facial Paralysis, Assures Fans He's Okay

Drake Teases New Album, Promises
1 MIN READ

Drake Teases New Album, Promises It Will Be "A Slap"