News | Entertainment
20 Feb 2026 15:29
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Hugh Grant has taken up cooking in lockdown

    The 'Love Actually' star has enjoyed getting into the kitchen now he is home more because of the coronavirus pandemic, but has recalled how it once went "badly wrong" when he tried to cook a chicken


    He said: "I like being in the kitchen now. I like to put on an apron, I like the glass of wine. I don't mind tossing, frying the onions a bit, that's fine. I did have a go at a chicken and it came out very badly wrong."

    And the 60-year-old actor didn't even realise he had lost his sense of taste because of coronavirus, because he had just thought his food had no taste.

    He added: "It was a mild flu and then this weird thing where you lose your taste, but it was lockdown and I was doing the cooking for the first time in 30 years - and none of my food tastes of anything anyway, so we didn't notice that we didn't have any taste for days and days."

    However, there's one thing that frustrates him about plating up.

    Speaking on Live! With Kelly and Ryan, he shared: "I don't like touching food. It's disgusting."

    Meanwhile, Hugh previously revealed he had coronavirus in February.

    He said: "It started as just a very strange syndrome where I kept breaking into a terrible sweat. It was like a poncho of sweat, embarrassing really. Then my eyeballs felt about three sizes too big and this ... a feeling as though an enormous man was sitting on my chest, Harvey Weinstein or someone. By then people were just starting to talk about this as a symptom. And I started sniffing flowers, nothing. And you get more and more desperate. I started sniffing in garbage cans. You know, you want to sniff strangers' armpits because you just can't smell anything. I eventually went home and I sprayed my wife's Chanel No. 5 directly into my face. Couldn't smell a thing, but I did go blind."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     20 Feb: David Archuleta didn't think he "deserved" fame and success because of his struggles with his sexuality
     20 Feb: Savannah Guthrie's family members have been "cleared as possible suspects" in the disappearance of her mom Nancy
     20 Feb: Jada Pinkett Smith has asked a court to dismiss a $3 million lawsuit filed by her husband Will's former friend
     20 Feb: Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple Martin has denied she was expelled from school for being a bully
     20 Feb: Meaghan Oppenheimer has revealed Tell Me Lies is ending at the "perfect" time
     19 Feb: Jane Seymour felt privileged to work with Robert Duvall
     19 Feb: Logan Paul has sold a Pokemon trading card for $16.5 million
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi has reported he's not far away from a return to the Super Rugby Pacific picture, but is warning his teammates not to take Moana Pasifika lightly tonight More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Hopes are lifting among Auckland businesses for the economic recovery More...



     Today's News

    Business:
    Hopes are lifting among Auckland businesses for the economic recovery 15:17

    Entertainment:
    David Archuleta didn't think he "deserved" fame and success because of his struggles with his sexuality 15:17

    International:
    Donald Trump hosts first 'Board of Peace' meeting with new pledges for Gaza 15:07

    Motoring:
    Supercars driver Ryan Wood is aware of the risks that accompany being a tough competitor ahead of the season-opener in Sydney today 14:57

    Entertainment:
    Savannah Guthrie's family members have been "cleared as possible suspects" in the disappearance of her mom Nancy 14:47

    Law and Order:
    What we know about ex-prince Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office 14:37

    Education:
    Indra Brown's Winter Olympics medal contention doesn't remove the reality of school homework 14:27

    National:
    SpaceX rocket left behind a plume of chemical pollution as it burnt up in the atmosphere 14:17

    Entertainment:
    Jada Pinkett Smith has asked a court to dismiss a $3 million lawsuit filed by her husband Will's former friend 14:17

    Rugby:
    All Blacks flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi has reported he's not far away from a return to the Super Rugby Pacific picture, but is warning his teammates not to take Moana Pasifika lightly tonight 14:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd