Come Dine With Me Contestant Reflects on Viral Fame and Unexpected Consequences
For many fans of Come Dine With Me, certain moments from the show are unforgettable. Whether it’s the infamous “What a sad little life, Jane” rant or the contestant who put the business end of a whisk in his mouth, these scenes have taken on a life of their own online. One of the most enduring viral moments belongs to Kev Riley, a wedding DJ who appeared on the show in 2013. His unconventional taste-testing method—shoving a whisk into his mouth while making a cheesecake—quickly spread across the internet, turning him into an unexpected meme.
Kev’s appearance on the show was filled with mishaps, from tossing in unmeasured ingredients to accidentally including chili flakes in his cheesecake. However, none of those blunders compared to the lasting impact of his brief but bizarre decision to lick a whisk in the middle of cooking. More than a decade later, his face is still recognized far and wide, even making an appearance on a flag at Glastonbury Festival. The moment continues to resurface thanks to social media, particularly on platforms like TikTok, where the clip enjoys new waves of popularity.
While viral fame has brought Kev plenty of laughs, it has also come with some unexpected downsides. In a recent interview, he opened up about one particularly troubling experience. During a night out with his wife in Burnley, a stranger approached him, recognized him from Come Dine With Me, and suddenly punched him in the face. The shocking encounter left Kev shaken, turning what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening into a painful memory. He also mentioned that he often ignores negative comments on social media, as some people react to his viral moment in ways he never anticipated.
Despite these challenges, Kev acknowledges that not all of his experiences with recognition have been negative. He’s been approached by fans in unexpected places, including while on holiday abroad. The lingering attention from his TV appearance has, in many ways, given him a taste of celebrity life. Even after all these years, the clip refuses to fade away, proving the unpredictable nature of internet fame.
Kev’s story highlights both the humorous and darker sides of going viral. What started as an offhand moment on a reality TV show has followed him for over a decade, bringing both laughter and unexpected consequences. While he may never have intended to become a meme, his place in Come Dine With Me history is firmly cemented—and, as social media continues to recycle classic clips, it seems unlikely that he’ll ever truly escape his whisk-wielding
legacy.