He's a global icon who has become as famous for his food as for his foul-mouthed rants. But British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's direct style didn't sit well with Masterchef Australia contestant Samira Damirova. "I didn't really see eye-to-eye with Gordon," the 36-year-old admits to TV WEEK. "He's very strong and was the polar opposite of me. I felt like I was face-to-face with someone so different to me."

Samira says the 51-year-old personality's in-your-face style put her offside from the outset. "He was very harsh and that's his thing, obviously," she says. "But I'm the opposite. I'm quite calm and softly spoken – no swearing or screaming." Gordon is known for demanding the best from chefs – and letting them have it with both barrels when they don't deliver. Perhaps it was that sort of pressure that proved too much for the Azerbaijan-born home cook. "I like to do well," Samira admits. "And if I feel I'm not, I get anxious. "A couple of times, things in the kitchen didn't go to plan and it really affected me."

While Samira may not have been impressed by the famously brash judge, Gordon has nothing but compliments for the entire MasterChef Australia team. "I've always been a big supporter," Gordon tells TV WEEK. ""Every time I have a producers' meeting for the American MasterChef, I say, 'Guys, look at this. The food in Australia's MasterChef is better than some of the professionals in France and England. Get your s**t together!'"