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.
