He’s one of the breakout stars of Gogglebox Australia.
And now Jad Nehmetallah has revealed he has an exciting, and charitable, new project in the works with some of MasterChef’s biggest names.
Jad, 34, is launching a new cookbook called Bake for Beirut, which will help raise funds for those devastated by the Beirut Blast in Lebanon back in August.
New project: Gogglebox’s Jad Nehmetallah (pictured) is joining forces with MasterChef’s Poh Ling Yeow and former judge Matt Preston on a new project – a special cookbook to help raise money for those affected by the Beirut blast back in August
According to News.com.au, MasterChef star Poh was responsible for the cover artwork, while former judge Matt Preston shared some recipes for the book.
New judge Melissa Leong also wrote an introduction for the cookbook, which is set to be released on Tuesday.
Profits are said to be going to the Lebanese Food Bank and Steps of Hope.
The project has a special place in Jad’s heart. The TV star is of Lebanese decent and his aunt was injured in the blast.
Getting on board: According to News.com.au , MasterChef star Poh was responsible for the cover artwork, while former judge Matt Preston shared some recipes for the book
A good cause: New judge Melissa Leong also wrote an introduction for the cookbook, which is set to be released on Tuesday
At the time of the disaster, Jad shared an old black and white photo of himself with his aunt at her apartment in Beirut, and said she was being treated in hospital and her place was ‘heavily’ destroyed.
‘This has impacted me personally. I should’ve of been in Lebanon right now and to know the explosion was in the same area I stay in shook me harder,’ Jad wrote on Instagram at the time.
‘My go to gym, coffee shops, barber and restaurants are gone.’
Close to his heart: The project has a special place in Jad’s heart. The TV star is of Lebanese decent and his aunt was injured in the blast
He added: ‘My Aunty is injured in hospital. Her apartment heavily damaged. My friends apartments and businesses have been damaged. It’s killing me to not be able to go over there to help those in need.’
‘How much can one country suffer and handle? From the revolution, poor economic state, poverty and coronavirus.’
He then said his ‘heart and prayers’ went out to all those affected.
‘Stay strong. I love you,’ Jad wrote.
Heartbreaking: ‘This has impacted me personally. I should’ve of been in Lebanon right now and to know the explosion was in the same area I stay in shook me harder,’ Jad wrote on Instagram at the time
The explosion was felt as far away as Turkey, Syria, Israel and Palestine and killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000.
Following the devastation, a state of dire emergency was launched in the city and protests broke out in response to the government’s failures leading up to the explosion.
The blast was caused by nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored at the port for years.
Australian actor Rob Shehadie also penned an emotional and moving piece in August, after the blast.
‘The Lebanon that I know and love is suffering more than ever,’ the Fat Pizza star wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
Rob, who is of Lebanese heritage, said that he was devastated when he saw his mother cry when she heard about the blast.
The TV star, who is married to Lleyton hewitt’s sister Jaslyn, 37, went on to say how Lebanese people are ‘resilient.’
‘It must be stated that this suffering is what binds and defines the Lebanese people and what allows them to rise up time and time again,’ Rob said.
He finished by saying that he’s sure ‘that Beirut will rise from the rubble once again.’
‘The Lebanon that I know and love is suffering more than ever’: Australian actor Rob Shehadie (pictured) also penned an emotional and moving piece in August, after the blast