Debbie King was the girlfriend (now wife) of Jonathan Ansell, and helps give feedback on his cooking in this episode.
While many editions of Come Dine With Me were shown several months after they were recorded, this isn't the case here. Jonathan Ansell mentions that it's his birthday, which took place on March 10th 2008, just one month before this special originally aired as part of Celebrity Special: All In One (2008).
While the majority of Come Dine With Me episodes have a different production team over several days of one week's run for logistical purposes, all four episodes of this celebrity special are produced and directed by Lee Servis.