''MasterChef'' is a British competitive cooking reality show produced by
Endemol Shine UK
Banijay UK Productions Limited, trading as Banijay UK, is a British production company. Since 2020, the company has been a subsidiary of Banijay Entertainment. Banijay UK incorporates a number of production brands, including Artists Studio, Da ...
and Banijay and broadcast in 60 countries around the world. The show initially ran from 1990 to 2001 and was revived in 2005 as ''MasterChef Goes Large''. The revival featured a new format devised by
Franc Roddam
Francis George Franc Roddam (born 29 April 1946) is an English film director, businessman, screenwriter, television producer and publisher, best known as the creator of ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' and ''Masterchef'' and as the director of ''Quadrop ...
and John Silver, with Karen Ross producing. In 2008, the name was changed back to ''MasterChef'' but the format remained unchanged.
The series currently appears in four versions: the main ''MasterChef'' series; ''Celebrity MasterChef''; '' MasterChef: The Professionals'', with working chefs; and '' Junior MasterChef'', with children between the ages of nine and twelve. The format and style of the show have been reproduced around the world in various
international versions
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
. It was revealed in November 2024, that following allegations against Wallace he had decided to temporarily step away from the show. In December 2024, it was revealed that Wallace has temporarily been replaced with Grace Dent for the next year's celebrity series.
Original series
In the original series, amateur cooks competed for the title of ''Master Chef''. The show featured nine rounds leading up to three semifinals and a final. In each round, three contestants were tasked with preparing a gourmet three-course meal in under two hours. The contestants could choose the meal, although there was a price limit on ingredients. "Everyday" ingredients and equipment were provided, and contestants could also bring up to five "speciality" ingredients or utensils.
The first incarnation of the series was presented by
Loyd Grossman
Sir Loyd Daniel Gilman Grossman (born 16 September 1950) is an American-British author, broadcaster, musician, businessman and cultural campaigner who has mainly worked in the United Kingdom. He presented the BBC programme ''MasterChef (British T ...
, who was joined each week by a professional chef and a celebrity to act as judges. In each episode, Grossman and the guest judges discussed the menus, talked to the contestants, and finally ate and judged the food. The judges' "cogitations" originally took place off-camera, but later episodes included edited highlights of the discussions after the food had been tasted and before the winner was announced.
In 1998, Grossman decided to take a
sabbatical
A sabbatical (from the Hebrew: (i.e., Sabbath); in Latin ; Greek: ) is a rest or break from work; "an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job."
The concept of the sabbatical is based on the Bi ...
and the series was not made in his absence. He returned to present the 1999 series but left the show in 2000.
Grossman's departure and 2001 revamp
In 2001, the show underwent a makeover in response to declining ratings. It was moved from its traditional Sunday afternoon slot on
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...
to a Tuesday night slot on
BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...
and the format of the show was modified. The celebrity judge was no longer included and the contestants had to cook two courses in 90 minutes, which was extended to two-and-a-half hours for three courses in the final episode. As an additional requirement, each contestant had to use the same key ingredient in each course.
In October 2000, Grossman left in anger over the proposed changes and was replaced by chef
Gary Rhodes
Gary Rhodes (22 April 1960 – 26 November 2019) was an English restaurateur and television chef, known for his love of English cuisine and ingredients and for his distinctive spiked hair style. He fronted shows such as ''MasterChef'', '' Mas ...
, who had previously presented '' MasterChef USA''. Rhodes' advice to contestants was more critical than Grossman's and the show was acclaimed for its more serious tone, which later inspired the ''MasterChef Goes Large'' format and other cooking competitions like ''
Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton, or Midtown West on real estate listings, is a neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York. It is considered to be bordered by 34th Street (or 41st Street) to the south, ...
''. However, the new version of the show did not revive ratings as hoped and was cancelled by the BBC after the first series.
Revived series
In 2005, the executive producers Franc Roddam and John Silver, with the series producer Karen Ross, radically overhauled the show's format and introduced a new series. It was initially titled ''MasterChef Goes Large'', but the name reverted to ''MasterChef'' in 2008. The new series was judged by
John Torode
John Douglas Torode (born 23 July 1965) is an Australian-British celebrity chef and TV presenter. He moved to the UK in the 1990s and began working at Conran Group's restaurants. After first appearing on television on ITV's ''This Morning ...
and Gregg Wallace, with voice-over narration provided by India Fisher.
The show proved very popular and became one of BBC Two's more successful early evening programmes, leading to an announcement by the BBC in 2009 that it would be promoted to BBC One.
In February 2022, the BBC and Shine TV announced that they had agreed a multi-series six-year deal for the programme, and from 2024 the production base would move from London to Birmingham. In January 2023, it was reported that
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council is the local authority for the city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. Birmingham has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been reformed several times. Since 1974 the council has been a metropo ...
had approved BBC plans to use the old Banana Warehouse in
Digbeth
Digbeth is an area of central Birmingham, England. Following the remodelling of the Birmingham Inner Ring Road, Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is under ...
as the new ''MasterChef'' studios.
Format
Each series is broadcast on five nights a week for eight weeks. During the first six weeks, the first four episodes of each week are heats and the fifth episode is a quarter-final. Six contestants enter each heat and the winner becomes a quarter-finalist. At the end of each week, the four quarter-finalists compete and a semi-finalist is chosen. After six weeks, the six semi-finalists compete in the final two weeks.
In 2010, the judges were given more flexibility, allowing them to advance more than one contestant to the quarter-finals or, in one instance, none at all. Series 7 of ''Master Chef'' had auditions with a format similar to ''
The X Factor
''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for '' Pop Idol'' (2001–200 ...
'', in which hopeful chefs cooked in front of the judges to secure a spot in the competition. More than 20,000 people applied to audition for the series.
Heats
The heats follow a three-round format:
* ''The Market Test'': the contestants must invent a dish using ingredients from the show's market. They have 15 minutes to select ingredients and 1 hour and 10 minutes to cook the meal. Three contestants are eliminated from the competition and those remaining advance to the Impression Test.
* ''The Calling Card'': the contestants must invent a dish from scratch in 75 minutes (originally 40 minutes until 2009). The contestants can choose any ingredients they like.
* ''The Invention Test'': the contestants are given two boxes: one with sweet items and the other with savoury items. They must pick a box and make a dish using its ingredients within 75 minutes.
* ''The Impression Test'': the contestants must cook a two-course meal in 75 minutes for past winners and finalists of ''MasterChef''. They are given one hour to serve the main course and 15 minutes afterwards to serve dessert. This segment was first featured in 2017.
Quarter-finals
The format of the quarter-finals has changed over the years. Before 2010, the format featured three rounds:
* ''The Ingredients Test'': the contestants were asked to identify a selection of ingredients or produce.
* ''The Passion Test'': the contestants each had one minute to convince the judges of their overwhelming passion for food.
* After eliminating one contestant, the remaining three quarter-finalists each produced a three-course meal in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
In 2010, the quarter-final format was cut to two rounds:
* ''The Choice Test'': the contestants were given 15 minutes to cook their choice of either a pre-selected fish recipe or meat recipe with the judges supervising. At least one contestant was eliminated after this round.
* The remaining quarter-finalists each produced a two-course meal in one hour.
The current quarter-final format consists of two rounds:
* ''The Palate Test'': Judge John Torode cooks a dish for the contestants, and they must identify the ingredients and try to recreate the dish using the ingredients available to them.
* ''The Choice Test'': the contestants have 80 minutes to create a showstopping dish for the judges and a special celebrity food critic.
Comeback Week
The sixth week is called "Comeback Week" and features contestants from previous series of ''MasterChef'' who did not advance past the heats or quarter-finals. The format changes for this special week. It includes:
* ''The Skill Test'': the contestants have 25 minutes to cook one of two pre-selected recipes. Some contestants may be eliminated after this round.
* ''The Palate Test'': Torode cooks a complex dish and asks the contestants one by one to taste the dish and identify its ingredients. Some contestants may be eliminated after this round.
* ''The Pressure Test'': the contestants work a lunchtime shift at a busy restaurant under the supervision of a professional chef who comments on their performance.
* The remaining contestants have one hour to cook a two-course meal. One contestant is selected to advance to the quarter-final.
* The comeback quarter-finalists then cook head-to-head in a larger version of the Invention Test, cooking one dish in an hour. One contestant is selected to advance to the semi-finals.
MasterChef Live
''MasterChef Live'' is an extension of the television programme. It has been held each November since 2009 and the event lasts three days. It is hosted at London Olympia and is co-located with the annual Wine Show. Highlights of the event include live cooking demonstrations in the Chefs' Theater, celebrity chefs, former contestants, critics and ''MasterChef''-style cook-offs.
''Celebrity MasterChef''
''Celebrity MasterChef'' was devised as a celebrity version of ''MasterChef Goes Large''. The show was screened on BBC One from 2006 to 2011. Originally, 24 celebrities participated in each series with three contestants per episode following the full ''MasterChef Goes Large'' test.
In 2011, the programme was moved to a daily daytime slot with 30 episodes screened over six weeks and with only 16 celebrities. Catch-up shows were broadcast on Fridays at 20:30 (30 minutes) and on Saturdays at various times (60 minutes). In 2012, the show moved to BBC Two due to low ratings and returned to an evening 18:30 slot. In 2013, it moved back to BBC One prime time, shown at 20:00. Since 2014, the show has had 20 celebrities competing for the title.
Arabella Weir
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Hardeep Singh Kohli
Hardeep Singh Kohli (born 21 January 1969) is a British presenter, comedian, writer and director who has appeared on various radio and television programmes. Having moved to Scotland at a young age, he has had a long association with the arts i ...
Ian McCaskill
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Kristian Digby
Scott Kristian Edwin Digby (24 June 1977 – 1 March 2010) was an English television presenter and director best known for presenting '' To Buy or Not to Buy'' on BBC One. On 1 March 2010 he was found dead in what police said were "unexplained c ...
Marie Helvin
Marie Helvin (born August 13, 1952) is a British-based American former fashion model, who worked extensively with David Bailey, to whom she was married between 1975 and 1985. In the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in many fashion stories for Bri ...
,
Paul Young
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Roger Black
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Rowland Rivron
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Sarah Cawood
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Sheila Ferguson
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, Simon Grant,
Sue Perkins
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Tony Hadley
Anthony Patrick Hadley (born 2 June 1960) is an English pop singer. He rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of the New wave music, new wave band Spandau Ballet and launched a solo career following the group's split in 1990. Hadley retur ...
and
Toyah Willcox
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Series 2 (2007)
Nadia Sawalha
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Midge Ure
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Craig Revel Horwood
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Jeremy Edwards
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Chris Bisson
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Martin Hancock
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Sunetra Sarker
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Gemma Atkinson
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Sherrie Hewson
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Rani Price
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Angela Rippon
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Sally Gunnell
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Robbie Earle
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Phil Tufnell
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Series 3 (2008)
Liz McClarnon
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Linda Robson
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Debra Stephenson
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Christopher Parker
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Joe McGann
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Steven Pinder
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Mark Moraghan
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Rosie Boycott
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...
and Joe Swift.
:There was also a week of Comeback contestants featuring
Joe McGann
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,
Marie Helvin
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Claire Richards
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,
Rowland Rivron
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Rivron played the comic character 'Dr Martin Scrote' on the Jonathan Ross chat show ''The Last Resort'', and also played S ...
Steven Pinder
Steven Pinder (born 30 March 1960) is an English actor, known for his roles on the British soap operas ''Crossroads'' (1985–1987) and ''Brookside'' (1990–2003).
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,
Wendi Peters
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Tony Hadley
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Martin Hancock
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Lisa Faulkner
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Neil Stuke
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Stuke played Matth ...
Tessa Sanderson
Theresa Ione Sanderson (born 14 March 1956) is a British former javelin thrower. She appeared in every Summer Olympic Games, Summer Olympics from 1976 to 1996, winning the gold medal in the Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's ja ...
,
Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell (born 8 April 1968) is an English radio and television presenter. After appearing on '' No Limits'', she went on to present series such as '' Wheel of Fortune'', '' UP2U'', '' Gimme 5'', '' Live Talk'', '' Wordplay'' and '' Daybre ...
,
Colin Jackson
Colin Ray Jackson, (born 18 February 1967) is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. During a career in which he represented Great Britain and Wales, he won an Olympic silver medal, became w ...
Dick Strawbridge
Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom), Lieutenant Colonel (Retirement, ret) Richard Francis Strawbridge, Order of the British Empire, MBE (born 3 September 1959) is a British television personality, engineer and former army officer. He is often r ...
,
Danielle Lloyd
Danielle Lloyd (formerly O'Hara; born 16 December 1983) is an English TV host, model, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss England 2004 and Miss Great Britain 2006. Lloyd first rose to prominence when she was strippe ...
,
Marcus Patric
Marcus Patrick (born on 17 August 1979) is an English people, English actor.
Career
Best known for the role of Ben Davies (Hollyoaks), Ben Davies in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', he then starred in its spin-offs ''Hollyoaks: Let Loose ...
Jennie Bond
Jennifer Bond (born 19 August 1950) is an English journalist and television presenter. Bond worked for fourteen years as the BBC's royal correspondent. She has also hosted '' Cash in the Attic'' and narrated the programme ''Great British Menu'' ...
Kym Mazelle
Kym Mazelle (born Kymberly Grigsby; August 10, 1960) is an American singer. She is regarded as a pioneer of house music in the United Kingdom and Europe. Her music combines R&B, soul, funk, house music, dance, and pop. She is credited as " Th ...
Kirsty Wark
Kirsteen Anne "Kirsty" Wark (born 3 February 1955) is a Scottish television presenter and journalist with a long career at the BBC.
Starting on BBC Radio Scotland, where she became a producer, Wark switched to television, presenting ''The Late ...
,
Nick Pickard
Nick Pickard is an English actor. He is known for his portrayal of Tony Hutchinson in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', a role he has held since its first episode in 1995; he remains the longest-serving cast member and, in 2017, won the ...
,
Darren Campbell
Darren Andrew Campbell, (born 12 September 1973) is a British former sprint athlete. He was the sprint coach at Wasps Rugby Club for the 2015–16 season. He competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as the 4 × 100 metres relay.
...
Aggie MacKenzie
Agnes MacKenzie (born 12 October 1955) is a Scottish television personality, professional cleaner and writer. She is known for co-presenting the Channel 4 series ''How Clean Is Your House?'' (2003–2009) with Kim Woodburn and the ITV (TV networ ...
,
Ricky Groves
Richard Groves (born 23 April 1968) is an English actor best known for playing Garry Hobbs in ''EastEnders'' from 2000 to 2009, before making a brief return in 2025. Before his role in ''EastEnders'' he appeared in the series ''Burnside (TV se ...
,
Margi Clarke
Margi Clarke (born 25 May 1954) is an English actress and radio and television presenter. She had a leading role in the film '' Letter to Brezhnev'' (1985), a low-budget film which had an international release. Later, Clarke played Jackie Dob ...
Shobu Kapoor
Shobu Kapoor is an Indian British actress. She is most notable for playing the role of Gita Kapoor, the long-suffering wife of market trader Sanjay (Deepak Verma), in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 1993 to 1998.
Early life
Shobu Ka ...
Tim Lovejoy
Timothy Paul Lovejoy (born 28 March 1968) is an English television presenter best known for hosting Saturday morning football programme '' Soccer AM'' with Helen Chamberlain for over a decade and ''BT Sports Panel'' on Saturday mornings. He ...
and
Danny Goffey
Daniel Robert Goffey (born 7 February 1974) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the drummer and backing vocalist for Supergrass. He briefly toured with Babyshambles in 2010, following their drummer's departure.
C ...
.
Series 7 (2012)
Emma Kennedy
Elizabeth Emma Williams (born 28 May 1967), known professionally as Emma Kennedy, is an English/Irish actress, lawyer, comedian, travel writer, television presenter and author.
Early life and education
The daughter of teachers,Danny Mills,
Michael Underwood
Michael Paul Underwood (born 26 October 1975) is an English television presenter, best known as a children's TV presenter on CBBC and CITV. He can be seen as a fifteen-year-old in an episode of ''The Crystal Maze'', then presented by Richar ...
,
Zoe Salmon
Zoe Salmon (born 7 January 1980) is a Northern Irish television presenter. She hosted the children's television programme ''Blue Peter'' from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on ''Dancing on Ice'' in early 2009. She was the 1 ...
,
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates (born 12 July 1984) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show ''Pop Idol'' in 2002. As of 2008, Gates had sold over 3.5 million records in the UK. He is ...
Laila Rouass
Laila Rouass ( Abdesselam; born 22 June 1971) is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in ''Footballers' Wives'' (2004–2006) and Sahira Shah in ''Holby City'' (2011–2012, 2021). She has also starred in ''Pri ...
,
George Layton
George Layton (born George Michael William Löwy; 2 March 1942) is a British actor, director, screenwriter and author best known for three television roles – junior doctor Paul Collier in the comedy series ''Doctor in the House'' and its sequ ...
,
Diarmuid Gavin
Diarmuid Gavin (born 10 May 1964) is an Irish garden designer and television personality. He has presented gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show on nine occasions from 1995 to 2016, winning a number of medals, including gold in 2011. He has als ...
,
Richard McCourt
Richard "Dick" McCourt (born 12 August 1976) is an English entertainer and presenter. He is best known as one half of the comic duo Dick and Dom, with the other being Dominic "Dom" Wood.
Career
McCourt gained his experience in Sheffield pres ...
Jamie Theakston
James Paul Theakston (born 21 December 1970) is an English television presenter, producer, narrator and actor. He has hosted television programmes for the BBC, ITV (TV network), ITV, Channel 4 and 5 (British TV channel), Channel 5. He co-present ...
,
Jenny Eclair
Jenny Eclair (born Jenny Clare Hargreaves; 16 March 1960) is an English comedian, novelist, and actress, best known for her roles in '' Grumpy Old Women'' between 2004 and 2007 and in '' Loose Women'' in 2011 and 2012.
Early life
Eclair was bor ...
,
Javine Hylton
Javine Dionne Hylton (born 27 December 1981), often known simply as Javine, is a retired English singer and songwriter. She gained recognition on ITV's '' Popstars: The Rivals'' and represented the UK at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Ky ...
Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born former actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in both England and Ireland.
She began her career on the stage in ...
.
Series 8 (2013)
Ade Edmondson
Adrian Charles Edmondson (born 24 January 1957) is an English actor, comedian, musician, writer and television presenter. Part of the alternative comedy boom in the early 1980s, he and his comedy partner Rik Mayall starred in the television sit ...
Heidi Range
Heidi India Partakis (' Range; born 23 May 1983) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as a former member of the girl group Sugababes. She was an original member of girl group Atomic Kitten between 1998 and 1999, however she left the g ...
,
Shane Lynch
Shane Eamon Mark Stephen Lynch (born 3 July 1976) is an Irish singer, best known as a member of Boyzone. He has also taken part in auto racing, participated in reality shows such as ''Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series), Celebrity Big Bro ...
Denise Black
Denise Black (born 16 March 1958) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in ''Coronation Street'' and ''Emmerdale''.
Early life and career
Black was born in Emsworth, Hampshire. After attending Portsmouth High School for Gir ...
,
Phillips Idowu
Phillips Olaosebikan Idowu, (born 30 December 1978) is a British athlete who specialised in the triple jump and was active at elite level between 2000 and 2014, with his greatest success coming between 2006 and 2011. He is a former World Outdo ...
,
Speech Debelle
Corynne Elliot (born 17 March 1983), better known as Speech Debelle, is a British hip hop, British rapper formerly signed to the Big Dada record label. She was the winner of the 2009 Mercury Prize for her debut album ''Speech Therapy (album), Sp ...
,
Brian Capron
Brian Capron (born 11 February 1947) is an English actor who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He first came to public attention through his role of the teacher Mr Stuart "Hoppy" Hopwood in ''Grange Hill'' from 1980 to 19 ...
,
Les Dennis
Leslie Dennis Heseltine (born 12 October 1953) is an English television presenter, actor and comedian. He presented '' Family Fortunes'' from 1987 to 2002.
Early life
Dennis was born as Leslie Dennis Heseltine on 12 October 1953 in the Liv ...
,
Matthew Hoggard
Matthew James Hoggard, (born 31 December 1976) is a former English cricketer, who played international cricket for England cricket team from 2000 to 2008, playing both Test cricket and One Day Internationals. The 6' 2" Hoggard was a right arm f ...
,
Katy Brand
Katherine Frances Brand (born 13 January 1979), known as Katy Brand, is an English actress, comedian and writer, known for her ITV2 series '' Katy Brand's Big Ass Show'' and for Comedy Lab ''Slap'' on Channel 4.
Early life and education
Brand ...
,
Shappi Khorsandi
Shaparak Khorsandi (, ; born 8 June 1973), who previously performed as Shappi Khorsandi, is an Iranian-born British comedian and author. She is the daughter of the Iranian political satirist and poet Hadi Khorsandi.
Her family left Iran for ...
,
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe ( ; born 23 March 1972) is a Welsh former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified and lineal titles at super-middleweight, and ...
Sophie Thompson
Sophie Thompson (born 20 January 1962) is a British actress. She has worked in film, television and theatre and she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of ''Into the Woods''. She has been nominated for ...
,
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and television personality. He became widely known for his roles in television series such as ''Porridge'', '' Poldark'' and '' I, Claudius'' in the 1970s. He later became known for ...
,
Todd Carty
Todd Carty, also known as Todd John Jennings (born Todd Robert Carty; 31 August 1963), is an actor and director who has grown up on television screens in a variety of roles. His stage appearances have ranged from serious drama to pantomime, an ...
,
Tina Hobley
Tina Ellen Hobley (born 20 May 1971) is an English actress and radio presenter, best known for her long-running role as Chrissie Williams in the BBC One medical drama series ''Holby City''. Hobley left Holby City in November 2013 after 12 years ...
,
Kiki Dee
Pauline Matthews (born 6 March 1947), better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English pop singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records.
Dee is best known f ...
,
JB Gill
Jonathan Benjamin Gill (born 7 December 1986), also known professionally as JB Gill, is a British singer, television presenter and farmer. He is best known as a member of the boy band JLS, who were runners-up to Alexandra Burke on the fifth se ...
,
Wayne Sleep
Wayne Philip Colin Sleep (born 17 July 1948) is a British dancer, director, choreographer, and actor who appeared on the BBC series '' The Real Marigold on Tour'' and ITV's '' The Real Full Monty''.
Early life
Wayne Sleep was born in Plymou ...
,
Alison Hammond
Alison Hammond (born 5 February 1975) is a British television presenter and actress. She competed in the third series of the reality show '' Big Brother'' in 2002, in which she was the second housemate to be evicted. She has since become a pre ...
Jason Connery
Jason Joseph Connery (born 11 January 1963) is a British actor and director. He is the son of Sean Connery and Diane Cilento. On screen, he is best known for appearing in the third series of the ITV (TV channel), ITV drama series ''Robin of She ...
,
Ken Morley
Kenneth William Morley (born 17 January 1943) is an English actor and comedian, best known for playing Reg Holdsworth in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 1989 to 1995. He also played General Leopold von Flockenstuffen in the BBC ...
, Millie Mackintosh,
Emma Barton
Emma Louise Barton (born 26 July 1977) is an English actress. She is known for her role as Honey Mitchell in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', which she has portrayed since November 2005. Before her role in ''EastEnders'', Barton appeared in ...
,
Russell Grant
Russell John Dammerall Grant (born 5 February 1951) is a British astrologer and media personality. He has written several books on astrology, provides syndicated newspaper horoscopes and operates premium rate astrology phone lines. In March 2 ...
,
Alex Ferns
Alexander Ferns (born 13 October 1968) is a Scottish actor and television personality. His role in ''EastEnders'' as Trevor Morgan from 2000 to 2002 was described as "Britain's most-hated soap villain". He also played the role of Rick Harper ...
,
Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash (born 19 February 1960) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in '' Quadrophenia'' (1979), ITV series '' C.A.T.S. Eyes'' (1985–1987), the BBC sitcom '' Men Behaving Badly'' (1992–1998), drama '' Where the Heart ...
,
Jodie Kidd
Jodie Elizabeth Kidd (born 25 September 1978) is an English fashion model and television personality.
Early life
Named after Jodie Foster, Kidd was born in 1978 and is the daughter of the businessman and former showjumper Johnny Kidd. She is ...
,
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman (born 23 August 1966) is a British television presenter, travel writer and actor. A motorbike enthusiast, Boorman has made four long-distance motorcycle rides with his friend Ewan McGregor, documented in '' Long Way Round'' (20 ...
Kimberly Wyatt
Kimberly Kaye Wyatt (born February 4, 1982) is an American singer, dancer, actress, and television personality. She was a member of the girl group and dance ensemble the Pussycat Dolls (2003–2010, 2019–2021) and the pop duo Her Majesty & th ...
,
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin (17 January 1957 – 11 December 2017), also known by the nickname Cheggers, was an English television presenter and actor, appearing in several children's entertainment shows in the 1970s and 1980s, including ''Multi-Coloured Swa ...
,
Sarah Harding
Sarah Harding (born Sarah Nicole Hardman; 17 November 1981 – 5 September 2021) was an English singer, model and actress. Her professional career began in 2002 when she successfully auditioned for the ITV (TV channel), ITV reality series ''Po ...
,
Yvette Fielding
Yvette Paula Fielding (born 23 September 1968) is an English television presenter, producer, actress, writer and paranormal investigator. In 1987, aged 18, she became the youngest presenter on the BBC television programme '' Blue Peter''. With h ...
,
Arlene Phillips
Dame Arlene Phillips (born 22 May 1943) is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, former television judge, presenter, and dancer. She reached mainstream fame on television as a judge on ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (2004-2008) a ...
,
Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed (born 15 June 1968) is a British journalist, writer and broadcaster at the BBC, where she presents '' Front Row'' on Radio 4 and '' Newswatch'' on the BBC News channel and BBC One during '' BBC Breakfast'', and regularly present ...
,
Andy Akinwolere
Odunayo Andrew Akinwolere (born 30 November 1982), previously known as Andy Akinwolere, is a British television presenter.
Early life
Akinwolere was born in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1982, and moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was ei ...
,
Syd Little
Syd Little (born Cyril John Mead; 19 December 1942) is an English comedian who was the straight man in the double act Little and Large, with Eddie Large.
Life and career
Born in Blackpool, Little was raised in Manchester. After leaving Yew ...
,
Amanda Donohoe
Amanda Donohoe (born 29 June 1962) is an English actress. She first came to public attention at age 16 for her relationship with pop singer Adam Ant, appearing in the music videos for the Adam and the Ants singles " Antmusic" (1980) and " Stan ...
,
Craig Gazey
Craig Gazey (born 24 February 1982) is a British stage and television actor, best known for his portrayal of Graeme Proctor in the ITV soap ''Coronation Street''.
Early life
Gazey attended Our Lady's Roman Catholic High School in Royton, Old ...
Patricia Potter
Patricia Caroline Potter (born 3 March 1975) is an English actress, known for her role as Diane Lloyd in the BBC medical drama series ''Holby City''. From 2016 to 2017, she appeared in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'' as Jane Fairweather.
Per ...
,
Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Lee Hawkes (born 22 September 1971) is an English singer and occasional actor. He started his career at the age of 19 when he appeared in the film '' Buddy's Song'', which featured his best-known single " The One and Only", which topped ...
Mica Paris
Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris ( ), is an English singer, presenter, and actress. Her debut album, '' So Good'', was released in 1988, spawning the singles " My One Temptation" and " Where I ...
Natalie Lowe
Natalie Lowe (born 15 August 1980) is an Australian ballroom dancer. She is a four-time Australian ballroom dance champion. Lowe competed on, and won, Australia's '' Dancing with the Stars'' with celebrity partner Anthony Koutoufides''.'' She ...
,
Scott Maslen
Scott Alexander Maslen (born 25 June 1971) is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in the ITV police drama series ''The Bill'' and Jack Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' since 2007. He also too ...
,
Rylan Clark
Ross Richard Clark (born 25 October 1988), commonly known as Rylan Clark, is an English broadcaster and television personality. He came to prominence as a contestant on the The X Factor (British series 9), ninth series of the television talent s ...
and
Sam Nixon
Samuel Nixon (born 21 March 1986) is an English singer and television presenter. He came third on the '' Pop Idol'' television series in 2003 and is now one half of the duo Sam & Mark, with the other being fellow ''Pop Idol'' contestant Mar ...
.
Series 11 (2016)
Alexis Conran
Alexis Conran is a British actor, writer and presenter on TV and radio, who currently hosts the weekend afternoon show on Times Radio and a number of consumer advice programmes for 5. He is also known for co-hosting the BBC Three show '' The R ...
Neil Back
Neil Antony Back Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE (born 16 January 1969) is a former international rugby union footballer for England national rugby union team, England and the British & Irish Lions who also played ...
,
Amelle Berrabah
Amelle Sousa Berrabah (born 22 April 1984), also known as Amelle, is a British singer and rapper. She is best known for being a former member of the girl group the Sugababes, replacing founding member Mutya Buena, who left the group in December ...
,
Marcus Butler
Marcus Lloyd Butler (born 18 December 1991) is an English model and former YouTuber, whose channels have reached over 4.1 million subscribers. In 2015, he released an autobiographical book, titled ''Hello Life!''. Butler co-hosted a radio show ...
,
Tommy Cannon
Thomas Derbyshire (born 27 June 1938), known professionally as Tommy Cannon, is an English comic, actor and singer. He is best known as the straight man of the comic double act Cannon and Ball, until Bobby Ball's death in 2020, in TV programm ...
Richard Coles
Richard Keith Robert Coles (born 26 March 1962) is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest. He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards. They ...
Audley Harrison
Audley Hugh Harrison, (born 26 October 1971) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2013. As an amateur, he represented Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division and ...
Tina Malone
Christina Malone (born 30 January 1963) is an English actress. She is best known for portraying the roles of Mo McGee in '' Brookside'' and Mimi Maguire in '' Shameless'', both broadcast on Channel 4. She was also a housemate on the sixth ser ...
Laila Morse
Maureen Lesley Bass (' Oldman; born 1 August 1945), better known by her stage name Laila Morse, is an English actress. After making her acting debut as Janet in the drama film '' Nil by Mouth'' (1997), she went on to join the BBC soap opera ' ...
,
Jimmy Osmond
James Arthur Osmond (born April 16, 1963) is an American singer and businessman. He is the youngest member of the sibling musical group the Osmonds. As a solo artist, Osmond has accumulated six RIAA certification, gold records, one RIAA certific ...
,
Sid Owen
Sid Owen (born David John Sutton; 12 January 1972) is a British actor, television presenter and former singer from London, who played Ricky Butcher in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1988–2000, 2002–2004, 2008–2012, 2022–2023). He a ...
,
Gleb Savchenko
Gleb Savchenko (; born 16 September 1983) is a Russian dancer and choreographer, who is currently a professional dancer on the Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series), U.S. version of ''Dancing with the Stars''. He previously appeared on the UK ...
,
Sinitta
Sinitta Malone known mononymously as Sinitta, is a British-American singer. She initially found commercial success in the mid-1980s with the single " So Macho" and had several other hits during the decade. In the 2000s, she became known for te ...
and
Simon Webbe
Simon Solomon Webbe (born 30 March 1978) is an English singer, rapper and actor. He is best known as a member of the boy band Blue, selling over 15 million records. Webbe released three solo studio albums in 2005, 2006 and 2017 and had five UK ...
.
Series 12 (2017)
Angellica Bell
Angellica Bell (born 24 March 1976) is a British television presenter, television and radio presenter, best known for her presenting on CBBC between 2000 and 2006. She is also known for providing occasional cover on ''The One Show'' and for c ...
,
Rebecca Adlington
Rebecca Adlington (born 17 February 1989) is an English former competitive swimmer who specialised in freestyle events in international competition. She won two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 400-metre freestyle and 800-metr ...
Kate Bottley
Kate Bottley () is a Church of England vicar in North Nottinghamshire, a role which she combines with her other roles of journalist, media presenter and reality television star. She appears frequently on British radio and television as well as i ...
Tyger Drew-Honey
Lindzi James Tyger Drew-Honey (born 26 January 1996) is an English actor and television presenter. He is best known for his role as Jake Brockman in the British sitcom '' Outnumbered'', in '' Citizen Khan'' as Richard Scab before later appearing ...
,
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett, CBE (born 10 April 1955) is an English soprano singer, musician, broadcaster and media personality who is noted for being at home in opera and "crossover music".
Early life
Garrett was born in the town of Thorne, near Doncas ...
,
Dev Griffin
Devin Joseph Jordan Griffin (born 23 December 1984) is a British radio presenter, DJ and actor, who is most commonly known for presenting Heart's evening show since January 2022 and Heart's Feel Good Weekend since January 2021. He is also know ...
,
Barney Harwood
Barnaby John Harwood (born 7 November 1979) is a British actor and television presenter. He is known for his work with CBBC beginning in 2002.
Career Television
For CBBC, Harwood presented '' Prank Patrol'' and was a voice-over commentator for ...
,
Stephen Teddy
Stephen or Steven is an English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the firs ...
Ulrika Jonsson
Eva Ulrika Jonsson (born 16 August 1967) is a Swedish-British television presenter and model. She became known as a TV-am weather presenter, and moved on to present the ITV show '' Gladiators'', and later featured as a team captain on the BBC T ...
,
Henri Leconte
Henri Leconte (; born 4 July 1963) is a French former professional tennis player. He reached the men's singles final at the French Open in 1988, won the French Open men's doubles title in 1984, and helped France win the Davis Cup in 1991. During ...
,
Debbie McGee
Debra Ann McGee (born 31 October 1958) is an English television, radio and stage performer who is best known as the assistant and widow of magician Paul Daniels. McGee is a former ballet dancer and for three years was artistic director of her ...
,
Aasmah Mir
Aasmah Saira Mir ( ; born 7 October 1971) is a Scottish television and radio broadcaster and journalist who used to co-present the Monday-Thursday breakfast programme on Times Radio.
Early life
Mir was born in Glasgow to first-generation Pakis ...
Nick Moran
Nick Moran (born 23 December 1969) is an English actor and filmmaker. His roles include Eddie the card sharp in ''Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'' and as List of Harry Potter characters#S 2, Scabior in ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hall ...
,
Julia Somerville
Julia Mary Fownes Somerville (born 14 July 1947) is an English consumer affairs journalist co-presenting the BBC One daytime television programme '' Rip Off Britain''. She began her journalistic career with magazine publisher IPC and edited a ...
and
Rachel Stevens
Rachel Lauren Stevens (born 9 April 1978) is an English singer and actress. She has been a member of the pop group S Club, which was active from 1998 to 2003, and has reformed once again since 2023. She released her solo debut studio album ''F ...
Chizzy Akudolu
Andrea Chizoba "Chizzy" Akudolu (born 7 October 1973) is a British actress.
Career
In 2002, Akudolu was one of eight new comedy performers who won the BBC Talent Initiative, The Urban Sketch Showcase. All eight performed a comedy sketch show ...
Clara Amfo
Clara Amfo is a British radio broadcaster, television presenter, podcast host and voice-over artist. She is known for presenting her shows on BBC Radio 1.
Early life and education
Born to Ghanaian parents. She has five siblings. Her father, w ...
Jay Blades
Jason Blades (born 21 February 1970) is an English Conservation and restoration of wooden furniture, furniture restorer and television presenter.
Early life
Blades was born in London Borough of Brent, Brent, North London and raised in Hackne ...
,
Frankie Bridge
Francesca Bridge ( Sandford, born 14 January 1989) is an English singer, formerly a member of S Club Juniors and a member of girl group the Saturdays. Bridge began her career at just 12 years old, when she auditioned for Simon Fuller's reality t ...
Josh Cuthbert
Union J were an English boy band, consisting of members JJ Hamblett, Jaymi Hensley, George Shelley and Josh Cuthbert. Shelley left the group in 2016 and was replaced by Casey Johnson, who left several months later, Cuthbert left the group ...
,
Carol Decker
Carol Ann Decker (born 10 September 1957) is an English singer. She is the lead vocalist of the pop band T'Pau, which had international success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although Decker is mainly associated with the group, she also re ...
,
Anita Harris
Anita Madeleine Harris (born 3 June 1942) is an English actress, singer and entertainer.
Harris sang with the Cliff Adams Singers for three years from 1961 and had a number of chart hits during the 1960s. She appeared in the '' Carry On'' fil ...
,
Jean Johansson
Jean Johansson (born Anderson) is a Scottish television presenter.
Early life
Johansson was born Anderson to father John Anderson (who hails from Kirkcaldy) and mother Edinasi (usually known as Winnie, who hails from Kampala). Johansson was born ...
,
Zoe Lyons
Zoe Ann Lyons (born 3 October 1971) is a British comedian and TV presenter.
Early and personal life
Lyons was born to an Irish father and an English mother in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Her family soon moved to Ireland, where she att ...
,
Spencer Matthews
Spencer George Matthews (born 6 August 1988) is a British television personality and entrepreneur, known for his appearances on ''Made in Chelsea''. He has also appeared on other television shows such as '' Celebrity MasterChef'' and '' The Ju ...
Monty Panesar
Mudhsuden Singh "Monty" Panesar (born 25 April 1982) is a former English international cricketer. A left-arm spinner, Panesar made his Test cricket debut in 2006 against India in Nagpur and One Day International debut for England in 2007. In ...
,
Stella Parton
Stella Mae Parton (born May 4, 1949) is an American Country music, country singer and songwriter widely known for a series of country singles that charted during the mid-to-late-1970s, her biggest hit being "I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonig ...
Stef Reid
Stefanie McLeod Reid (born 26 October 1984) is a track and field paralympian who competes for Canada and Great Britain, competing mainly in category T44 long jump and sprint events. A multiple medal winner at European and world level, she wo ...
.
Series 14 (2019)
Greg Rutherford
Gregory James Rutherford Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE (born 17 November 1986) is a retired British people, British track and field athlete who specialised in the long jump. He represented Great Britain at the Olympics, World a ...
Joey Essex
Joey Donald Essex (born 29 July 1990) is an English television personality. He came to prominence for his appearances on the ITV reality series '' The Only Way Is Essex'' (2011–2013)''.'' He went on to appear on various reality television sh ...
Andy Grant
Andy Grant (born May 7, 1984) is a retired middle distance runner from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He qualified for the men's 800 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, by achieving a personal best of 1:54.53 from the NACAC Champion ...
,
Rickie Haywood-Williams
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Judge Jules
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Josie Long
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Oti Mabuse
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Vicky Pattison
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Martha Reeves
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Zandra Rhodes
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Neil Ruddock
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Jenny Ryan
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Career
Ryan's first quiz show appe ...
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Tomasz Schafernaker
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Tomasz Schafernaker was born on 8 January 1979 in Gdańsk, Poland, and attended school both in his native Poland and ...
, Mim Shaikh,
Dillian Whyte
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and
Adam Woodyatt
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John Barnes
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Jeff Brazier
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Phil Daniels
Philip William Daniels (born 25 October 1958) is an English actor, musician and singer, most noted for film and television roles playing Londoners, such as the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in ''Quadrophenia'', Richards in '' Scum'', Stewart in '' T ...
Gethin Jones
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(withdrew due to illness),
Amar Latif
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Educati ...
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Lady Leshurr
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Dominic Littlewood
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Judi Love
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Felicity Montagu
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Montagu was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. She attended Lou ...
Matthew Pinsent
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Sam Quek
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Myles Stephenson
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Kadeena Cox
Kadeena Cox (born 10 March 1991) is a parasport athlete competing in T38 para-athletics sprint events and C4 para-cycling and British television presenter. She was part of the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships and the 2016 UCI Para-cyc ...
Kem Cetinay
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Kemal Cetinay was born i ...
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Munya Chawawa
Munyaradzi Oliver Chawawa (born 29 December 1992) is a British–Zimbabwean actor, comedian and comedy rapper.
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Munyaradzi Oliver Chawawa was born on 29 December 1992 in Derby, England, and spent his childhood in Zimbabwe. In his y ...
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Michelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962) is a British actress. She is known for her role as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap opera
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Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin (born 22 April 1969) is an English former professional footballer, television presenter and pundit. He is a club director of Cambridge United.
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Gavin Esler
Gavin William James Esler (born 27 February 1953) is a Scottish people, Scottish journalist, television presenter and author. He was a main presenter on BBC Two's flagship political analysis programme, ''Newsnight'', from January 2003 until Jan ...
Duncan James
Duncan Matthew James Inglis (born 7 April 1978) is an English singer, actor and television presenter. He became widely known in 2001 as a member of the boy band Blue and later for playing Ryan Knight in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks''.
E ...
Penny Lancaster
Penelope Claire Lancaster, Lady Stewart (born 15 March 1971) is an English model and television personality. She is married to rock singer Rod Stewart. In 2014, she joined the ITV lunchtime show '' Loose Women''. She appeared as a panellist fr ...
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Megan McKenna
Megan Elizabeth McKenna (born 26 September 1992) is an English television personality and singer. After making appearances on ''Ex on the Beach'' (2015–2016), she received wider attention for appearing on ''Celebrity Big Brother (British TV s ...
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Su Pollard
Susan Georgina "Su" Pollard (born 7 November 1949) is a British actress, singer, songwriter and author whose career has spanned over 50 years. Pollard is most known for her role in the sitcom '' Hi-de-Hi!'' She also appeared in the sitcoms '' Y ...
Johannes Radebe
Johannes Radebe (born 27 April 1987) is a South African dancer and choreographer.
Early life
Radebe was born in Zamdela, Sasolburg, Orange Free State, South Africa. His father, who worked for Coca-Cola, separated from Radebe's mother while he wa ...
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Rita Simons
Rita Joanne Simons (born 10 March 1977) is an English actress and singer. After beginning her career as a member of the short-lived girl group Girls@Play, she became best known for portraying the role of Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera ''Ea ...
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Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash (born ) is a British actor and television presenter from London, best known for his role of Mickey Miller in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' and various presenting roles with ITV2. He won the eighth series of '' I'm ...
and
Melanie Sykes
Melanie Ann Sykes (born 1970) is an English former television and radio presenter. She is best known for co-hosting '' Today with Des and Mel'' with Des O'Connor and '' Let's Do Lunch'' with Gino D'Acampo. She also co-hosted ''Going Out with Ala ...
.
Series 17 (2022)
Lisa Snowdon
Lisa Snowdon 7 May 2001, ''People'' (born Lisa Snawdon; 23 January 1972) is an English television and ...
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Richard Blackwood
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Melanie Blatt
Melanie Ruth Blatt (born 25 March 1975) is an English singer. She rose to fame in 1997 as a member of the girl group All Saints (group), All Saints. The group have gained five UK number-one singles, two multi-platinum albums and two BRIT Awards, ...
Nancy Dell'Olio
Annunziata "Nancy" Dell'Olio (born 23 August 1961) is an Italian-American lawyer and media personality. She first came to public notice as the girlfriend of football manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
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Annunziata Dell'Olio was born in New ...
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Chris Eubank
Christopher Livingstone Eubank (also Christopher Livingstone Eubank Sr. born 8 August 1966) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1998. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight and super-middlewei ...
Danny Jones
Daniel Alan David Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1984–2005'' (born 12 March 1986) is a British singer, songwriter and musician who is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
From ...
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Katya Jones
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Lesley Joseph
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Gareth Malone
Gareth Edmund Malone (born 9 November 1975) is an English choirmaster and broadcaster, self-described as an " animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing". He is best known for his television appearances in programmes such as '' Th ...
Cliff Parisi
Cliff Parisi (born Clifford R Manley; 24 May 1960) is an English actor and businessman, known for his roles as Minty Peterson in the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Fred Buckle in the BBC period drama ''Call the Midwife''. In 2019, he ...
Clarke Peters
Peter Clarke (born April 7, 1952), known professionally as Clarke Peters, is an American actor, writer, and director, who has spent much of his adult life in the United Kingdom. He is best known for his roles as Lester Freamon in the television ...
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas (born 10 June 1984) is a British former actor. He is known for playing the role of Jason Grimshaw on ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2000 until 2016. In 2018, he played Rafael Humphreys in Australian soap opera ''N ...
Wynne Evans
James Wynne Evans (born 27 January 1972) is a Welsh opera singer, presenter and actor, known for his role as Gio Compario and latterly himself in Go.Compare insurance adverts on UK television. Evans hosted a regular radio programme on BBC ...
apl.de.ap
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Dave Benson Phillips
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Marcus Brigstocke
Marcus Alexander Brigstocke (born 8 May 1973) is a British comedian and actor. He has worked in stand-up comedy, television, radio and musical theatre. He has appeared on many BBC television and radio shows.
Early life
Brigstocke is the son of N ...
Terry Christian
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Dani Dyer
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Sam Fox
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Max George
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Jamelia
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Michael Praed
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Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Harry Leslie Aikines-Aryeetey (born 29 August 1988) is an English former Commonwealth sprinter and television personality, known for appearing as "Nitro" in the BBC sports endurance competition series '' Gladiators''. He has also taken part in ...
OJ Borg
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Career Radio
Since May 2018, Borg has presented BBC Radio 2's weekday overnight programme 12–3am. He also ...
Mutya Buena
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Chloe Burrows
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Charlotte Crosby
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Craig Doyle
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Tamer Hassan
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Jake Quickenden
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Rochenda Sandall
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Biography
Rochenda Sandall ...
Ian "H" Watkins
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In 2020 he competed in the twelfth series of the British television series ''Dancing on Ice''.
Career
St ...
.
Other versions and spin-offs
''MasterChef: The Professionals''
''MasterChef: The Professionals'', a version for professional chefs, was introduced in 2008.
''Junior MasterChef''
''Junior MasterChef'' originally ran from 1994 to 1999 for contestants under 16 years old. It was revived in 2010 with contestants between nine and twelve years old. A second series of the revived format ran in 2012 and a third series followed in 2014.
''Young MasterChef''
In February 2022,
BBC Three
BBC Three is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was first launched on 9 February 2003 with programmes for a 16 to 34-year-old target aud ...
commissioned ''Young MasterChef'', which premiered its first series in 2023. The judges for the first series were Poppy O'Toole and Kerth Gumbs. While O'Toole continued as a judge for the second season, Kerth Gumbs was replaced by Big Has. The second series aired in 2024.
Controversy
During the 13th episode of its 14th series when Wallace and Torode criticised a ''
rendang
Rendang is a fried meat or dry curry made of meat stewed in coconut milk and spices, widely popular across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, where each version is considered local cuisine. It refers to both a cooking m ...
'' dish made by the Malaysian-born contestant Zaleha Kadir Olpin for its poor quality. Zaleha had been given a task to make a chicken dish in thirty minutes and chose to attempt rendang, which takes several hours to prepare. The judges deemed the dish inedible because the chicken skin was rubbery and undercooked and advised her that with a thirty-minute task she should have made a crispy fried chicken with a sauce. Malaysian and Indonesian commentators pointed out that ''rendang'' is usually cooked as a stew and is not intended to be crispy., and that both judges had failed to differentiate between "crispy" and "under-cooked".
Najib Razak
Mohammad Najib bin Abdul Razak (, ; born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. In 2020, he was convicted of corruption in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, on ...
, the Malaysian Prime Minister at the time, joined the conversation with a subtle tweet denouncing the judges' opinion. The former Malaysian prime minister
Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad (; ; born 10 July 1925) is a Malaysian politician, author and doctor who was respectively the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, prime minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to 2020. He was the ...
also joined in, suggesting that the judges were confusing ''rendang'' with
KFC
KFC Corporation, doing business as KFC (an abbreviation of Kentucky Fried Chicken), is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken and chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world's se ...
.
In December 2024, following allegations against Gregg Wallace, the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
announced that they had pulled two Christmas specials that were due to air.
Winners
''MasterChef'' (original series)
Note: The original ''MasterChef'' series did not appear in 1998.
''MasterChef Goes Large'' and ''MasterChef'' (revived series)
''MasterChef Goes Large''
''MasterChef''
The show's original name returned in series 4 in 2008.
''Celebrity MasterChef''
''Young MasterChef''
Charity specials
Other notable contestants
Transmission guide
Original series
Specials
* ''Happy 10th Birthday MasterChef'': TX 18 June 2000
* ''Tales from the MasterChef Kitchen'': Series 1, 10 editions from 2 July 2000 – 3 September 2000
* ''Celebrity Special'': TX 27 August 2000
Revived series
''MasterChef Goes Large''
''MasterChef''
The show's original name returned in series 4 in 2008.
Specials
* ''What The Winners Did Next'' – featured winners from series 1 and 2 of ''MasterChef Goes Large'', broadcast on 22 January 2007
;Notes:
:1. The final was postponed from its 9 April 2021 air date due to the
death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and the longest-serving royal consort in history, died of old age at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.
...
.
''Celebrity MasterChef''
=Specials
=
''A Recipe for Success''
A six-part series looking back over 15 years of ''Celebrity MasterChef'', first episode broadcast on 6 August 2020.
''Christmas Cook-Off''
Christmas special episodes, where past contestants competed to hold the title of Christmas champion; first episode broadcast on 21 December 2020, second episode broadcast on 23 December 2020.
The winner from each episode is in bold text.
*21 December 2020:
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and television personality. He became widely known for his roles in television series such as ''Porridge'', '' Poldark'' and '' I, Claudius'' in the 1970s. He later became known for ...
,
Dev Griffin
Devin Joseph Jordan Griffin (born 23 December 1984) is a British radio presenter, DJ and actor, who is most commonly known for presenting Heart's evening show since January 2022 and Heart's Feel Good Weekend since January 2021. He is also know ...
and
Vicky Pattison
Victoria Pattison-Ramadan (born 16 November 1987) is a British television personality, media personality, radio presenter and author. She is best known for appearing in the MTV shows '' Geordie Shore'' from 2011 until 2014, '' Ex on the Beach ...
*23 December 2020:
Craig Revel Horwood
Craig Revel Horwood (born 4 January 1965) is an Australian-British author, dancer, choreographer, conductor, theatre director, and former drag queen in the United Kingdom. He is also a patron of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Horwood is a jud ...
,
Amar Latif
Amar Latif (born December 1974) is a Scottish entrepreneur, television personality and professional traveller. His blindness is due to the incurable eye condition retinitis pigmentosa. By his late teens he had 95 per cent sight loss.
Educati ...
Spencer Matthews
Spencer George Matthews (born 6 August 1988) is a British television personality and entrepreneur, known for his appearances on ''Made in Chelsea''. He has also appeared on other television shows such as '' Celebrity MasterChef'' and '' The Ju ...
*21 December 2021:
Joey Essex
Joey Donald Essex (born 29 July 1990) is an English television personality. He came to prominence for his appearances on the ITV reality series '' The Only Way Is Essex'' (2011–2013)''.'' He went on to appear on various reality television sh ...
,
Judi Love
Judi Love (born Judy Veronica Thomas; 4 June 1980) is an English stand-up comedian and presenter. She is a regular panellist on the ITV talk show ''Loose Women''. In 2020, Love appeared on the first all-black panel in the show's 25-year history, ...
,
Neil Ruddock
Neil "Razor" Ruddock (born 9 May 1968) is an English former professional footballer and television personality who is a club director at Enfield.
As a player he was a central defender from 1986 to 2003, and was voted the 17th "hardest footbal ...
,
Oti Mabuse
Otlile "Oti" Mabuse (born 8 August 1990) is a South African talent show judge, presenter, dancer and Latin dance champion currently based in the United Kingdom.
She is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television serie ...
and
Su Pollard
Susan Georgina "Su" Pollard (born 7 November 1949) is a British actress, singer, songwriter and author whose career has spanned over 50 years. Pollard is most known for her role in the sitcom '' Hi-de-Hi!'' She also appeared in the sitcoms '' Y ...
Joe Swash
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,
Les Dennis
Leslie Dennis Heseltine (born 12 October 1953) is an English television presenter, actor and comedian. He presented '' Family Fortunes'' from 1987 to 2002.
Early life
Dennis was born as Leslie Dennis Heseltine on 12 October 1953 in the Liv ...
,
Mica Paris
Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris ( ), is an English singer, presenter, and actress. Her debut album, '' So Good'', was released in 1988, spawning the singles " My One Temptation" and " Where I ...
Josh Cuthbert
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Lesley Garrett
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Early life
Garrett was born in the town of Thorne, near Doncas ...
and
Iwan Thomas
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Chizzy Akudolu
Andrea Chizoba "Chizzy" Akudolu (born 7 October 1973) is a British actress.
Career
In 2002, Akudolu was one of eight new comedy performers who won the BBC Talent Initiative, The Urban Sketch Showcase. All eight performed a comedy sketch show ...
Megan McKenna
Megan Elizabeth McKenna (born 26 September 1992) is an English television personality and singer. After making appearances on ''Ex on the Beach'' (2015–2016), she received wider attention for appearing on ''Celebrity Big Brother (British TV s ...
*20 December 2023:
Duncan James
Duncan Matthew James Inglis (born 7 April 1978) is an English singer, actor and television presenter. He became widely known in 2001 as a member of the boy band Blue and later for playing Ryan Knight in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks''.
E ...
Richard Blackwood
Richard Clifford Blackwood (born 15 May 1972) is a British actor, presenter, and rapper. Between 2015 and 2018, he played Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. In 2020, he began portraying the role of Felix Westwood in the Chan ...
Jay Rayner
Jason Matthew Rayner (born 14 September 1966) is a British journalist and food critic. He has worked as a freelance journalist for newspapers including ''The Observer'' and ''The Independent on Sunday.'' He was the ''Observer'' restaurant criti ...
,
Jimi Famurewa
Jimi Famurewa is a British journalist and food critic.
Early life
Famurewa was born in London, England to Nigerian immigrant parents on 21st October 1983. He grew up in London.
Career
As a freelance journalist, Famurewa has written on diverse ...
William Sitwell
William Ronald Sacheverell Sitwell (born 2 October 1969) is a member of the British Sitwell family. He is an editor, writer and broadcaster, restaurant critic for ''The Daily Telegraph'' and former editor of '' Waitrose Food''.
Early life ...