A group of celebrity chefs will have their culinary skills tested in a two-part Christmas special of MasterChef, set to debut on BBC One later this year. Hosted by restaurant critic Grace Dent and Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli, the episodes will see a line-up of chefs and food critics going head to head in two showdowns – complete with culinary challenges and festive cheer aplenty.
MasterChef To Return For Two-Part Christmas Special
Who Will Star?
Fighting for the golden whisk in episode one are Irish TV chef and cookery school teacher Rachel Allen, Italian chef Aldo Zilli, and British-Iranian TV presenter, chef and author Sabrina Ghayour. Also in the running is Scottish chef Tony Singh and British food creator Seema Pankhania, who trained as a chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat before rising to fame online as a presenter for MOB Kitchen.
In the following episode, a panel of food critics will take on the challenge: Jay Rayner, Jimi Famurewa, Leyla Kazim, Tom Parker Bowles (son of Queen Camilla) and William Sitwell. Many of the critics, including Rayner and Famurewa, are no stranger to the show, having been on before as guest judges – and Rayner competed in a previous Christmas special in 2023.
Jimi-Famurewa
What Will Happen?
Like the regular version of MasterChef, the Christmas special will see contestants battling it out across a series of challenges. First up, they’ll be tasked with creating dishes from Christmas leftovers, before producing both a main course and a pudding that showcases their individual cooking styles.
Although MasterChef has run many Christmas specials and celebrity editions before, this is the first time chefs themselves will be in the hot seat. ‘For the first time ever, they will face off in the ultimate test of culinary skill, taking on classic MasterChef challenges,’ teases the show synopsis.
‘Their innovative abilities will be put to the test as they are tasked with creating dishes from Christmas leftovers, before tackling a challenge that requires them to create both a main course and a pudding that showcases their individual cooking styles.’
Who Won Last Year?
In last year’s Celebrity MasterChef Christmas cook-off – which was judged by Dent alongside John Torode, who was since sacked from the show following allegations of misconduct – comedian and voice of Love Island Iain Stirling took home the trophy. He beat out competition including podcast host GK Barry, Ted Lasso star Kola Bokinnni and TV presenter Nikki Fox. ‘Oh wow, I’m made up! I think I’m a chef now,’ he said following his win. ‘I think I’m quitting comedy and I’m going to be full-time, Michelin-starred chef.’ Dent added, ‘There’s a swagger when he gets behind those stoves and I’d be pleased to have an invite to his house for dinner any night.’
Aside from the Christmas special, MasterChef runs an annual celebrity version of the show which was won this year by Paralympic athlete Lauren Steadman. She beat Emily Campbell, a British weightlifter, and Love Island star Shakira Khan in the final, impressing the judges with a meal of pan-fried scallops in chilli butter, beef wellington with truffle mash, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Previous winners of Celebrity MasterChef have included:
Drag performer Ginger Johnson, 2025
Dancer Vito Coppola, 2024
Operatic tenor Wynne Evans, 2023
Radio presenter Lisa Snowdon, 2022
Paralympic athlete Kadeena Cox MBE, 2021
Presenter Riyadh Khalaf, 2020
Release Date
We haven’t yet got a release date for the 2026 MasterChef Christmas special, but last year it aired on 22 December.
How To Watch MasterChef
You can tune into previous series of MasterChef – including Christmas specials – on BBC iPlayer.
MasterChef: The Professionals is also currently airing, with the grand finale in the pipeline for 18 December 2026 at 8pm, judged by chefs Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.
