Celebrity MasterChef 2024: Everything you need to know about season 19

Everything you need to know about the cooking competition full of famous faces - including who'll be competing this year.

Updated on • Written By Holly Butterfield

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Celebrity MasterChef 2024: Everything you need to know about season 19

It's that time of year again. Celebrity MasterChef is back for its 19th series, with episodes running throughout the summer. So get ready for some cooking calamities, stressed faces and maybe even the odd surprise from some household names. While it may be slightly lighter-hearted than both regular MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals, the format of Celebrity MasterChef is largely the same and equally as addictive. So, before you know it, you’ll have your favourites that you’re cheering on to win.

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Spread over six weeks, the series will see 20 celebrity contestants take part in a variety of different challenges as they all vie for the prestigious crown. However, if past series are anything to go by, there will be a mixture of different cooking abilities on show. This means that we can expect everything from the sublime to the ridiculous, particularly in the earlier stages of the series.

Past winners include Greg Rutherford, Kimberley Wyatt and last year's winner Wynne Evans, who beat Amy Walsh and Luca Bish in the final. Although you might assume that the celebrities are just taking part for fun, the show has been the start of something bigger for many of the past winners. Series five winner Lisa Faulkner has now written multiple cookbooks and has also gone on to host a variety of different cookery shows including one with her now-husband and MasterChef judge, John Torode - there’s a fairytale ending if ever we’ve heard one.

Below, we have rounded up all the information you need to know about Celebrity MasterChef 2024, including where and when you can watch it, who the contestants are, and what challenges they will be taking part in. We will be regularly updating this page so keep checking back for the latest information about the series.

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When does the new season start?

The new season is set to start on Tuesday 13 August at 8pm on BBC One. With two more episodes later that week.

The show will continue to air every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the next six weeks.

Where can I watch Celebrity MasterChef 2024?

All episodes will air on BBC One and are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Who are the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 contestants?

Celebrity MasterChef 2024 will see 20 contestants competing over the course of four weeks, each fighting for a place in the semi-finals.

Each week sees five celebrities go head to head in a series of challenges, including the same invention tests and signature dish challenges that are seen in the classic format of the show, with other unique tests such as requiring the celebrities to work together in a pairs challenges.

Week One

the contestants from week one of celebrity masterchef: Charlotte Crosby, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Edith Bowman, Craig Doyle, Snoochie Shy
Left to right: Charlotte Crosby, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Edith Bowman, Craig Doyle, Snoochie Shy

- Charlotte Crosby, Reality TV Star (eliminated)
- Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Singer
- Edith Bowman, TV and Radio Presenter (eliminated)
- Craig Doyle, TV and Radio Presenter
- Snoochie Shy, TV and Radio Presenter (eliminated)

Week Two

the contestants from week two of celebrity masterchef: Danielle Harold, Eshaan Akbar, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Chloe Burrows
Left to right: Danielle Harold, Eshaan Akbar, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Chloe Burrows

- Danielle Harold, Actor (eliminated)
- Eshaan Akbar, Comedian and Actor (eliminated)
- Rochenda Sandall, Actor
- Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Former Sprinter
- Chloe Burrows, Reality TV Star (eliminated)

Week Three

the contestants from week three of celebrity masterchef: Danielle Harold, Eshaan Akbar, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Chloe Burrows
Left to right: Jake Quickenden, Emma Thynn, Jamie MacDonald, Christine McGuinnes, Tamer Hassan

- Jake Quickenden, TV Personality
- Emma Thynn, Model (eliminated)
- Jamie MacDonald, Comedian (eliminated)
- Christine McGuinness, TV Personality (eliminated)
- Tamer Hassan, Actor

Week Four

the contestants from week four of celebrity masterchef: Dominic Skinner, Mutya Buena, OJ Borg, Diane Carson, Vito Coppola
Left to right: Dominic Skinner, Mutya Buena, OJ Borg, Diane Carson, Vito Coppola

- Dominic Skinner, Makeup Artist
- Mutya Buena, Pop Star (eliminated)
- OJ Borg, Radio Presenter (eliminated)
- Diane Carson, TV Personality (eliminated)
- Vito Coppola, Professional Dancer

Who is through to the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 semi final?

There are eight celebrities through to the semi final. The Celebrity MasterChef 2024 semi finalists are: Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Craig Doyle, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Jake Quickenden, Tamer Hassan, Dominic Skinner and Vito Coppola. These eight will compete in a number of challenges over this week's episodes, fighting for a place in the final five and a chance to win Celebrity MasterChef 2024.


Left to right: Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Craig Doyle, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey


Left to right: Jake Quickenden, Tamer Hassan, Dominic Skinner, Vito Coppola

What happened in the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 semi final?

Episode One (Tuesday)

The first episode of the semi-finals saw all eight celebrities head to Butser Ancient Farm in South Downs National Park, Hampshire. Here, they were split into two teams in order to prepare a hearty lunch for 70 volunteers who were recreating life in an Anglo Saxon village. 

Split into two teams, the Blue Team (Rochenda, H, Jake, and Dom) faced off against the Red Team (Craig, Vito, Tamer, and Harry), each tackling a course using historical ingredients. Dishes included axe-cut pork with a nettle risotto and cider sauce, and venison pie with celeriac and parsnip mash, roasted root vegetables and a venison gravy.

Back in the MasterChef kitchen, they faced a tough challenge of creating a dish using an ingredient that they hate. This challenge saw dishes based around spinach, aubergine, truffle and liver, but it was Jake who failed to impress the judges with his gnocchi. His prawn-topped dish, cooked in an olive, tomato and aubergine sauce hit the mark with its flavours, but the judges found the gnocchi was dense and chewy, costing him his spot in the competition.

Episode Two (Thursday)

Last night’s episode saw the pressure heating up as the celebrities were tasked with recreating one of Ainsley Harriet’s iconic recipes. Each would be attempting a different recipe with a number of unfamiliar ingredients and techniques and fighting for an automatic place in the next round. 

Craig stunned the judges with his bao buns filled with fried tofu, hoisin sauce and a spring onion, cucumber, coriander, chilli and sesame slaw, in a sriracha mayonnaise. Craig earned high praise from Gregg, who called it ‘an envelope of absolute brilliance,’ and earned his place in the next round.

The remaining six had to fire up wood ovens for the ultimate pizza challenge where they were tasked with designing unique and creative pizzas, whilst also having to light and maintain the temperature of a wood-fire oven in order to cook their pizzas. 

Dom's fig, goat cheese, and bacon pizza with a caramelised onion bechamel sauce and a maple syrup and chilli drizzle missed the mark with its doughy texture and undercooked base, and it was his turn to leave the competition.

Episode Three (Friday)

The final episode of semi final week saw the remaining six celebrities cooking for renowned food critic Grace Dent, who was looking to be indulged with a selection of decadent dishes from the remaining competitors. Something that excites the senses and delicately balances an extravagant taste sensation.

Rochenda’s savoury dish of Korean fried chicken with perilla leaves left the judges impressed, whilst Harry and Vito’s decadent chocolate desserts saw them going straight through to the final. Unfortunately, it was the end of Tamer’s time in the competition. His salt-crusted sea bass with chimichurri and roasted vegetables was beautifully cooked, but lacked seasoning and felt like a bit of a mismatch.

Who is through to the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 final?

Vito Coppola, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Craig Doyle, Rochenda Sandall, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey are through to the final five and will be battling out this week to win the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 title.

Celebrity MasterChef Finalists: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Rochenda Sandall, Vito Coppola, Craig Doyle
Left to right: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Rochenda Sandall, Vito Coppola, Craig Doyle

What happened in the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 final?

Episode One (Tuesday)

Finals week kicked off with a challenge for the celebrities to create a dish inspired by a well-known chef, and took inspiration from James Martin, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Yotam Ottolenghi and Heston Blumenthal. Whilst all five impressed with their dishes, Vito’s take on a parmigiana was a stand out for the judges who agreed that he had ‘added to it [the dish] without taking away its soul.’

Unfortunately, it was H’s time to leave the competition. His layered chocolate cake with buttercream icing and popping candy, served with a Turkish delight ice cream, was lovely and moist but far too large and rich, lacking any subtlety. Gregg said he would ‘have liked something else to break up the chocolate.’

The remaining four moved straight on to their next challenge, where they would be in charge of luxury four-course lunch service onboard the British Pullman train - a 1920s experience, renowned for its first-class dining. The four worked alongside head chef John Freeman, who had designed today’s menu, with each celebrity in charge of one of the courses. They would have two and a half hours to complete their prep, before boarding the moving train and continuing to cook.

Vito was responsible for the starter, serving up a heritage tomato tarte tatin with a tomato compote and basil mayonnaise. Harry was in charge of the fish course, serving up pan-fried halibut on top of a saffron risotto with dill oil. Rochenda took charge of the main course, lamb with fondant potatoes, a steamed cabbage parcel and a red wine sauce. Craig finished up the lunch offering with dessert. He cooked a chocolate sponge topped with ganache, pink peppercorn meringue shards, quenelled cream and raspberry coulis.

The four will all return in the next episode to fight for a spot in the final three and a chance to cook at Chef's Table. 

Who went home on Celebrity MasterChef 2024?

So far in finals week, Ian ‘H’ Watkins has been sent home by the judges.

Who won Celebrity MasterChef 2023?

The winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2023 was opera singer and broadcaster Wynne Evans. After 20 amateur cooks battled it out over six weeks, the grand final saw three contestants go head to head to be crowned the winner, including Amy Walsh, Luca Bish and Wynne Evans. 

The opera singer impressed judges John Torrode and Gregg Wallace with a meal of tuna tartare, Welsh lamb and bara brith. 

Wynne is the 18th person to become a Celebrity MasterChef winner. 

Who was in the final of Celebrity MasterChef 2023?

The contestants taking part in the final of Celebrity MasterChef 2023 were Amy Walsh, Wynne Evans, Jamelia, Max George and Luca Bish.

What happens in the Celebrity MasterChef final?

After weeks of intense heats, the next stage of the competition is the semi-final, where contestants battle it out for a place in the final and the chance to take the Celebrity MasterChef crown. The final week of the competition sees the remaining celebrities have to impress well-known celebrity chefs with their cooking. In the final itself, the three finalists have to cook a perfect three-course meal for John and Gregg.

Who are the judges on Celebrity MasterChef?

Presenters and judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace will return once again to dish out their critiques for Celebrity MasterChef 2024. The pair will also be joined occasionally by guest judges, the names of whom will be revealed as the programme airs.

What are the Celebrity MasterChef 2024 challenges? 

While the challenges change a bit every series of Celebrity MasterChef, you can expect favourites such as the market challenge where contestants have to devise a dish on the spot using only the provided produce, and the pairs challenge where contestants attempt to cook identical dishes with a wall in between them. As well as these, there will be mass-catering tasks, challenges involving cooking for former Celebrity MasterChef winners, and the celebrities will even have to try their hand at cooking in a professional kitchen.

Where is Celebrity MasterChef filmed?

Celebrity MasterChef has been filmed at 3 Mills Studios in East London since 2014. The film and television studio has also been used as a recording space for several other popular television programmes, such as Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live, Million Pound Drop Live and Stand Up To Cancer.

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