Another year, another series of Celebrity MasterChef has come to an end, packed full of 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 addictive.
Spread over five weeks, the series saw 15 celebrity contestants taking part in a variety of challenges as they fought for the prestigious title, showcasing a mixture of cooking abilities. But that's the best part of the show, in our opinion, with 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 Ginger Johnson, who beat Alun Wyn Jones and Dawn O’Porter 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 cookery shows.
SKIP TO THE BEST SECTION FOR YOU
Below, we've rounded up all the information you need to know about Celebrity MasterChef 2026, including who was judging, what the challenges were, and who took home the title of champion.
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When did Celebrity MasterChef 2026 start?
Celebrity MasterChef 2026 started airing on Tuesday 18 August, with the first episode on BBC One at 9pm.
Where can I watch Celebrity MasterChef 2026?
All episodes of Celebrity MasterChef were aired on BBC One and are now available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.
Who were the judges on Celebrity MasterChef 2026?
The Celebrity MasterChef judging line-up changed for 2026. Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli was announced as the new judge on Celebrity MasterChef, joining Grace Dent for the latest series. Known for his Michelin-starred restaurant Locanda Locatelli, which closed back in 2025, and his latest venture, Locatelli at the National Gallery, the chef also appears as a judge on the Italian version of the cooking show.
Restaurant critic and author Grace Dent replaced former judge Gregg Wallace back in 2025, after he was fired from the role following allegations of misconduct. Grace was joined by John Torode for season 20, though it was announced that he would not be returning for future series, after being sacked for using 'extremely' racist language.
![Celebrity MasterChef Judges: Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli]()
Who were the Celebrity MasterChef 2026 contestants?
2026 saw 15 new contestants donning their aprons and putting their skills to the test. Read more about the Celebrity MasterChef 2026 contestants below:
Week One
![Celebrity MasterChef Contestants Week One: Emily, Jason, Shakira, Joe, Jay]()
Week one contestants (left to right): Emily, Jason, Shakira, Joe, Jay
Emily Campbell: Emily is a weightlifter who won Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 and bronze at Paris 2024. She is the first British woman to win an Olympic medal for weightlifting.
Jason Mohammad: Jason is a Welsh TV and radio presenter, best known for hosting Final Score and his appearances on Match of the Day.
Shakira Khan: Shakira is a television personality, best known for appearing as a runner-up on series 12 of Love Island.
Joe Pasquale: Joe is a comedian and actor who rose to fame when he finished runner-up on the talent show New Faces. He is known for his varied TV appearances and for winning the fourth series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Jay McGuiness: Jay is a singer and actor, best known as a member of the boy band The Wanted. He also won Strictly Come Dancing back in 2015.
Week Two
![Celebrity MasterChef Contestants Week Two: Tom, Nitin, Emily, Donna, Eric]()
Week two contestants (left to right): Tom, Nitin, Emily, Donna, Eric
Tom Simons: Tom is a YouTuber and stand-up comedian, best known online as TommyInnit. He is one of the most-followed Minecraft creators in the world.
Nitin Ganatra: Nitin is an actor, best known for his roles in EastEnders and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Emily Steel: Emily is an elite CrossFit athlete and weightlifter. She is also the youngest star in the BBC's Gladiators reboot, where she appears as 'Dynamite'.
Donna Preston: Donna is an actress and comedian, best known for her role in The Sandman. She also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2025.
Eric Underwood: Eric is a presenter and former Royal Ballet dancer who spent over a decade with the company before moving into modelling, acting and broadcasting.
Week Three
![Celebrity MasterChef Contestants Week Three: Max, Melvin, Una, Lauren, Sue]()
Week three contestants (left to right): Max, Melvin, Una, Lauren, Sue
Max Fosh: Max is a YouTuber and comedian, best known for viral pranks and video content.
Melvin Odoom: Melvin is a DJ and presenter, best known for co-hosting Kiss FM's breakfast show and for taking part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2024.
Una Healy: Una is a singer, best known for appearing in the girl group The Saturdays.
Lauren Steadman MBE: Lauren is a Paralympic paratriathlete and swimmer, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She is also known for competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
Sue Cleaver: Sue is an actor, best known for her role in Coronation Street and for being a panellist on Loose Women since 2024.
Who was in the Celebrity MasterChef 2026 final three?
Throughout the competition, the celebs faced several challenges, but only three could fight for the title of Celebrity MasterChef 2026 champion:
![Celebrity MasterChef Finalists 2026]()
Celebrity MasterChef Finalists: Emily, Lauren and Shakira
Who won Celebrity MasterChef 2026?
The winner of Celebrity MasterChef 2026 was Lauren Steadman. After 15 amateur cooks battled it out over five weeks, the grand final saw three contestants go head-to-head to be crowned the winner, with Lauren up against Shakira Khan and Emily Campbell.
![Celebrity MasterChef Winner: Lauren]()
Lauren Steadman was the 21st person to become a Celebrity MasterChef winner.
Lauren’s Winning Menu:
Starter: Scallops panfried in chilli butter, served with coconut and spinach lentil dhal puree, crowned with fresh apple batons.
Main: Beef Wellington, served with truffle mash, caramelised shallot, butternut squash puree, tenderstem broccoli and a red wine jus.
Dessert: Sticky toffee pudding with dates, served with caramel sauce and a clotted cream ice cream.
What are the Celebrity MasterChef challenges?
The challenges change a bit every series of Celebrity MasterChef, but there are always favourites such as the market challenge, where contestants have to devise a dish on the spot using only the provided produce, team challenges, where contestants must work together to produce a multi-course menu, and the iconic Chef's Table challenge where the celebrities have to cook for some of the biggest names in the business. There are also mass-catering tasks, challenges involving cooking for former Celebrity MasterChef winners, and the opportunity to cook 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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