MasterChef is returning to the BBC, with new judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent overseeing 48 of the UK’s best amateur cooks
Beloved cooking contest MasterChef is preparing to make its return for a fresh series on BBC One, featuring brand-new judges and contestants.
Season 22 kicks off tonight (Tuesday, April 21), with celebrated chef Anna Haugh and restaurant critic Grace Dent now taking charge, following the exits of Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Throughout the series, Anna and Grace will be joined by a host of guest judges from across the culinary world, including distinguished critics and former MasterChef finalists.
“Both are primed and ready to test 48 of the country’s best amateur cooks with some of the most arduous and spectacular culinary challenges yet,” teases the official synopsis.
“Seven weeks of battle stand between those amateurs and their dream of taking the title, but only one will hit the gold standard and become MasterChef champion 2026. Only one thing is guaranteed: getting there will be no walk in the park,” reports Chronicle Live.
The opening heat airs tonight at 9pm, with six gifted cooks from all backgrounds gearing up for culinary combat. Among them is 33-year-old digital portfolio manager Rosdip, who resides in North Shields with his partner Gregor and five-year-old sausage dog, Duncan.
Rosdip grew up in a small town in Nepal before relocating to the UK at the age of 17. On his motivation for entering MasterChef this year, Rosdip explained: “I’d say over ten years of watching MasterChef has led me to this. Recently, my evening dog walks are usually spent brainstorming dinner ideas for the week with my partner who is massively supportive of my cooking.”
He added: “So, I think I’m ready to step out of my comfort zone and into the iconic MasterChef kitchen and face the judges.”
Rosdip will be accompanied in the kitchen by construction project company director Brendan, 57, tech programme manager Jhané, 29, and environmental consultant Sabina, 49.
The remaining two hopefuls in heat one are 39-year-old accounts assistant Samantha, who describes herself as a “superfan” of the programme, and 41-year-old IT manager Matt, who hails from West Yorkshire.
The Bradford resident only discovered his passion for food while travelling in his twenties. He now dedicates his time to cooking for his wife, Jacquie, and Olly, his nine-year-old Border Collie.
“Cooking has become the way I relax, experiment and bring people together and I’ve gone from being a picky eater, to eating everything!” Matt said.
The contestants’ first objective will be to obtain one of four pristine white MasterChef aprons: their ticket to the thrilling journey ahead. The first two will be given to those who wow Anna and Grace with their Signature Dish.
The remaining four will receive one final opportunity to demonstrate their abilities as they compete for the last two aprons, tackling the Classic Recipe Test. The victorious cooks will then face another obstacle to secure their quarter-final spot, as they attempt to wow last year’s finalists with two courses.
MasterChef season 22 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
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