For all of you cooking programme fanatics out there (we're including ourselves in that number), the biggest few months of the culinary TV show calendar are here, with a brand new series of MasterChef in full swing.
We don't know about you, but we feel like we're caught in a constant cycle of MasterChef competitions, and we're not complaining at all. Just as we're starting to miss MasterChef: The Professionals being on our TVs and it's getting to the point where we can't even remember who won Celebrity MasterChef last summer, it's nearly time for the new series of regular MasterChef. The main difference, of course, between this series of MasterChef compared to MasterChef: The Professionals, is that all of the contestants are amateurs, meaning that there are likely to be a few more nightmares in the MasterChef kitchen.
In fact, there aren’t many things we enjoy more than watching stressed amateur chefs running around a warm kitchen, dropping things all over the place while discussing what we would have done differently if we were given the same invention test.
MasterChef has had its fair share of success stories in the past, proving that just because these chefs are amateurs doesn’t mean they can’t go on to achieve some pretty exciting things. Since winning the first series of Masterchef in 2005, Thomasina Miers has become something of a star, going on to write numerous books as well as setting up popular Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca. 2011 Champion Tim Anderson went on to work in the kitchens of both The Fat Duck and Le Gavroche, before setting up his Japanese soul food restaurant Nanban, which has recently launched its second outlet in the highly fashionable Seven Dials Market.
Below we break down all the details you need to know on MasterChef 2023.
When is MasterChef on?
New episodes of MasterChef are aired on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays each week. There are 24 episodes in this series in total, spanning the eight weeks it runs for. You can find it on BBC One and iPlayer.
When is the MasterChef final?
While it hasn’t been officially announced, we think that the MasterChef final will be on Thursday 1 June 2023. This would mean the current schedule would have to run true to form, and occasionally things are moved around large events and breaking news, but if all goes to plan that’s where we’d put our money.
When did MasterChef start?
8pm, Monday 10 April 2023 (BBC One).
Which MasterChef contestants have made it through to knockout week?
Terri, 30
Terri, from Warrick in Northern Ireland, works as an accountant when she’s not busy cooking up a storm in her home kitchen. Finding a passion for cooking at the age of five, Terri takes after her late father who was a chef, and now spends her time cooking for family and friends.
Vanessa, 36
Working as an anti piracy manager, Vanessa grew up in London eating a wide variety of cuisines. Born to Goan parents, she has also travelled to 50 countries and takes recipes from the various places she’s been to create her own style of fusion.
Nickolas, 31
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Nickolas has grown up with Venezuelan cooking at the heart of the home. Starting cooking at just 8 years old whilst his mum worked multiple jobs, Nickolas is now a delivery driver living in Darlington, cooking for his fiance and five year old daughter.
Adam, 34
Adam is a bricklayer from Bristol, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
Anurag, 40
Originally born in India, Anurag is now a chartered accountant in Essex. His cooking influences comes from his background in India.
Omar, 31
Omar is a toy developer in a marketing agency who lives in Barnsley in Yorkshire and likes to experiment with pan Asian cuisines.
Linda, 59
Linda is a medical secretary who lives in North Wales with her husband and daughter.
Miles, 35
Miles is a born and bred Londoner who works as a Graphic Designer.
Chariya, 40
Born and raised in Changmai, Thailand, Chariya is now a master coffee roaster living in Farnborough with her fiance.
Josh, 25
Josh is a newly married recruitment consultant living in Stratford Upon Avon.
Robin, 28
Robin is a Child Rights Officer who grew up in Rome, Italy, before coming back to the UK for university. He now lives in Cardiff with his girlfriend.
Endang, 51
Born in East Bornio, Endang moved to Scotland in 2000, where she now lives with her husband as a gift shop owner.
Jack, 30
Jack is a sports journalist who lives in North London with his girlfriend.
John, 34
A painter and decorator, John was born and bred in Bristol, where he lives with his partner and their four daughters
What's changed this series?
As you may have heard, there has been a major change to the format of the show for series 19.
Previously, Gregg and John would watch the contestants preparing the food, then eat it at room temperature.
For this series, however, the contestants will prepare the dish off-camera. Then, Gregg and John will try the food hot. John has said, 'It's as if we're eating at a restaurant.'
Who are the MasterChef judges?
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Our favourite duo of Gregg Wallace and John Torode are back for another series and to provide their esteemed opinions of the amateur chefs' dishes. They’ve been with us ever since the reboot of the show began in 2005 so it wouldn’t really be MasterChef without them.
How many episodes of MasterChef will there be?
We think there will be 24 episodes over an eight week period.
What are the MasterChef 2023 challenges?
![Masterchef judges at a table]()
The series kicks off with Gregg and John challenging each round of 9 contestants to family favourites dishes, where they must supply their own ingredients and create a meal that’s sentimental to them. From this, three are given an apron, and the other six must cook again using random ingredients in an attempt to secure the final four places. The final stage of the heats then saw the remaining contestants cook a two-course meal for two former MasterChef contestants, before the two or three best chefs progressed to the quarter-finals.
The quarter-finals then saw the winner from each of that week's heats cook against each other, following a brief given by a famous food critic, with only the best chefs progressing to the semi-finals. Week one last year saw Grace Dent asking for a twist on a classic dessert, in week two William Sitwell wanted a dish that reminded the contestants of a fantastic holiday, while in week three Jay Rayner asked for a dish with roasted stone fruit at its heart and then in week four Grace Dent returned looking for dishes inspired by global street food.
What were last year's Masterchef restaurants?
As with previous years, the contestants visited several of the best restaurants in the UK during the ‘real kitchen’ challenges and the finalists visited various international culinary hot spots. We're looking forward to finding out where they'll visit in 2023.
Who won MasterChef 2022?
![Masterchef 2022 Winner Edie Scott]()
Last year’s MasterChef winner was 31-year-old Edie Scott from Yorkshire. Edie, draws on both his Indian heritage and memories from holidaying as a child in France when in the kitchen. After winning the show, Eddie left his piloting career behind and went on to gain experience in one of Gordon Ramsay's kitchens for three months - after seeing out the finals of the show in the Hell's Kitchen chef's restaurant.
Fancy your own chances on Masterchef? Applications may have closed for the upcoming series but they will soon open for next year's series. Here's everything you need to know about applying.