Published: 11:00 am, 30 July 2026
Celebrity MasterChef returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its 21st series.
The red carpet rolls into the MasterChef kitchen for a glittering line-up of celebrities from the worlds of music, drama, comedy, sport and showbiz. This 21st series warmly welcomes singers and sports stars, actors and authors, to comedians, entertainers and presenters, all with the aim of cooking their way to becoming Celebrity MasterChef 2026 Champion.
Five weeks of extraordinary challenges await in a competition that will push the celebrities beyond the comfort of their showbiz jobs. Acting the part won’t cut the mustard and singing for your supper will not equal success. The only thing guaranteed is that just one of them will be left standing at the end, where their sparkling career will lead them to the shiny prize – the iconic Celebrity MasterChef trophy.
Meet the week three celebrities
Lauren Steadman MBE
Paralympic athlete: paratriathlon
What made you want to take part in Celebrity MasterChef?
I can compete in sports to a very high level and handle the pressure, I love to challenge myself and constantly learn new things. Being on Celebrity MasterChef would push my boundaries and hopefully give me the confidence that I can cook! It’s very different cooking for loved ones to stepping up and having the food critically analysed. It is also a show I have watched many times and enjoyed seeing how people craft their interpretation of food and flavours – it’s very individual and I like that. Also, quite risky as it could go very wrong!
How would you describe your cooking style?
If something goes wrong, I’ll improvise and turn it into something else! I once added way too many stock cubes into a soup so made it into a pasta sauce.
I’m an intuitive cook, good at just opening the fridge and saying, ‘what are we going to cook?’. I’m also a taster and free-baller, I hardly measure things!
When did you begin cooking? Any early cooking memories?
I began cooking at boarding school. Each child was encouraged to create one meal a week for the class; I specialised in fajitas and pasta bakes.
A really happy food memory is going to my grandparents on the weekends; we would enjoy fry-ups and Sunday dinners. They taught me British recipes from scratch; my grandad cooked in the Army and Grandma loved cooking sweet dishes.
What are your favourite things to cook?
I love making curry! I also have a particular passion for Kurdish food; I have an excellent Kurdish restaurant around the corner.
I’ve also had a half Venezuelan/ half Italian Columbian housemate for years (she’s more like a sister), she’s been a key food influence. We make pasta together and she’s inspired me to branch into various cuisines: Greek, Iraqi, Colombian, Venezuelan etc.
Anything you avoid?
I hate parsnips, cooked carrots and calamari. I struggle to eat Octopus as well; they’re too clever!
What are your go-to dishes/foods?
All my evening meals are cooked from scratch. I lean towards Spanish chicken, casseroles, salmon ramen, Tofu Pad Thai, Spaghetti Bolognaise and Posh Fish and Chips.
What are you cooking to impress your friends?
I would start with something interactive like cheese fondue with meats, breads and olives. The main course would be leg of lamb with roast potatoes and carrots followed by lemon meringue tart!
If we opened your fridge, what would we find?
Loads of vegetables, truffle butter and Greek Yogurt.
What’s your guilty pleasure food?
Ice cream!
Max Fosh
YouTuber and Comedian
What made you want to take part in Celebrity MasterChef?
I’ve done outrageous food videos for my career, like cooking a steak using lightning bolts, but it’s time I learnt a new skill. Plus, my parents love MasterChef and will be proud of me!
How would you describe your cooking style?
I’m not typically a foodie; I’m on more of an ‘eat to live’ basis. However now I’m on a fitness journey I’m more conscious of what I’m eating.
When did you begin cooking? Any early cooking memories?
I didn’t grow up interested in food, I was brought up on a lot of beige food, but I think I’m now a competent home cook.
My mum has hosted an ‘open house’ every Sunday night for the past nine years. She cooks Spaghetti Bolognese in her flat and anyone who is available in the family will go; there’s usually eight of them.
What are your favourite things to cook?
I love Italian food, salmon, chicken and Laksa. I also enjoy cooking souffles!
Anything you avoid?
I hate eggs, personally, but I’ll cook with them when I have to.
What are your go-to dishes/foods?
I love mayonnaise! There aren’t many things I won’t eat it with. Someone once commented ‘you’re the human embodiment of mayonnaise’ on one of my YouTube videos, presumably to take the mick, but I take it as a huge compliment.
If we opened your fridge, what would we find?
Mayonnaise, obviously!
What’s your guilty pleasure food?
There’s an Italian restaurant near me that is run by Nonna’s which I love.
Melvin Odoom
DJ and Presenter
What made you want to take part in Celebrity MasterChef?
I’ve lived alone for years so I only cook for myself… I want to show off my cooking skills and see if I’m any good. I’d love to improve my skills, and it looks like a fun show. I can cook for one, but its hard for two or more, this is a real test. My cooking will be like my DJ’ing – I don’t DJ for myself, I DJ for the crowd.
How would you describe your cooking style?
I’m by no means a gourmet cook, but a good cook with the basics! I’m influenced by my Ghanaian/West African background, we use a lot of flavour.
My presentation isn’t always the best as when I’m hungry, I tend to just whack food on a plate.
When did you begin cooking? Any early cooking memories?
In our house growing up, everything was homemade. My mum is the best chef in the world; she makes an amazing spicy soup with fufu for when you’re sick.
My earliest cooking memory was being called Mr Slowcoach by my dad as I was a slow eater and always the last to leave the table.
Jollof rice was my favourite dish growing up, I still eat it when I go home. For years I’ve asked my mum to teach me, but she always said no as she thought I wouldn’t visit. Now I’m on MasterChef, she’s finally agreed to teach me!
What are your favourite things to cook?
I love West Indian, Italian and Japanese food.
Anything you avoid?
I can’t do sushi, or any raw/rare foods. Blame Edwina Currie, she gave me a fear of Salmonella in the 80’s! As a result of this fear, I do tend to overcook food a little.
What are your go-to dishes/foods?
Garlic. The combination of garlic and butter makes everything taste amazing.
What are you cooking to impress your friends?
I’d make a starter of Sourdough bread, then a Chicken coconut curry with rice and an apple crumble for pudding.
What’s your guilty pleasure food?
I put salad cream on everything – pizza, rice, anything but salad!
Sue Cleaver
Actor and star of Loose Women
What made you want to take part in Celebrity MasterChef?
I really love the show and want to learn! Other people say I’m good, so we’ll see!
How would you describe your cooking style?
I will always try and make my food look presentable! I mainly cook for my husband at home, most nights are easy, but I always do a big roast on a Sunday.
When did you begin cooking? Any early cooking memories?
The main cook in our family was my mum; I remember her cooking peppers in a wine sauce.
You know what always reminds me of my childhood, steak and kidney pudding!
What are your go-to dishes/foods?
If I could only have one food for the rest of my life, I’m saying a roast dinner!
What are you cooking to impress your friends?
I would cook a big Sunday Roast, cheese souffle, sirloin of beef followed by Nigella chocolate lime tart.
If we opened your fridge, what would we find?
Parmesan, Greek Yogurt and Salad.
What’s your guilty pleasure food?
Thick white bread with butter and anchovies!
Una Healy
Singer
What made you want to take part in Celebrity MasterChef?
To learn as much as I can about food, and I like to challenge myself. It’s a great opportunity as I really like to cook!
How would you describe your cooking style?
I rarely follow a recipe; I cook from my head usually. I feel I can perform under pressure though!
I think presentation is really important when cooking for others, not really bothered when it’s just for me though!
When did you begin cooking? Any early cooking memories?
I learnt to cook from watching my mum, but my parents would cook and take it in turns. I always remember the smell of a fry-up on a Saturday morning.
A dish that reminds me of my childhood is roast chicken with peas and chips; my mum would make it every Friday. One of my earliest cooking memories is my mum making egg in a cup. It’s a bit like scrambled egg but roasted on the hob which we would eat with butter and salt, more like an omelette roasted egg.
I learnt to cook at school in Home Economics, I remember making a vegetable stir fry with cashews and pepper.
What are your favourite things to cook?
I cook for me and my children five days a week – I love cooking air-fried Butterfly chicken breast with tenderstem broccoli and brown rice. I also love fajitas and Spaghetti Bolognaise.
Anything you avoid?
I’m not a huge desert person but, if I have to make it, I’d make an apple crumble with ice cream or custard.
What are your go-to dishes/foods?
My favourite dish is chips swimming on a plate with salt and vinegar.
What are you cooking to impress your friends?
I once hosted 16 people by myself. For a starter, I made a Camembert Cheese with bread and olives. I made two large lasagnes and a big bowl of salad on the side to share.
What’s your death row meal?
My death row meal would be Italian!
alice.lemaistre@multitudemedia.co.uk
