Published: 25 November 2025
Celebrity MasterChef continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer with its 20th series, recorded earlier in the year with new 2025 judge Grace Dent and John Torode.
The MasterChef kitchen doors are open for a glittering line-up of 15 celebrities from the worlds of music, drama, comedy, sport and showbiz – all with the aim of cooking their way to becoming Celebrity MasterChef 2025 Champion.
The third and final Heat week sees an array of celebrities all with the sparkles of the Celebrity MasterChef trophy in their eyes. Cooking in the MasterChef kitchen this week are national singing treasure Alfie Boe OBE, rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones OBE, TV star Ashley Cain, gladiator Jodie Ounsley and comedian Noreen Khan.
LP/CQ
Meet the Celebrities
Alfie Boe OBE
National Singing Treasure
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
I wanted to rise to the challenge of the Celebrity MasterChef competition. But also, when I got here, I realised it’s not all about winning the show. It’s about learning, it’s about picking up tips, and being strong on timings – that element of the competition is tough.
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
Walking into the MasterChef kitchen was pretty scary, I’ve got to say. Once we’d got the first challenge out of the way the pressure felt like it had been lifted slightly, but initially going in was tense.
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
My favourite dish to cook and to eat are the same thing. I love to cook a Sunday roast dinner. I love the process of making it: getting in the oven, preparing it, making my own Yorkshire puddings, a cracking gravy, crisp and fresh vegetables. That’s my go-to meal. I would cook a Sunday roast every day if I had the chance.
What is your ultimate comfort food and why?
My ultimate comfort food again has to be a Sunday roast dinner! I would also say that when I’m just chilling at home and I want something nourishing and fulfilling, I would make myself a soup, or a bowl of porridge or something like that. I think those are wholesome and satisfying foods that make you feel good.
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
I think my family like my food. They’ve never really complained, apart from my daughter when I made her a birthday cake that one time! Maybe after seeing me on this programme, they might think twice and be a bit a little more critical, so I’m going to have to improve my standard.
Alun Wyn Jones OBE
Rugby Legend
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
I’ve done a little bit of cooking over the years. I’ve also seen a few guys that have played rugby come through the MasterChef doors, so I thought it’s an opportunity, why not try Celebrity MasterChef myself? Hopefully I learn a little bit along the way.
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
It’s funny walking into the kitchen for the first time. Growing up I was very aware of the show and how it looks, but obviously with the new MasterChef kitchen and the setup, the scale of everything, it’s something else altogether! Once you’re in the kitchen it gets serious very quickly, but it’s been good.
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
I’ll generally eat anything so that’s a hard one! To cook, I’d probably choose a Tomahawk steak on a barbecue or maybe a ratatouille, just because it’s simple and I quite enjoy it.
What is your ultimate comfort food and why?
Does a cup of tea and biscuits count as food!? It would have to be between a Sunday roast with all the trimmings and a take-away curry depending how much energy I have to cook. You can’t beat a good ruby murray!
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
My kids have seen me cook a bit more, but my wife does the lion’s share, because obviously, when the kids came along, I was still training, so she took care of their meals. But I do a little bit. There is an element of competition, actually, thinking about it, particularly when you got feedback from three little ones, who are more than welcome to give it.
Ashley Cain
TV star
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
I never in a million years thought I’d be in the Celebrity MasterChef kitchen, and when I got this opportunity, it seemed to come just at the right time. I’ve got two beautiful sons now so I want them to have a smile on their face every time they’re at the dinner table and make sure that when my family come out to my house to eat, they can eat something lovely, while having a laugh and having fun, and create memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
It was pretty crazy walking into the MasterChef kitchen. It was a completely new experience for me. It’s quite daunting at first, but an absolutely beautiful place to be able to make food. I thought I was going to be extremely nervous, but I’m actually having such an amazing time. I just wanted to kind of have fun and take part, that winner inside of me just wants to do really well.
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
I’d say my favourite thing to cook is fillet steak, and it’s also one of my favourite things to eat. It’s really quick, it’s really simple, and if you can master the art of cooking one it’s absolutely delicious.
What is your ultimate comfort food and why?
My ultimate comfort food would probably be curry goat, rice and peas and fried dumpling. It’s just really tasty and filling, plus it’s rich, so after you’ve eaten it all you want to do is sit on the sofa with a blanket and watch some movies with the people you love.
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
If I’m completely honest, I’ve never thought I was a great cook, but that doesn’t mean that I thought I was a bad one! I’ve never had any complaints from family or friends when I cook and I have people around at my house pretty much every single weekend. I’ve never also had a lot of praise either, so it must mean that it’s edible, it’s not poisonous!
Jodie Ounsley
Gladiator
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
I wanted to do Celebrity MasterChef because I really want to challenge myself. I’m comfortable in sports, rugby, Gladiators, presenting, but when it comes to cooking, it terrifies me. I’m all about encouraging kids to do things that scare them so I’ve got to take my own advice and do a challenge like this! My attitude is, if I can get through the first day, that’s all I’m aiming for, and then anything else is an absolute bonus.
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
When I walked into the MasterChef kitchen I genuinely wondered “What have I gotten myself into?”. I was terrified to get in there, but ready to take on the next challenge, and take on the feedback from the judges and hopefully get better each time!
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
Being an athlete, it’s about fuelling your body for training, so to cook it’s got to be anything with eggs, all that protein. My favourite food to eat has got to be a curry. I absolutely love curry and it’s filled with memories of my family coming together, and having our comfort meal.
What is your ultimate comfort food and why?
Again it has to be a curry! It’s always my go to go to meal. Then a risotto because that’s the first meal I learnt to cook, and it’s just a tasty, comforting meal.
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
It’s questionable to the point where they absolutely laughed at the thought of me coming on to Celebrity MasterChef, because it’s so out of my comfort zone. I think they’re looking forward to being on the show and hopefully finding a love for cooking, which will be a miracle if I do!
Noreen Khan
Comedian
What made you want to do Celebrity MasterChef?
Because I’m not a great cook, and it’s always something that I know I wanted to be better at. So, this is my way of hopefully improving through the process and at the same time, really coming out of my comfort zone.
What was it like walking into the MasterChef kitchen for the first time?
I can’t even tell you, it was absolutely nerve-wracking. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so panicked in my whole life. When I saw all these ingredients and they were like, right, cook away – I realised this was all real! It’s amazing and full on at the same time.
What is your favourite dish to cook vs. your favourite to eat?
As a vegetarian, my fave dish to cook is lentil curry. I love to cook all types of daal- red split lentil, kidney beans you name it! Any variety of daal teamed up with some boiled rice is my go-to meal; simple and tasty! Oh, and some condiments on the side are a must too.
I love eating paneer curry but I rarely make it! I’ve tried making it a couple of times but never quite got there with it so would rather eat out.
What is your ultimate comfort food and why?
When I think of comfort food, I think of anything with potatoes in it. From a young age I’ve loved potatoes, especially a nice big baked potato with lots of different fillings like cheese, beetroot, salads, veggies or beans. I like putting potatoes in my curries too, so aloo gobi, aloo matter. If there’s potatoes involved, then I’m happy!
How does your cooking go down with friends and family?
I think my family think that I have potential, but I just don’t ever get myself into the kitchen enough. So they think it’s not too bad and that I could always do a lot better. Now I’m doing this show, they’re expecting me to master desserts and when they come round they’re expecting a nice gourmet meal. Wish me luck!!
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