Celebrity MasterChef 2026 Line-up Revealed
Ten famous faces, including a Strictly winner and an Olympic champion, will compete in the upcoming series.
Trust 30Craft 45Hype 10How this was reported ▾
No named sources, no document cited, only one independent outlet.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
No local angle, no quotes from affected parties, no next steps.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline matches body, no sensationalism detected.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
3 sources assessed · methodology
The BBC has unveiled the initial group of ten celebrities who will be competing in the 2026 season of Celebrity MasterChef. The popular cooking competition, returning for its 21st series, will feature a diverse cast of well-known personalities from various fields.
First Heat Contestants
Sunseeker Holiday Homes enters administration
The Hull-based manufacturer, founded in 2019, has appointed administrators, putting 76 jobs at risk.
Musician Jay McGuinness, a winner of Strictly Come Dancing and a member of the boyband The Wanted, will be the first to face the culinary challenges. He has described himself as a vegetarian who enjoys cooking with spices, though he has expressed concerns about his dish presentation. Comedian Joe Pasquale, who won series four of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, is also set to compete, aiming to build his confidence in the kitchen. Love Island star Shakira Khan, who considers herself a basic cook, is eager to learn new recipes and expand her culinary skills. TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad, who cooks for his family most nights, will also be among the contestants. Completing the first group is Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell, who feels confident in her cooking abilities and wants to enhance her knowledge of food.
Second Heat Revealed
The line-up for the second group of contestants has also been revealed. This cohort includes actress and comedian Donna Preston, TV Gladiator Dynamite (Emily Steel), presenter and former Royal Ballet dancer Eric Underwood, actor Nitin Ganatra, and YouTuber and stand-up comedian Tom Simons, also known as TommyInnit.
Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood scheme paused pending review
Transport for London funding for next phase is on hold as council re-evaluates project elements.
Celebrity MasterChef is scheduled to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in the year. The exact start date for the 21st series has not yet been announced.
Questions this report answers
+Who are the first ten celebrities taking part?
The first ten contestants include musician Jay McGuinness, comedian Joe Pasquale, Love Island star Shakira Khan, TV presenter Jason Mohammad, Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell, actress Donna Preston, TV Gladiator Dynamite, presenter Eric Underwood, actor Nitin Ganatra, and YouTuber Tom Simons. This diverse group brings a mix of professions and backgrounds to the competition.
+When will the new series start?
The exact start date for Celebrity MasterChef 2026 has not yet been announced. The series is scheduled to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in the year, but the precise timing remains unconfirmed. Fans will need to wait for further updates from the BBC.
+What kind of cooking experience do the celebrities have?
The contestants have varied cooking experience, from basic cooks like Shakira Khan to more confident chefs like Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell. Some, like Jay McGuinness, enjoy cooking but have concerns about presentation, while others, like Joe Pasquale, aim to build their confidence in the kitchen.
Barnet Press News Desk
This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
How stories are produced and scoredWho runs Barnet PressCorrections
Barnet conditions
Loading live conditions…
More Coverage in World
Sunseeker Holiday Homes enters administration
Enfield Town Liveable Neighbourhood scheme paused pending review
