The heat is on!
The TV show that’ll no doubt have your stomach growling after each episode, MasterChef: The Professionals, is back!
The spin-off to MasterChef will see 32 professional chefs battle it out to convince the judges they have what it takes to become the 2023 champion.
Each week we will be introduced to four chefs in separate heats, and the line-up will be whittled down over the course of the competition before one chef is named the winner.
With eight chefs announced so far, here’s everything you need to know about them.
MasterChef: The Professionals chefs
Heat One
Cameron
Age: 25
From: Scottish Highlands
Cameron has worked in the coastal town of Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands. After beginning his culinary career at 17 years old, Cameron now runs the kitchen of his family restaurant.
The now 25-year-old has trained under Donald Mclean and Gary Phillips, as well as doing stages at The Kitchin and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Talking about why he wanted to take part in the series, Cameron said: “When the restaurant is closed in the winter, I like to go and do stages in other restaurants to grow and learn as a chef. The MasterChef experience is another way of learning and being around fantastic chefs.
“I embrace the challenge. I’m very excited that this is a part of my journey so early on in my career, because I intend to keep growing and learning as a chef.”
Catrin
Age: 31
From: London, originally from Sweden
Born in Sweden, Catrin trained in Culinary Arts and Meal Science at Örebro University before moving to London in 2013 to pursue a career as a chef. She currently works for a contract catering company in Central London.
Catrin described MasterChef: The Professionals as a “challenge” that she would “love to win”.
Himanshu
Age: 24
From: East London, originally from New Delhi, India
Himanshu works for a private members’ club in Mayfair, London, and has worked across India and Dubai before moving to the UK in 2022.
Over the course of his career, Himanshu worked at Five Palm in New Delhi and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Dubai. He now works at Annabel’s in London.
The 24-year-old began taking part in cooking competitions in Dubai, which he “really enjoyed”.
“When I moved to the UK I wanted to continue [cooking]. MasterChef: The Professionals was the first competition I came across, so I applied,” he explained as to why he wanted to take part in the show.
“I speak to my mum back home in India every day, and all I want really is to make my family proud.”
Dara
Age: 24
From: Hampshire, originally from Limerick, Ireland
Sous chef Dara moved to New Forest at 16 years old to start his chef career. With his whole family working in the hospitality industry, Dara hopes to make his family proud on MasterChef: The Professionals.
When asked why he wanted to take part in MasterChef, Dara said: “I want to be a role model for young people and show that you can come from nothing and build up to something great.
“I’d love to use the competition as a stepping stone for my own restaurant one day. In the meantime, I just want to build up my confidence and challenge myself.”
Read more:
- MasterChef: The Professionals contestant withdraws after kitchen accident
- MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 judges – Meet the culinary experts
MasterChef: The Professionals continues on Thursday 26th October at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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