{"id":12730,"date":"2022-03-23T18:38:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T17:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1612702"},"modified":"2022-03-23T19:03:14","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T18:03:14","slug":"masterchef-2022-contestants-meet-chefs-facing-gregg-wallace-and-john-torode","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/masterchef-2022-contestants-meet-chefs-facing-gregg-wallace-and-john-torode\/","title":{"rendered":"MasterChef 2022 contestants: Meet chefs facing Gregg Wallace and John Torode"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Grace Henry\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 23 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

This March, 45 new chefs will enter the MasterChef<\/a> kitchen with the hope of becoming this year\u2019s champion.<\/p>\n

To begin with, they\u2019ll compete in five heats of nine contestants and be tasked with cooking several dishes.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll be hoping to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace in order to secure a place in the semi-final and progress to the final, where the winner will be crowned.<\/p>\n

So, who are the chefs taking on the challenge? And what are their cooking skills like?<\/p>\n

As season 18 begins on BBC One, here are all the chefs in the first heat who will be stepping into the kitchen in Week One.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll keep you updated on the Heat 2 contestants as soon as we know.<\/p>

MasterChef 2022 contestants<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Heat 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Clive<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Clive<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:<\/strong> 50<\/p>\n

Job:<\/strong> School facilities manager<\/p>\n

From:<\/strong>\u00a0Chafford Hundred, near Grays<\/p>\n

Clive is a school facilities manager. He is married with three children, aged 24, 23 and 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cI predominantly focus on Caribbean cooking but am happy to try my hand at everything, including Thai, Italian and Chinese cuisine,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI take inspiration from my family, and the food I ate as a child but also where I have travelled to as an adult. I\u2019d love to be able to elevate Caribbean cooking and bring it into a fine dining setting. This is what I hope I can show in the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eddie<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Eddie<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>30<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Marine pilot<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Beverley, Yorkshire<\/p>\n

Eddie is a marine pilot from Yorkshire. As a child he travelled to France, which inspired his love for the classic regional dishes of France.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cMy Indian heritage also plays a huge part in my cooking style. I love to cook the Punjabi dishes I grew up eating with my family. But my real passion is the great Mughlai cuisine: the historic royal dishes of Old Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad. I also love to combine classic techniques with Indian flavours, creating my own fusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haylee<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Haylee<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>29<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Events manager<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>London<\/p>\n

Haylee is an events manager from London. She lives with her boyfriend, and her cooking is inspired by her Jamaican-Finnish heritage.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mum is Finnish, my dad\u2019s family is Jamaican and I grew up in the UK so I am a Fimaican! My cooking is a combination of my heritage. I love the big bold flavours of Caribbean food but also the lighter touches of Nordic dishes,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to work in the food industry and competing in MasterChef is a way to see if that can become a reality. It\u2019s a test of my skills and a test of how I handle the pressure.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Laura<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Laura<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age: 32<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job:\u00a0<\/strong>Politics student<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Bath<\/p>\n

Laura\u2019s big\u00a0passion is Sri Lankan soul food.<\/p>\n

She says: \u201cMy mum is Sri Lankan and is a wonderful cook. I love recreating the dishes I grew up eating and those I\u2019ve tried whilst visiting family in Sri Lanka. I have a 110-year-old cookbook that has been passed down in my family so I love working my way through that.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving been a single mum for a few years now, I wanted to finally do something for myself. Cooking for my friends became a weekly tradition. My friend encouraged me to send in the application and I ended up here!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lisa<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lisa<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:<\/strong> 39<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Cleaning business owner<\/p>\n

From:\u00a0<\/strong>Killearn, north of Glasgow<\/p>\n

Lisa owns her own cleaning business in Killearn. She lives with her wife Rachel, and between them they have four children who are 19, 17, 13 and eight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say I\u2019m quite a classical cook. I like cooking hearty dishes but in a fine dining way. I particularly love cooking with game, taking inspiration from the amazing Scottish produce I\u2019m surrounded by. And any opportunity to make burgers and barbecue, I take it,\u201d Lisa says.<\/p>\n

Paul<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Paul<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age: <\/strong>53<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Builder (ex police officer)<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Christchurch, Dorset<\/p>\n

Paul is a builder. He lives in Christchurch with his girlfriend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love cooking a whole range of dishes from all over the world, and also traditional British dishes, all with the focus of packing a punch with flavour. Living on the coast I cook a lot of seafood and I also take massive pride in making really good sauces,\u201d Paul says.<\/p>\n

Pookie<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Pookie<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>45<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Beauty salon owner<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Solihull<\/p>\n

Pookie is a beauty salon owner, who lives in Solihull with her husband. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand and moved to the UK after her degree.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Thai with Chinese heritage and although this has a huge influence on my cooking, I don\u2019t limit myself to Thai-Chinese food. I like cooking international foods but love introducing my own style with all the foods I\u2019ve cooked. Most of all I want my food to be flavoursome, delicious, fun and put a smile on people\u2019s faces,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Rachel<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Rachel<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age:\u00a0<\/strong>22<\/p>\n

Job: <\/strong>Beer bike tour guide<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Belfast<\/p>\n

Rachel is originally from Derry. She now lives with her fianc\u00e9 in Belfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love using interesting ingredients. My dad once drove 80 miles to drop off some fresh nettles from his garden for me to cook with! My nana was a baker by trade and my mum is a fantastic cook. My fianc\u00e9\u2019s mother was a chef in her younger years and she was definitely my main inspiration to cook,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Rishi<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Rishi<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Age: <\/strong>26<\/p>\n

Job:\u00a0<\/strong>Dentist<\/p>\n

From: <\/strong>Pinner, Harrow<\/p>\n

Rishi is a dentist from Pinner, Harrow. He grew up in North West London but lived in Bristol for five years whilst he was at university. He now lives at home with his mum and dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a vegetarian all my life and really want to showcase the potential that vegetarian and vegan food really has, especially with a fusion of pan-Asian flavours,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

MasterChef starts on BBC One on Wednesday 23rd March at 8pm and you can catch up on\u00a0BBC iPlayer<\/a>. To find out what\u2019s on telly tonight, check out our\u00a0<\/span>TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or visit our dedicated\u00a0<\/span>Entertainment<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>hub.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>\u00a0to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times podcast<\/a> with Jane Garvey.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/body><\/html>\n

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