{"id":41882,"date":"2023-12-14T15:33:20","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T14:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1944431"},"modified":"2023-12-14T17:16:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T16:16:29","slug":"masterchef-battle-of-the-critics-2023-line-up-confirmed-contestants","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/masterchef-battle-of-the-critics-2023-line-up-confirmed-contestants\/","title":{"rendered":"MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023 line-up \u2013 confirmed contestants"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year’s Christmas special will be a little different… <\/p>

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

Published: Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 14:33 PM<\/p>

\n\n

MasterChef is back for a festive special, but this year\u2019s Christmas show will look a different.<\/p>\n

As well as the usual Celebrity MasterChef Cook Off, which will see four returning celebrities returning to the famous kitchen to make a festive dinner, we\u2019ll also see some of the show\u2019s favourite critics stepping into the kitchen for a chance to wow judges John Torode and Greg Wallace, alongside returning champions Ping Coombes (2014), Kenny Tutt (2018) and Nikita Pathakji (MasterChef: The Professionals 2022).<\/p>\n

Stepping up to the plate this year will be I\u2019m a Celebrity 2023<\/a>\u2018s Grace Dent, along with Leyla Kazim, William Sitwell, Jay Rayner and Jimi Famurewa, who will all be taking on two \u201cdemanding\u201d cooking challenges.<\/p>\n

As they take on the ultimate cooking challenge that is MasterChef, read on for everything you need to know about the cast.<\/p>\n

MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023 line-up<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Grace Dent<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"MasterChef:\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Grace Dent.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Instagram:\u00a0<\/strong>@gracedent<\/a><\/p>\n

Grace Dent is a columnist, broadcaster, journalist and food critic, who has worked on MasterChef UK.<\/p>\n

She is a restaurant critic for The Guardian, and from 2011 to 2017, wrote a restaurant column for the Evening Standard.<\/p>\n

Leyla Kazim<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"MasterChef:\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Leyla Kazim.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Instagram: <\/strong>@leyla.kazim<\/a><\/p>\n

Leyla is\u00a0a critic on BBC One\u2019s MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals and a presenter on BBC Radio 4\u2019s award-winning weekly show The Food Programme.<\/p>\n

William Sitwell<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"MasterChef:\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
William Sitwell.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Instagram: <\/strong>@williamsitwell<\/a><\/p>\n

William Sitwell is an editor, writer and broadcaster. He is also a restaurant critic for The Daily Telegraph and the former editor of Waitrose Food.<\/p>\n

Jay Rayner<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"MasterChef:\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jay Rayner.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Instagram: <\/strong>@jayrayner1<\/a><\/p>\n

Jason Rayner, known as Jay, is a journalist and food critic. He was raised in Harrow, London, and studied politics at the University of Leeds, where he edited the Leeds Student newspaper.<\/p>\n

After graduating, he worked as a freelance journalist for newspapers including The Observer and The Independent on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Jay shared the news that he\u2019d be taking part in the Christmas special on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n

Alongside a collage of photos, he wrote: \u201cDon\u2019t know what you wanted for Christmas, but here\u2019s what you\u2019re gonna get: a <\/span>@MasterChefUK <\/a><\/span>special in which us critics cook off against each other, featuring @Jimfam <\/a><\/span>@WilliamSitwell <\/a><\/span>@leylakazim <\/a><\/span>@gracedent <\/a><\/span>and yours truly. I know. I know. it\u2019s all your Christmas wishes come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don’t know what you wanted for Christmas, but here’s what you’re gonna get: a @MasterChefUK<\/a> special in which us critics cook off against each other, featuring @Jimfam<\/a> @WilliamSitwell<\/a> @leylakazim<\/a> @gracedent<\/a> and yours truly. I know. I know. it’s all your Christmas wishes come true. pic.twitter.com\/h09yD2JG2w<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) November 28, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>