Celebrity Judges Revealed: Greater Manchester Legends Paddy McGuinness and Angry Ginge Join Celebrity MasterChef 2026
The heat is officially on in television’s most famous kitchen! The BBC has released the first-look trailer for the 21st series of Celebrity MasterChef, revealing a star-studded lineup of culinary contenders, a revamped judging duo, and a massive surprise for northern comedy and internet culture fans.
Joining the 2026 series as special Celebrity Guest Judges are two of Greater Manchester’s biggest icons—Bolton’s television presenter, Paddy McGuinness and Salford’s internet sensation Morgan Burtwistle (better known online as Angry Ginge). Rounding out the guest judging lineup is Blackpool-born broadcaster Zoe Ball, ensuring a powerhouse trio of northern talent steps up to put this year’s famous contestants through their paces.
The five-week culinary competition kicks off on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Mark your calendars and get ready for a sensory overload!
A Northern Takeover in the MasterChef Kitchen
For years, the MasterChef studio has seen its fair share of high-stakes pressure, but the 2026 edition promises a fresh, lively dynamic thanks to its guest judge roster.
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Paddy McGuinness: Bringing classic Lancashire charm and sharp comedic timing, the This Morning host will task contestants with a custom brief designed to test their execution under pressure.
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Morgan Burtwistle (Angry Ginge): From dominating Twitch and YouTube to winning over the nation on I’m A Celebrity, the Salford creator steps into the studio to deliver unfiltered, honest reviews on whether the celebrities’ dishes live up to the hype.
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Zoe Ball: The broadcasting legend brings decades of entertainment pedigree and a keen palate to evaluate who has what it takes to survive the heat of competition.
Each guest judge will take control of a bespoke culinary challenge across one of the three opening heat weeks. Their critiques and custom briefs will directly determine which celebrity contestants earn a spot in the Quarter-Finals—and who gets sent home early.
A Revamped Judging Panel: Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli
The arrival of the guest judges coincides with a major evolution at the head of the MasterChef table. The 2026 series features a permanent judging pair combining high-end gastronomy with sharp critical authority:
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Grace Dent: The award-winning journalist and food critic leads the panel, bringing her signature wit, deep culinary knowledge, and sharp standards.
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Giorgio Locatelli: The Michelin-starred Italian chef, restaurateur, and author joins Dent as co-host, offering technical expertise and a passion for authentic flavor profiles.
Together with the guest judges, Dent and Locatelli will put 15 famous faces through what the BBC calls a “sensory assault course” to discover who has the skill, speed, and palate to claim the 2026 trophy.
Meet the 2026 Celebrity Contestants
Fifteen stars from pop music, Olympic sports, comedy, reality TV, and online media are stepping up to the prep stations:
| Heat Round | Celebrity Contestants | Known For |
| Heat 1 |
Emily Campbell
Jason Mohammad
Jay McGuiness
Joe Pasquale
Shakira Khan
|
Olympic Weightlifting Medallist
TV & Radio Broadcaster
Musician, Actor & Author
Comedian & I’m A Celeb Winner
TV Personality
|
| Heat 2 |
Donna Preston
Emily Steel (“Dynamite”)
Eric Underwood
Nitin Ganatra
Tom Simons (“TommyInnit”)
|
Actor & Comedian
Gladiators Star & Athlete
Presenter & Former Royal Ballet Dancer
Actor (EastEnders)
YouTuber & Comedian
|
| Heat 3 |
Lauren Steadman MBE
Max Fosh
Melvin Odoom
Sue Cleaver
Una Healy
|
Paralympic Athlete
YouTuber & Comedian
DJ & Presenter
Actor & Presenter
Singer (The Saturdays)
|
How the 5-Week Tournament Works
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The Heats (Weeks 1–3): Five celebrities enter the kitchen each week. Under the gaze of Dent, Locatelli, and the featured Celebrity Guest Judge of the week, they undergo initial skill tests and bespoke brief challenges. The top four cooks from each heat advance to their respective Friday Quarter-Final.
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The Semi-Finals (Week 4): The surviving contestants from all three heats come together to tackle professional restaurant kitchen services and mass-catering challenges.
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Finals Week (Week 5): The final group of cooks must deliver refined multi-course fine-dining menus for top food critics before facing the ultimate final cook-off to lift the Celebrity MasterChef trophy.
With digital stars like TommyInnit and Max Fosh cooking alongside veteran performers like Joe Pasquale and Sue Cleaver, the 2026 series bridges generational divides while keeping food quality at the core.
