MasterChef: The Professionals returns for 2026 with 24 chefs announced

MasterChef: The Professionals returns to the BBC for its 19th series starring a brand-new pantheon of head chefs, virtual cooking experience hosts, and a co-founder of a Caribbean supper club.

On 3 November, a slew of ambitious chefs will once again enter the MasterChef kitchen to prove to the legendary Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing that they have what it takes to be the best of the best.

For its 19th outing, MasterChef: The Professionals will not feature the return of Saturday morning’s favourite personality, Matt Tebutt, as reported by The Sun in March.

The British icon, who was drafted to present the 18th edition earlier this year, pushed back on the idea that he’d been dropped, writing on Instagram at the time: "I was only ever doing one series and I loved judging on it and will continue working with MasterChef."

(BBC)

Galetti and Wareing will instead be tasked with steering the MasterChef: The Professionals ship for seven weeks across BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

The show will kick off at 8pm on 3 November, with six chefs entering the MasterChef kitchen.

The episode will conclude with one chef on the chopping board. Another will exit the competition on the following evening (4 November).

On 5 November, the first quarter-final of the series will take place, with four chefs returning with ‘everything to play for’.

MasterChef: The Professionals will run for 21 episodes across seven weeks.

It will culminating in the grand final at 8pm on Friday 18 December.

BBC

MasterChef: The Professionals series 19 contestants

• Abigail Smith, Demi chef de partie at The Hand and Flowers in Marlow
• Aleandro Brown, Private chef in London
• Alfred Petty, Chef and owner of Petty Fours in Cornwall
• Andrea Ruszel, Private chef and founder of Andrea’s table, sous chef at the Embassy of Italy in London
• Ben Black, Junior sous chef at Knockinaam Lodge in Portpatrick
• Clara Lim, Sous chef at Rambutan in London
• Connor Wilson, Head chef at The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest in Brampton
• Dan Nunn, Senior sous chef at The Sir Charles Napier in Oxfordshire
• Dominique Ogunlowo, Private chef and food blogger
• Filomena D’Uva, Chef patron at Delizia Italian Food in Belfast
• Gregory Schaad-Jackson, Virtual cooking experience host and mobile caterer
• Ibraheem ‘Ibz’ Umar, Chef de Partie and co-founder of Caribbean supper club Guatú
• Inayya Hamid, Sous chef at 64 Goodge Street, London
• Isabel Almeida Da Silva, Co-founder and head chef at Volta Do Mar in London
• Jacintha Henderson, Freelance chef and lecturer at City of Glasgow College
• Jack Sencherey-Evans, Operations director at Relentless Steak & Lobster House
• Jemma Harrison, chef and owner of Kaunter pop-up
• Jim Foster-Grundy, head chef at The Goose and Cuckoo at Abergavenny
• Kieran Jones, Sous chef at Sunlaws Restaurant, Schloss Roxburghe Hotel, Scottish Borders
• Manuel Ribeiro, Head chef at 670 Grams in Birmingham
• Matty Grove, Head chef at Caper and Cure in Bristol
• Morteza Nouri, Private chef in Mayfair
• Ruchi Mehrotra, Private chef and owner of Milaanj by Ruchi Mehrotra
• Sebastian Brooks, Junior sous chef at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London