What Is MasterChef Winner Harry Maguire Up To Now?

For many aspiring cooks, winning MasterChef is the ultimate launchpad to a sparkling career in the food industry. But for young fishmonger Harry Maguire, his efforts to land the trophy almost went to waste after a scandal threatened the series from airing.

Both of MasterChef’s long-time hosts, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, were fired from the show this year due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour, prompting a debate about whether series 21 would be shown on TV. ‘I wasn’t hopeful that it would air, if I am honest,’ Maguire told the Times. But in July, the BBC announced it would be broadcasting the series in order to allow recognition for ‘the cooks that have given so much to the process.’ 

Maguire has had to keep his win secret for over a year – so what has he been up to in the meantime? 

Who Won MasterChef Series 21?

Harry Maguire, 32, was crowned the winner of MasterChef series 21 in an intense finale which aired on Friday night, beating finalists Claire Syrenne and Sophie Sugrue at the last hurdle. 

In the final week, he took a trip to Athens, facing a series of challenges including a stint working with top Greek chef Argiro Barbarigou. Then, he was tasked with taking on one of the tasting courses at Michelin-starred restaurant Patio, ahead of cooking a seafront dinner for a group of top chefs. 

Making it to the final three, Maguire faced the notoriously daunting Chef’s Table, which took place at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in Mayfair. He cooked for guests including Ducasse himself – one of the world’s most decorated chefs, who holds 21 Michelin stars in his restaurants around the world – alongside Tom Kitchin, Clare Smyth MBE, Claude Bosi, and Alex Dilling. They were all wowed by Maguire’s work, with Ducasse reacting to his kombu seaweed, citrus and olive oil dessert with: ‘I like it. I love it!’ – and Kitchin describing it as ‘one of the best desserts I’ve ever had.’

BBC/Shine TV

For his final three-course meal, Maguire kicked off with a modern twist on the prawn cocktail, served as a balatine of prawn and dill mousse topped with avocado cream, cucumber and salmon roe. ‘Sometimes, when something is such a classic, people messing around with it, it’s hard to kind of please people,’ said judge Anna Haugh – who stepped in for the final couple of episodes after Wallace was axed, and was recently confirmed as one of MasterChef’s new hosts. ‘But I think you were really brave and you’ve pulled it off. I think you did a really great job.’ 

He then channelled his fishmonger roots with a poached brill main, served with potato croissant and braised fennel. Pudding was a spiced apple number inspired by something he’d seen in a French patisserie, with a white chocolate cocoa butter glaze, described by Torode as ‘smile material.’

Speaking in the final, Maguire said: ‘I didn’t know I had it in me and I’m so happy I did, because I feel really proud of myself, very overwhelmed. I’ve been holding in a lot of emotion over the last few weeks, and it all came pouring out.’

Who Is Harry Maguire?

Maguire was born in London, but spent his childhood in Edinburgh, with his parents and two older brothers. Food was always important in his family, and he began cooking in his late teens – inspired both by his mum and his older brother Dan, who runs his own catering company. 

He went to Newcastle University before moving to London for a recruitment job, but he ‘hated it’. Soon after, he pivoted to a career in advertising, which was bittersweet: ‘I loved the ‘work hard, play hard’ element of it. But I also found it incredibly stressful, and I am not very good at dealing with stress.’ This led to burnout and Maguire found himself ‘burning the candle at both ends and drinking too much’. 

After quitting his job and spending some time back with his parents in Scotland, Maguire decided to reignite his passion for food, which had grown during lockdown, when he would take on cooking challenges with his flatmates. Fish had always been his favourite ingredient to cook with, so he decided to train as a fishmonger.

Meanwhile, Maguire had always been an avid viewer of MasterChef, and one night when critiquing the contestants on the show his girlfriend suggested he should apply himself; the rest is history.

What Is Harry Maguire Doing Now?

Maguire lives in London with his girlfriend Katie, and has been on a high since winning MasterChef series 21. But unlike many of the show’s winners, Maguire’s dream is not to create a Michelin-starred, fine dining restaurant – understandably, the high-stress environment of kitchens doesn’t really appeal. Instead, he’s focusing on running supper clubs and private dining events, as well as building up a following on Instagram as @harrymaguirecooking, where he shares recipe videos.

Speaking to the BBC about what the future holds, he said: ‘I don’t know what’s coming next but as long as I’m cooking I know I’ll be happy doing what I love. It could be my own private dining company or I also like the idea of running a simple local restaurant, somewhere relaxed but memorable. I just want to be cooking every day!’