Who Are The MasterChef Series 22 Finalists?

After a tumultuous couple of years for MasterChef, the show has entered a new era with two female leads at the helm. For series 22 food critic Grace Dent and Irish chef Anna Haugh stepped in to replace long-time judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode – who were both dismissed from the show in 2025 following allegations of misconduct. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest season, including details of the finalists.

MasterChef Series 22: Everything You Need To Know

Who Are The Judges?

Dent, 52, is a restaurant critic, author and podcaster. She started her career in the world of journalism as an editorial assistant at Marie Claire, landing her first big break in 2017 when she was offered a food column at The Guardian. Since then she’s written a bestselling memoir, Hungry (2020) and launched a chart-topping podcast, Comfort Eating, as well as starring as a guest judge on MasterChef – making her the perfect fit for the new gig.

Her co-star Haugh has years of experience in the culinary industry, training at Dublin Food School before securing an apprenticeship at L’Ecrivain, the now-closed Michelin-starred French restaurant run by Derry and Sallyanne Clarke. She moved to London, joining the team at the esteemed Pied à Terre in Fitzrovia – but being the only woman, she described feeling like a ‘dancing monkey’. Haugh left after a couple of years, and after a few more stints in kitchens across London she joined catering company Rocket Foods. In 2019, she opened her own restaurant in Chelsea, Myrtle, which serves fare inspired by her Irish heritage. 

Like Dent, Haugh has appeared on MasterChef before: in 2025 she replaced Wallace in the final episodes of series 21. ‘I’m delighted to be back on MasterChef and judging alongside the wonderful Grace Dent, whose writing and wit I’ve admired for years,’ she said about her new role. ‘MasterChef has long inspired and resonated with cooks in home kitchens and of course in my industry. I can’t wait to get into the studio for what will be a great competition.’

BBC/Shine TV

But how did the pair feel about picking up after Wallace and Torode? ‘I don’t feel I am “picking up” after anybody,’ Dent said in an interview with Radio Times. ‘I’ve been going to work every day at the helm of the most important food show, probably in British television history. I think I’m doing well.’ Haugh added that the pair ‘take care of each other’ on the show. ‘So, if there’s a hair out of place, or lipstick needs topping up, we’ll point it out. We want each other to be lifted up.’

As usual there will be cameos from guest judges, with a first look at the series showing Dent and Haugh will be joined by restaurant critic Jay Rayner.

What Happens On MasterChef?

MasterChef is one of the UK’s most prestigious and long-running cooking competitions, beginning in July 1990. Although the format has changed over the years, the general focus of the show has remained the same: a line-up of amateur chefs must impress the judges with their cooking skills in the hopes of being crowned champion.

Each series, 32 contestants battle it out over a series of challenges, from creating dishes from scratch using ingredients gathered at the market to cooking under time constraints to working in groups to run busy restaurants or manage food trucks. The top three make it to finals week, which involves a culinary trip to a renowned restaurant or location, a chef’s table experience where they must cook a meal for top chefs, and the final cook-off where they must deliver the best three-course meal of their lives.

Contestants from series 22 (c) BBC/Shine TV

Who Are The Finalists?

After a high-stakes competition, four contestants have made it to finals week. They are:

Antos 

Antos is a 29-year-old banking relationship manager living in Highgate, London. He became interested in cooking from a young age, and was inspired to go on MasterChef after recently reconnecting with his Polish heritage. ‘By putting a refined spin on cuisine that is widely underappreciated, and sometimes rightly so, my ambition was to introduce more people to a culture that means so much to me,’ he says. Heading into finals week, he’s feeling ‘equal parts excited, terrified and very ready to give it absolutely everything.’ His secret weapon? ‘The night before every cook I’ve eaten the exact same rice vermicelli salad from the Vietnamese place round the corner. At this point I’m convinced it’s carrying me through the competition. If I somehow win MasterChef, I fully expect them to name a dish after me.’

Jhané

British-Jamaican home cook Jane is a 29-year-old tech program manager who also lives in North London. ‘My cooking style is all about bold flavours, fresh ingredients, and portions so big they barely fit on the table,’ she says. ‘The roots of my cooking go back to the family parties I grew up with, where the music was loud, and the food was even louder. Those gatherings taught me that cooking can be fun and food can help build an atmosphere where people feel fed and happy.’ If she wins the show, Jhané would love to write her own cookbook sharing recipes from around the world, host her own pop-ups and supper clubs, and one day open her own little pub to give her food a permanent home.

Kristen

After growing up in Adelaide, Australia, Kristen moved to London aged 21 and currently lives in Tooting with her husband and children. Now aged 41, she recently left her job as a communications director to take what she calls a ‘grown-up gap year’ and decided to enter MasterChef. ‘I thought, “it’s this year or never”, and took the plunge,’ she says. ‘I’m very glad I did.’ Going into finals week, Kristen plans to reflect on the judges feedback throughout the competition while staying true to her style. ‘Personally, I hope my journey will inspire others to step out of their comfort zones – whether that’s applying for a job they might not feel 100 percent qualified for, leaving one, or trying a new hobby,’ she adds. 

Matt

Matt is a 31-year-old PhD student who lives in London with his fiancé Alice. He likes to cook food ‘where the effort is clear and shortcuts aren’t possible – a long simmered stew, carefully cut vegetables, artfully assembled canapes. I don’t want my food to be flashy, but I try hard to make it taste and look good,’ he says. The cook takes inspiration from childhood flavours, including trips to Japanese restaurants with his family as a child. After the show he hopes to host supper clubs – his dream collaboration would be with Lee Tiernan from the now-closed cult restaurant Black Axe Mangal.

When Is The MasterChef Final?

The 2026 MasterChef final will air on 5 June 2026 at 8pm on BBC One.

Who Has Won MasterChef?

Edinburgh-born fishmonger Harry Maguire took home the crown in series 21 after impressing the judges with his fish-focused final meal. First up was a twist on the prawn cocktail followed by a poached brill main served with a potato croissant, with a spiced apple dessert. Since winning the show, he has focused on running supper clubs and pirate dining events.

Other recent winners include:

• Brin Pirathapan (2024)
• Chariya Khattiyot (2023)
• Eddie Scott (2022)
• Tom Rhodes (2021)
• Thomas Frake (2020)