When Is MasterChef: The Professionals On TV?
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2 hours ago
The cooking competition has returned to our screens with a brand-new judge
Foodies: your evenings just got a whole lot more exciting thanks to the return of MasterChef: The Professionals, which is back with a bang for its 18th series. The show has had a shake up for 2026, with a new judge joining the panel plus major format changes – but long-time fans can expect the same skill, dedication and high-pressure competition as always. Here’s everything you need to know.
MasterChef: The Professionals 2026: Everything You Need To Know
Who Are The Judges?
Following the departure of Gregg Wallace, chef and TV personality Matt Tebbutt has joined the judging panel this year. Tebbutt trained as a chef under Marco Pierre White before working at top restaurants like Chez Bruce in Wandsworth, and going on to open his own restaurant back in his Welsh hometown, The Foxhunter in Nantyderry. This closed in 2014, allowing Tebbutt more time to focus on growing his burgeoning TV career: the chef has starred on a whole host of cooking shows over the years including Great British Menu and Channel 4’s Food Unwrapped, as well as hosting Saturday Kitchen since 2016.
Tebbutt stars alongside judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, who have been on the panel since 2014 and 2009 respectively. Wallace was the third judge until 2024, when he stepped away from his roles on MasterChef and its offshoot following complaints of alleged misconduct.
What Happens On MasterChef: The Professionals?
Launched in 2008, MasterChef: The Professionals is a cooking competition which sees 32 professional chefs face a series of tough culinary challenges, battling it out in the hope of being crowned champion. As normal, the show begins with the notoriously tricky Skills Test, which is set this time by former MasterChef: The Professionals champions and finalists. Previous winners Gary Maclean (2016) and Nikita Pathakji (2022) alongside finalists Philli Armitage-Mattin (2020) and Matthew Ryle (2018) will be joining the judges for the inaugural heats, adding a new layer to the challenges. ‘It’s a celebration of all the talent that’s come through MasterChef,’ says Wareing. ‘Bringing those chefs back in, you can see the level of food has gone up another notch.’
Jimi Famurewa, Jay Rayner and William Sitwell (c) BBC / Shine TV
As the competition progresses, challenges become increasingly demanding. The quarter finals see a whole host of stars from the world of food returning to the show to judge the contestants’ food including Jay Rayner, William Sitwell, Tom Parker Bowles, Leyla Kazim, Xanthe Clay and Jimi Famurewa.
Meanwhile, during Knockout week the chefs will be tasked with delivering pop-up style food at London market Boxhall – cooking for 25 diners from the world of street food, no less. ‘Street food cookery really exposes people,’ notes Wareing. ‘Some chefs have never done service like that before and it’s tough. But wow, we ate well this year.’
Sustainability in food will be another key theme: in one episode, the semi finalists must deliver a low-waste dish which makes use of every part of the chef’s chosen ingredient. Elsewhere, the contestants will travel to the Scottish Highlands to cook at Mark Donald’s two-Michelin-starred Glenturret Lalique restaurant, and try their hand at Thai cooking with Anglo-Thai founder and all-round foodie legend John Chantarasak.
The finalists who make it to the Chef’s Table will head to London hotel The Goring to cook a feast for a starry line-up that includes Sarah Hayward, Daniel Clifford and Ahmet Dede. Then, we’ll see the final three embarking on an Italian cooking adventure, where they’ll cook for the esteemed chef patron Norbert Niederkofler – who landed three Michelin stars for his Atelier Moessmer restaurant within just four months of opening. No pressure then. All this will work up to the Grand Final, where the professionals will use everything they’ve learnt during the competition to deliver the best three-course meal of their careers; the judges will then decide who should be crowned the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2026.
When Is MasterChef: The Professionals On TV?
The show airs three nights a week on BBC One, with days and times varying due to scheduling changes. Following last night’s episode, the release schedule is as follows:
- Episode 2 – Wednesday 11 February at 8pm
- Episode 3 – Sunday 15 February at 7pm
- Episode 4 – Tuesday 17 February at 8pm
- Episode 5 – Wednesday 18 February at 8pm
Ola, Eniko, Gemma C, Chris (c) BBC / Shine TV
Who Won The Last Series?
The previous series of MasterChef: The Professionals, which aired in 2024, was won by then 29-year-old Dan Merriman. Before starring on the show, he spent 12 years working in prestigious kitchens across the country including the Michelin-starred Plas Bodegroes in north Wales, The Black Swan in Oldstead, and Northcote Manor in the Ribble Valley. Since landing his win, Merriman has launched his own at-home fine dining experience, as well as hosting a number of pop-ups and kitchen takeovers.
Catch up now on BBC iPlayer
