Celebrity MasterChef 2026 line-up revealed
Strictly winner Jay McGuinness and YouTuber TommyInnit among first contestants announced.
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The BBC has revealed the first ten celebrities who will compete in the 2026 series of Celebrity MasterChef. The long-running cooking competition returns later this year for its 21st series and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
First Heat Contestants
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Musician and Strictly Come Dancing winner Jay McGuinness will be the first to enter the kitchen. McGuinness, known for being part of the boyband The Wanted, is a vegetarian who enjoys cooking with spice. He admitted that his plate presentation might not meet MasterChef standards.
Comedian Joe Pasquale, a winner of I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, also joins the competition. Pasquale expressed a hope to build new confidence in the kitchen through the show.
Love Island star Shakira Khan, aged 23, described herself as a 'simple cook' but is eager to learn new recipes and step outside her comfort zone. She aims to become her family's main chef.
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TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad will also compete. He considers himself a 'Christmas Day chef' who cooks for his family most nights and has fond memories of picking vegetables in his grandfather's garden.
Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell rounds out the first group of contestants. Campbell stated she is confident in the kitchen and keen to enhance her culinary knowledge.
Second Heat Contestants
The line-up for the second heat has also been announced. It includes actress and comedian Donna Preston, TV Gladiator Dynamite (Emily Steel), presenter and former Royal Ballet dancer Eric Underwood, and actor Nitin Ganatra.
YouTuber and stand-up comedian Tom Simons, also known as TommyInnit, is set to compete in the second heat.
Questions this report answers
+Who are the first celebrities announced for Celebrity MasterChef 2026?
The first ten celebrities include Jay McGuinness, Emily Campbell, TommyInnit, Joe Pasquale, Shakira Khan, and Jason Mohammad. These stars will compete in the 21st series of the show, which airs later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
+When will Celebrity MasterChef 2026 start?
The 21st series of Celebrity MasterChef will be broadcast later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The exact date has not been confirmed in the article, but it is scheduled for release in the coming months.
+What does Jay McGuinness hope to achieve on Celebrity MasterChef?
Jay McGuinness aims to improve his plate presentation skills, despite being a vegetarian who enjoys spicy cooking. He admitted his presentation might not meet MasterChef standards, showing his willingness to learn and grow in the competition.
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