Celebrity MasterChef UK has been turning athletes, actors, comedians and pop stars into kitchen champions since 2006. Born as a spin-off of MasterChef Goes Large, the show has aired on BBC One for nearly two decades. Here’s the complete winners list for Series 1 through 10, along with format details, judges and standout moments.
Quick Reference: Celebrity MasterChef UK Winners (Series 1–10)
| Series | Year | Winner | Known For | Contestants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2006 | Matt Dawson | Former England rugby player | 24 |
| 2 | 2007 | Nadia Sawalha | Actress, TV presenter | 24 |
| 3 | 2008 | Liz McClarnon | Singer (Atomic Kitten) | 24 |
| 4 | 2009 | Jayne Middlemiss | TV presenter | 36 |
| 5 | 2010 | Lisa Faulkner | Actress | 20 |
| 6 | 2011 | Phil Vickery | Former England rugby player | 16 |
| 7 | 2012 | Emma Kennedy | Writer, comedian | 16 |
| 8 | 2013 | Ade Edmondson | Comedian, actor | 16 |
| 9 | 2014 | Sophie Thompson | Actress | 20 |
| 10 | 2015 | Kimberly Wyatt | Singer (Pussycat Dolls) | 20 |
Series 1 (2006): Matt Dawson
Celebrity MasterChef UK launched on BBC One on 11 September 2006, devised as a celebrity spin-off of MasterChef Goes Large. Former England rugby star Matt Dawson claimed the inaugural title on 29 September 2006, beating out a field of 24 celebrities competing across weekly heats.
Series 2 (2007): Nadia Sawalha
Nadia Sawalha, the actress and TV presenter known for EastEnders and Loose Women, won Series 2 in June 2007, continuing the show’s early “Comeback Week” format where 24 celebrities battled through 12-person weekly heats.
Series 3 (2008): Liz McClarnon
Liz McClarnon, singer with the pop group Atomic Kitten, took the crown in Series 3, which aired in July 2008.
Series 4 (2009): Jayne Middlemiss
Series 4 expanded to a massive 36 celebrities, the largest cast in the show’s history. Jayne Middlemiss, the TV and radio presenter, emerged as champion in July 2009.
Series 5 (2010): Lisa Faulkner
Lisa Faulkner, the actress best known for Holby City and Spooks, won Series 5 in August 2010. Her win proved to be a life-changing moment — Lisa went on to build a full second career as a cookbook author and food personality, and she later married MasterChef judge John Torode in 2019.
Series 6 (2011): Phil Vickery
Phil Vickery, another former England rugby international (not to be confused with the celebrity chef of the same name), won Series 6 in October 2011. This season also marked a format shift, expanding to 30 episodes.
Series 7 (2012): Emma Kennedy
Writer and comedian Emma Kennedy claimed the Series 7 title in September 2012.
Series 8 (2013): Ade Edmondson
Comedy legend Ade Edmondson, known for The Young Ones and Bottom, was crowned Celebrity MasterChef champion in September 2013, judged by the now-familiar duo of John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Series 9 (2014): Sophie Thompson
Sophie Thompson, the acclaimed stage and screen actress (sister of Emma Thompson), won Series 9 in July 2014.
Series 10 (2015): Kimberly Wyatt
Kimberly Wyatt, former Pussycat Dolls singer and dancer, was crowned champion of Series 10 on 24 July 2015. Her season’s cast also included stars like Sarah Harding, Chesney Hawkes, and Rylan Clark, making it one of the more star-studded lineups of the era.
Celebrity MasterChef UK Judges (Series 1–10)
The judging panel remained remarkably consistent throughout this era:
- John Torode — judged continuously from 2006
- Gregg Wallace — judged continuously from 2006
Both judges presided over every series from 1 through 10, becoming the defining faces of the franchise for nearly two decades before later changes to the panel.
How the Format Evolved (Series 1–10)
- Series 1–3: The “Comeback Week” format — 24 celebrities per series, competing in weekly heats of 12
- Series 4: Cast size peaked at 36 celebrities, the largest in the show’s history
- Series 5 onward: Cast sizes gradually reduced to a more manageable 16–20 celebrities per series
- Series 6–7: Episode counts nearly doubled to 30 per series, before settling back down
FAQs
Who won the first series of Celebrity MasterChef UK? Former England rugby player Matt Dawson won Series 1 in 2006.
Who are the judges of Celebrity MasterChef UK? John Torode and Gregg Wallace judged every series from 1 through 10 (and well beyond).
How many celebrities compete each series? It has varied significantly — from 16 up to as many as 36 in Series 4.
Is there a cash prize for winning Celebrity MasterChef UK? No — like the regular MasterChef UK, the celebrity edition awards the title and trophy rather than a cash prize; funds raised often go to the celebrities’ chosen charities.
Who is the most famous winner of Celebrity MasterChef UK? Lisa Faulkner (Series 5) is arguably the most notable, having built an entire post-show career as a food writer and TV personality, and later marrying judge John Torode.