Celebrity MasterChef crowns 2024 winner

Celebrity MasterChef revealed its 2024 champion, as one contender takes the crown.

After six long weeks, tonight’s (September 20) live episode saw radio presenter Craig Doyle, actress Rochenda Sandall and professional dancer Vito Coppola take their places in the gruelling finale.

With one final challenge to take home the trophy, the celebrities attempted to wow the judges with an ultimate dinner menu. Each contestant had to create a main course and dessert to showcase their talent, creativity, presentation and palate.

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As always, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace were on hand to taste the dishes and give their opinions before making the crucial decision. “They didn’t take this final lightly. They gave it their all, all three of them,” said John.

The couple praised Rochenda as the “master of world cuisine,” noting that she puts “so much passion, so much heart” into her dishes. Gregg highlighted Craig’s technique, which he demonstrated “with elegance and beautiful presentation.”

However, after an extremely close final, it was Vito’s “absolute majesty of true Italian cuisine” that earned him the title of MasterChef 2024 champion.

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The judges were presented with six delicious dishes, created by the finalists in just two hours.

Craig served monkfish on a bed of buttered leeks, with crispy mussels, followed by blood orange and lemon curd panna cotta. “I think it’s a fantastic demonstration of serious classical cooking,” Gregg agreed.

Gregg judged Rochenda’s lamb rump steak and fondant potatoes “perfect.” Judges praised his orange polenta cake with pistachio ice cream for its balance of sweet and tangy flavors.

Finally, Vito served a “fantastic” seafood pasta scialatielli. “I have absolutely no complaints,” John said. Gregg called his rum baba dessert “perfect, perfect, perfect,” despite its simple presentation.

After lifting the coveted trophy, Vito expressed how much this competition means to him. “People think that food is just food. But no, I still say that food is life,” he said. “It’s the first love of my life: food.”

Celebrity MasterChef broadcast on BBC One.

Learn more MasterChef news on our dedicated homepage

Divya is an experienced freelance writer in the entertainment and lifestyle news space. Described as a “TV junkie” since childhood, Divya translated her interests into a BJTC-accredited degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a freelance journalist. She has also written for various publications, including Metro, Asian World News And TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her knowledge of TV, movies and showbiz, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soap operas to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for personalized recommendations and up-to-date information.