Celebrity MasterChef is back on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the 2026 series now underway and the first heat already complete. Grace Dent returns to judge alongside new addition Giorgio Locatelli, with 15 celebrities competing across five weeks for the Celebrity MasterChef trophy.
The series began on Tuesday, 18 August and follows a three-episode-per-week format, moving through three weeks of heats before the semi-finals and final stages. The BBC has currently confirmed dates through the second heat, meaning the exact final date has not yet been officially announced, but the existing schedule gives us a strong indication of when the 2026 winner should be crowned.
When Does Celebrity MasterChef 2026 Finish?
Based on the five-week format and the current Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday pattern, we expect the Celebrity MasterChef 2026 final to air on Friday, 18 September 2026. That date is currently a prediction rather than a confirmed BBC transmission date. The opening two weeks each consist of episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9pm, followed by a Friday episode at 8pm. If that pattern continues across all five weeks, the competition would conclude on 18 September.
We will update this article when the BBC confirms the remaining September dates.
Celebrity MasterChef 2026 Full Episode Schedule
There are 15 episodes in this year’s series, spread across five weeks. The first six dates have now been confirmed, with the remaining dates below predicted from the BBC’s existing three-episode weekly pattern.
Tuesday, 18 August – Episode 1, Heat 1 – Aired
Wednesday, 19 August – Episode 2, Heat 1 – Aired
Friday, 21 August – Episode 3, Heat 1 Quarter-Final – Aired
Tuesday, 25 August – Episode 4, Heat 2 – Confirmed
Wednesday, 26 August – Episode 5, Heat 2 – Confirmed
Friday, 28 August – Episode 6, Heat 2 Quarter-Final – Confirmed
Tuesday, 1 September – Episode 7, Heat 3 – Predicted
Wednesday, 2 September – Episode 8, Heat 3 – Predicted
Friday, 4 September – Episode 9, Heat 3 Quarter-Final – Predicted
Tuesday, 8 September – Episode 10, Semi-Finals – Predicted
Wednesday, 9 September – Episode 11, Semi-Finals – Predicted
Friday, 11 September – Episode 12, Semi-Finals – Predicted
Tuesday, 15 September – Episode 13, Final Week – Predicted
Wednesday, 16 September – Episode 14, Final Week – Predicted
Friday, 18 September – Episode 15, Final – Predicted
The BBC can still move programmes around its schedule, so the September dates should be treated as expected rather than confirmed until official listings are published.
Who Has Made It Through Celebrity MasterChef 2026 So Far?
The first heat began with Emily Campbell, Jason Mohammad, Jay McGuiness, Joe Pasquale and Shakira Khan. Jay became the first celebrity eliminated on Wednesday, 19 August after struggling with his vegetarian pie, leaving the remaining four to compete in the first quarter-final.
Jason Mohammad was then eliminated in the quarter-final on Friday, 21 August, meaning Emily Campbell, Joe Pasquale and Shakira Khan are the first three celebrities confirmed for the semi-finals.
Who Is Competing in Week Two?
The second heat begins on Tuesday, 25 August with actress and comedian Donna Preston, Gladiators star Emily Steel, former Royal Ballet dancer Eric Underwood, actor Nitin Ganatra and YouTuber and comedian Tom Simons, better known as TommyInnit.
The five will compete across three episodes, with Zoe Ball appearing during Wednesday’s “Who’s Coming to Dinner?” challenge and Tom Kerridge setting a challenge in Friday’s quarter-final.
Who Is Competing in Week Three?
The final heat features Paralympic athlete Lauren Steadman MBE, YouTuber and comedian Max Fosh, DJ and presenter Melvin Odoom, actor and Loose Women star Sue Cleaver and The Saturdays singer Una Healy.
Three celebrities are expected to progress from each heat, giving the series its group of semi-finalists before the competition moves into its final two weeks.
Who Are the Celebrity MasterChef 2026 Judges?
Grace Dent returns as a judge for the 2026 series and is joined by Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Locatelli. Locatelli has extensive experience with the format through MasterChef Italia and joins Dent throughout the five-week competition.
Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball and Morgan Burtwistle, better known as Angry Ginge, are also appearing as celebrity guest judges during the series.
Can You Watch Celebrity MasterChef 2026 on BBC iPlayer?
Yes. Episodes of Celebrity MasterChef 2026 are available through BBC iPlayer as well as airing on BBC One, so anyone who misses the live broadcast can catch up online. The first heat is already available to watch, with new episodes continuing to arrive as the series progresses.
For CultureCues, Celebrity MasterChef is already proving to be a very easy summer watch, and we are really enjoying Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli as the new judging pair. With Emily Campbell, Joe Pasquale and Shakira Khan already safely through, we are looking forward to seeing who joins them over the next two heats and, eventually, who gets their hands on that trophy… Let’s see who has the recipe for success.
Celebrity MasterChef continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the second heat beginning on Tuesday, 25 August at 9pm.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.