Celebrity MasterChef 2020 - line-up, start date and everything you need to know

Celebrity MasterChef
(Image credit: BBC/Shine TV)

Are you ready for more MasterChef?

Celebrity MasterChef will be welcoming more celebrities into the kitchen this year.

They'll be going head to head to impress judges and try to win the coveted trophy, following in the footsteps of olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford, who was crowned the winner last year.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming series...

Who is in the Celebrity MasterChef line up?

Phil Daniels in Masterchef 2020

Former EastEnders star Phil Daniels will be appearing in the new series (Picture: BBC/Shine TV) (Image credit: BBC/Shine TV)

20 new celebrities will be joining the MasterChef Kitchen, and it's quite the line up.

The top row of contestants is ex-footballer John Barnes, drag queen Baga Chipz, actress Felicity Montagu, rapper Lady Leshurr, and TV presenter Gethin Jones.

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Then we have tennis coach Judy Murray, actress Shyko Amos, YouTube star Riyadh Khalaf, former EastEnders star Phil Daniels, and TV presenter Amar Latif.

Amar is the first ever blind contestant to appear on Celebrity MasterChef.

The third row of contestants is stand up comedian Judi Love, TV presenter Dom Littlewood, former hockey player Sam Quek, TOWIE star Pete Wicks and The Apprentice's Thomas Skinner.

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Finally, there's Rak-Su band member Myles Stephenson, TV presenter Jeff Brazier, Kingdom Choir conductor Karen Gibson, former rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, and actress Chrissy Rock.

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When will Celebrity MasterChef be on TV?

Celebrity MasterChef starts on Wednesday 1st July, at 9pm on BBC One, with the show then airing on Friday 3rd July at 7.30 ad 8.30pm.

Thankfully, this series was filmed before lockdown, meaning it will follow the MasterChef format we all know and love.

You will also be able to catch up on any missed episodes on the BBC iPlayer.

What format will the series follow?

Myles Stephenson in Masterchef 2020

Singer Myles Stephenson will be taking part in the first heat (Picture: BBC/Shine TV) (Image credit: BBC/Shine TV)

Celebrity MasterChef will see four weeks of heats, followed by an intense semi-final and final.

The first heat will see Myles Stephenson, John, Barnes, Shyko Amos, Judi Love and Thomas Skinner all showing off their culinary skills.

Tasks throughout the series include cooking for 100 people for an anniversary lunch, a takeaway themed Invention Test, and cooking for celebrity chef Aldo Zilli.

So, no pressure then...

Will John Torode and Gregg Wallace be back?

John and Gregg smiling

They're back! John and Gregg will be judging once again this year (Picture: BBC/Shine TV) (Image credit: BBC/Shine TV)

Yes, it looks like the MasterChef regulars John Torode and Gregg Wallace will be returning to judging.

We're not sure if there'll be any guest judges just yet, but we can't wait to find out!

Lucy Buglass
Senior Staff Writer

Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.


She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story, Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress