Semi-finals week for MasterChef began with a glittering celebration at Fishmongers' Hall in central London, where more than 70 past contestants and champions gathered for the 20th Anniversary Dinner. The event marked two decades of the beloved cooking competition, bringing together a 'big, big family' of alumni, as 2019 finalist Chariya put it.
For many, the show proved transformative. Dhruv, the 2020 winner, said MasterChef enabled him to change careers into food, a dream that had become 'a pipe dream' before his appearance. Reflecting on where he might be without the show, he admitted: 'I would still be doing a job I disliked... I would definitely not have as much fulfilment then from what I do now.'
Irini, a 2019 finalist, described MasterChef as marking 'the beginning of a new chapter', leading to expertise in olive oil and honey. James, the 2005 champion, called the show 'the defining moment in my life', adding that it formed a 'massive MasterChef family'. Without it, he quipped, he would have been 'a very boring lawyer'.
Jane, a past champion who now runs a bespoke hospitality business, said MasterChef 'changed my life' and thanked the show's fans, calling them 'some of the best in the world'. Chariya, who might otherwise have stayed at her coffee roastery, echoed the sentiment, while Dhruv marvelled at the two-decade milestone: 'Saying it out loud, it just sounds bizarre.'
As the semi-finals unfold, the alumni raised a glass to viewers. 'We wouldn't be here without the support of the fans,' said James, 'and everywhere I go people are so nice about the competition.' With the 20th series underway, the celebration honoured a show that has repeatedly changed lives, and the family it has built along the way.
