The MasterChef 20th Anniversary Dinner, held at Fishmongers’ Hall in Central London, marked the start of Semi Finals week with over 70 guests from across two decades of the series. Judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode were joined by former contestants, top chefs and guest critics for an evening of celebration.
Wallace described the event as “one of the most emotional evenings of my life”, noting that the show has helped many people achieve their goals. Torode, who cooked with eight amateur chefs for the 70 diners, called it “a fantastic celebration of incredible achievement”, highlighting how former participants have gone on to write books, open restaurants and pursue other food-related careers.
Guest critic Anna said MasterChef “protects the essence of what our industry is all about”, while fellow critic Grace remarked that being on the show remains “the biggest thrill” even after 12 years. Chef Big Has praised the series as “a British staple”, and critic Jay described it as “the gold standard against which all other cooking shows should be judged”.
The evening underscored the enduring popularity of MasterChef, which has launched numerous culinary careers since its debut. The current series continues with Semi Finals week, building towards the finale.
