Where are the past MasterChef UK winners now?
MASTERCHEF has propelled the careers of cooks all over the country as they get to display their culinary skills on the show.
Let's take a look at some of the past winners of the show and what they are up to now.
Series one - Thomasina Miers – 2005
Thomasina was a bit of a foodie before appearing on MasterChef, as she was already a freelance food writer.
After winning the contest, the Cheltenham chef fronted two cookery series on Channel 4 and published her own cookery book.
She worked at London's Petersham Nurseries with celebrated chef Skye Gyngell, before opening the Mexican restaurant Wahaca, in Covent Garden.
She has now expanded the brand into a nationwide chain of restaurants and street kitchens.
Since the show she and husband Mark Williams have also had three children.
Series two - Peter Bayless – 2006
The former advertising man, Peter Bayless, said winning the show changed his life.
He wrote a book about his experience – called My Father Could Only Boil Cornflakes - and went on to cook at the celebrated restaurant Le Gavroche.
He said: “Suddenly my lifelong passion for food, its preparation and its cooking were allowed to come to the forefront of my existence, rather than remaining no more than a hobby or pastime.”
He now cooks at various French restaurants.
Series three - Steven Wallis – 2007
Steven worked in the fashion industry before turning his attention to food.
He bagged the title in series three and then packed in his job and went around the world, expanding his culinary horizons.
He then became a writer, private chef and a flavour consultant.
Steven is still part of the MasterChef family and often reappears on the show as a guest judge.
Series four - James Nathan – 2008
The former criminal lawyer went from the courtroom to the kitchen after winning MasterChef, landing his first chef’s job at Bentleys Oyster Bar in Piccadilly.
He moved on to Michael Caine’s Bath Priory before working with Rick Stein at his Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall.
After running his own restaurant The Green Room at the Retallack Resort and Spa, he became an executive chef at the St Enodoc Hotel, also in Cornwall, in 2016.
In 2019 he became Head Chef at the Clifton Lido Restaurant in Bristol.
Series five - Mat Follas – 2009
New Zealander Mat originally went back to his job in IT before finally getting the backing for his own restaurant and opening The Wild Garlic, in Beaminster, Dorset.
The business closed in 2013, months after relocating, and Mat went on to write two cookbooks - Fish and Vegetable Perfection.
He and wife Amanda now own the Bramble Cafe and Deli in Poundbury, Dorset.
Mat often judges food competitions and events, and is also a regular judge for MasterChef and The Great Taste Awards.
Series six - Dhruv Baker – 2010
Born in Mexico and raised in India, Dhruv brought some interesting flavours to the MasterChef table – and went on to work with Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche and at De Librije in Holland.
He published his first recipe book, Spice, in 2014.
He now co-owns catering company Earlsfield Kitchen and the Jolly Gardeners pub in Earlsfield, London.
Series seven - Tim Anderson – 2011
American bar manager Tim has a passion for Japanese food, which he picked up as a teenager after watching a TV cookery show.
Since winning in 2011, Tim has worked in the kitchen of La Gavroche and The Fat Duck and has been a regular presenter on Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube and Drinks Tube, and a frequent guest on the Radio 4 food panel show The Kitchen Cabinet.
He went on to run the Japanese soul food restaurant Nanban in Brixton and also published a book of recipes served there, but left in 2021.
As of 2022 he has published five books on Japanese cuisine.
Series eight - Shelina Permalloo – 2012
Born in Southampton, of Mauritian stock, the former project manager published her first cookbook Sunshine On A Plate a year after her win and her second, The Sunshine Diet, in January 2015.
She has since opened a Mauritian street food kitchen called Lakaz Maman in her home city.
Shelina opened her first restaurant Lakaz Maman in Southampton in April 2016.
Series nine - Natalie Coleman – 2013
Natalie was a part-time techno DJ before taking the MasterChef crown.
She has since worked in celebrated restaurants including Le Gavroche, the Gilbert Scott and the Hand & Flowers.
She went on to be head chef at the Winchmore pub in North London.
In 2021 Natalie was appointed head chef at The Oyster Shed, which can be found along the River Thames.
Series 10 - Ping Coombes – 2014
Malaysian Ping describes herself as “a home cook who was propelled into a ‘dream come true’ world of cooking” with her MasterChef win.
Being made redundant spurred her on to apply to the show and her Malaysian meals impressed all the judges.
Since winning, Ping has run street food classes and set up a company, Ping's Pantry.
She was the executive chef of Chi Kitchen, the pan-Asian restaurant in Debenhams's flagship Oxford Street store before its closure.
Now, she is one of the chefs at recipe box business, The Cookaway.
In May 2016, she released her first cookbook, Malaysia: Recipes From A Family Kitchen.
Ping was crowned also MasterChef Champion of Champions in 2021.
Series 11 - Simon Wood – 2015
Lancashire contestant Simon was a data manager before his MasterChef win and soon switched careers.
He combined his love of food and football and became the Executive Chef at his beloved Oldham Athletic and is a columnist in Lancashire Life.
His first recipe book At Home With Simon Wood was published in April 2016.
In September 2017, Simon opened his first major restaurant called WOOD Manchester.
Following the success of his Manchester restaurant, he opened WOOD Chester in March 2018.
His latest offering is WOODKRAFT Cheltenham which opened in November 2018.
Series 12 - Jane Devonshire – 2016
Mum-of-four Jane appealed to the nation’s hearts as well as their stomachs with her sweet nature and homegrown cookery skills.
Since winning the show she has cooked with top chefs including Michel Roux, Jason Atherton, Michael O’Hare, Marcus Wareing and Atul Kochhar.
Jane has written two cookbooks - Hassle Free, Gluten Free (2018) and Vegetarian Hassle Free, Gluten Free (2020).
Series 13 - Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – 2017
Saliha's day job is as a hospital doctor specialising in Gastroenterology.Since winning the show with her fusion style cuisine, she has hosted cookery classes, appeared at food shows and even collaborated with Michelin Star chef Atul Kochar.
Her debut cookbook Khazana was published in September 2018 and will explore the culinary heritage of Indo-Persia and the Mughal Empire inspired dishes.
As well as being a doctor, she is also a celebrity chef and often appears on Saturday Kitchen.
Series 14 - Kenny Tutt - 2018
Kenny lives in Worthing, West Sussex, with his wife and two children.
When he went on the show, he said his job with the bank was his first "proper" job, and that he appeared on MasterChef because he wanted to try something different.
However, since winning the show, Kenny has now opened his own restaurant and cookery school called Pitch in Worthing.
He also owns The Bayside Social on Worthing’s seafront.
Series 15 - Irini Tzortzoglou - 2019
Irini is an amateur cook who is originally from the Greek island of Crete.
She formerly worked as a banker until she was 50.
She now lives in Cumbria and previously studied at Kingston University in London.
In 2020 Irini released her first cookbook called Under the Olive Tree: Recipes from my Greek Kitchen.
Series 16 - Thomas Frake - 2020
Thomas is a former London banking and international finance worker turned chef.
Upon winning the show he said: “Honestly, it’s a dream come true. It’s been immense and the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I can’t see me not working in food for the rest of my life."
He appeared on the 2021 MasterChef series as a guest judge and has also hinted at plans to open his own gastropub in the near future.
As of 2022 he works as a brand ambassador for Clarence Court Eggs.
Series 17 - Tom Rhodes - 2021
Tom is the current reigning champ of MasterChef.
The Newcastle-based chef was described as a "phenomenal talent" by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
He grew up in Rochdale before moving to Newcastle for university and settling in the city where he now lives and works
Since winning the show, he runs his own website full of recipes and cooking ideas.