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Celebrity MasterChef 2026 confirms EastEnders legend and Gladiators favourite for line-up
Who will be able to handle the heat in the kitchen?
BBC
- Tilly Pearce
Published: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at 11:29 am
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Celebrity MasterChef 2026 is adding to its line-up and has revealed the five stars set to compete in the second heat of this year’s competition.
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On Monday, it was confirmed this year’s heat one would feature stars including Love Island’s Shakira Khan, comedy legend Joe Pasquale and The Wanted star Jay McGuinness.
However, if they get past their heat, they’ll have more fellow stars to go head-to-head against in order to lift that acclaimed trophy.
In the second announcement for this week’s series, the BBC have confirmed Donna Preston, Emily Steel, Eric Underwood, Nitin Ganatra and Tom Simons (aka TommyInnit) will be showing off their skills in the kitchen during heat two.
Comedian and actress Donna Preston, who also appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 2025, called appearing on Celebrity MasterChef "a dream of hers" and added: "I want to do MasterChef to learn, to challenge myself, to work under pressure.
“I would absolutely love that trophy, but I’m really excited about the apron."
Donna Preston on Celebrity MasterChef 2026. BBC
Emily Steel – best known as her Gladiators alter-ego Dynamite – is also ready to flex her culinary muscles to impress the judges.
"I love experimenting with recipes and ideas. I find it so enjoyable cooking for other people," she said. "I’m really into presentation, and I always want to pair my food with a mocktail or nice drink."
Royal Ballet Dancer Eric Underwood is hoping that his appearance on the show will help shifts perceptions about dancers and their eating habits – and even has his own aspirations that inspired him to take part.
He said: "Ballet dancers and food do not go naturally together but I want to change that perception.
"I love cooking and entertaining - well I give it a go, and I’m very willing to learn and put effort into it. I live on a farm with my husband and we’re hoping to get into 'farm to table' - we grow our own veg and have cows, chickens, sheep, bees, we make our own honey."
Nitin Ganatra on Celebrity MasterChef 2026. BBC
Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra, beloved for playing Masood Ahmed on the BBC soap, has a more sentimental reason for donning the MasterChef apron.
"I’m doing it for my mum who I was extremely close to. She was the best cook in the world," he said. "Food is first in our family.
"The first question she always asked was, 'what do you want to eat?'. I’m a vegetarian and pre-diabetic; therefore, I have recently undergone a food revolution where I have explored cooking to utilise it in the healthiest way."
At just 22 years old, Tom Simons – who has made a name for himself as a content creator, podcast host and YouTuber – is the youngest member of the heat, but thinks his dedication could give him the upper hand.
He said: "I’m excited because it looks like great fun, and I think I can make some basic but creative meals. I’m not a great cook but I will try really hard. It’s my first time on a proper TV show!"
Celebrity MasterChef will air on BBC One later this summer, with the rest of the cast set to be announced in the run-up to the show’s release.
Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
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Authors
Tilly PearceFreelance Writer
Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.
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