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MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 line-up - Meet the chefs

The first heat is up!

A line of chefs — Jack, Jemma, Kieran, Ruchi, Dan and Matty — for MasterChef: The Professionals

BBC/Shine TV Ltd/

Published: Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at 3:00 pm

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MasterChef: The Professionals is back for a 19th season on BBC One as 24 professional chefs take on a new culinary challenge set by judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti.

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Across seven weeks, the chefs will be tested on every aspect of their craft, from precision and technique to bold creativity and their ability to perform under pressure, with the field whittled down heat by heat.

The line-up spans fine-dining kitchens, private cheffing and independent restaurant ventures.

Read on for a guide to the contestants taking part in MasterChef: The Professionals season 19.

MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 full line-up

Below is a list of the contestants confirmed to be taking part in MasterChef: The Professionals 2026.

Read on to learn more about the contestants taking part.

Heat one

Ruchi Mehrotra

Ruchi stood in front of the MasterChef logo hanging on a brick wall. She is wearing chef whites and has her arms folded while she smiles.

Ruchi. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Private chef and owner of Milaanj by Ruchi Mehrotra

Ruchi Mehrotra is a private chef and the owner of Milaanj by Ruchi Mehrotra, providing "thoughtful signature Indian dining".

Jack Sencherey-Evans

A man stood with his arms folded in front of his chest, wearing chef whites and stood in front of the MasterChef logo.

Jack. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Operations director at Relentless Steak & Lobster House

Jack Sencherey-Evans is operations director at Relentless Steak & Lobster House, having been at Natty's Jerk during filming.

Jemma Harrison

A woman smiling ahead while wearing chef whites and her arm folded in front of her.

Jemma. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Chef and owner of Kaunter

Jemma Harrison is the chef and owner of Kaunter, where "New York deli buzz meets Eastern European flair".

Kieran Jones

A man smiling ahead with his arms folded. He is wearing chef whites.

Kieran. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Sous chef at Sunlaws Restaurant, Schloss Roxburghe Hotel

Location: Scottish Borders

Kieran Jones is a sous chef at Sunlaws Restaurant within the Schloss Roxburghe Hotel in the Scottish Borders.

Dan Nunn

A man stood smiling with his arms folded in front of his chest, wearing chef whites.

Dan. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Senior sous chef at The Sir Charles Napier

Location: Oxfordshire

Dan Nunn is a senior sous chef at The Sir Charles Napier in Oxfordshire, serving up British and French cuisine.

Matty Grove

A man smiling ahead with his arms folded in front of his chest. He is wearing chef whites.

Matty. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Head chef at Caper & Cure

Location: Bristol

Matty Grove is head chef at Caper & Cure, a restaurant in Bristol.

"I've worked in kitchens for a long time, but the bulk of my education came from chef Gordon at Menu Gordon Jones. That's when things got real," Matty told The Staff Canteen.

Heat two

Gregory Schaad-Jackson

A man wearing chef whites with his arms folded in front of his chest, looking ahead.

Gregory. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Virtual cooking experience host and mobile caterer

Gregory Schaad-Jackson hosts virtual cooking experiences and works as a mobile caterer, arriving with a less conventional culinary background than many of his rivals.

Morteza Nouri

Morteza smiling ahead with his arms folded.

Morteza. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Private chef

Morteza Nouri works as a private chef.

Clara Lim

A woman stood looking ahead with her arms folded in front of her chest.

Clara. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Sous chef at Rambutan

Location: London

Clara Lim is a sous chef at Rambutan, the acclaimed Sri Lankan-inspired restaurant in London's Borough Market.

Ben Black

A man smiling ahead with his arms folded in front of his chest.

Ben. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Junior sous chef at Knockinaam Lodge Hotel & Restaurant

Location: Scotland

Ben Black is a junior sous chef at Knockinaam Lodge Hotel & Restaurant in Scotland, having been at Condita during filming.

Ibraheem 'Ibz' Umar

A man looking ahead with his arms folded in front of his chest.

Ibz. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Chef de partie and co-founder of Guatú

Ibraheem 'Ibz' Umar is a chef de partie and co-founder of Guatú, a London-based Caribbean culinary pop-up.

Filomena 'Philly' D'Uva

A woman stood in front of a brick wall, wearing white chef whites with her arms folded.

Philly. BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Job: Chef patron at Delizia Italian Food

Filomena D'Uva is chef patron at Delizia Italian Food, a place "where people can appreciate what is the authentic Italian food".

Upcoming heats

Abigail Smith

Job: Demi chef de partie at The Hand and Flowers

Location: Marlow

Abigail Smith arrives from one of the country's most celebrated kitchens, working as a demi chef de partie at Tom Kerridge's two-Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers in Marlow.

Aleandro Brown

Job: Private chef

Aleandro Brown works as a private chef.

Alfred Petty

Job: Chef and owner of Petty Fours

Location: Cornwall

Alfred Petty runs his own business, Petty Fours, in Cornwall, a restaurant that offers "a delightful fusion of taste and theatre".

Andrea Ruszel

Job: Private chef and founder of Andrea's Table

Andrea Ruszel is a private chef and the founder of Andrea's Table, a private dining offering contemporary Italian cuisine.

Connor Wilson

Job: Head chef at The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest

Connor Wilson is head chef at The Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman's Rest, a gastropub located on the borders of Northumberland and Cumbria.

Dominique Ogunlowo

Job: Private chef and food blogger

Dominique Ogunlowo is a private chef who offers "bespoke dining experiences and event catering services".

Inayya Hamid

Job: Sous chef at 64 Goodge Street

Location: London

Inayya Hamid is a sous chef at 64 Goodge Street in London, a restaurant from Woodhead Restaurant Group.

Isabel Almeida Da Silva

Job: Co-founder and head chef at Volta Do Mar

Isabel Almeida Da Silva is co-founder and head chef at Volta Do Mar, a Portuguese restaurant in London.

Jacintha Henderson

Job: Lecturer at City of Glasgow College and freelance chef

Location: Glasgow

Jacintha Henderson lectures at City of Glasgow College and works as a freelance chef.

Jim Foster-Grundy

Job: Head chef at The Goose and Cuckoo

Jim Foster-Grundy is head chef at The Goose and Cuckoo, bringing pub-kitchen experience to the MasterChef gantry.

Manuel Ribeiro

Job: Head chef at 670 Grams

Location: Birmingham

Manuel Ribeiro heads up the kitchen at 670 Grams, a tasting-menu restaurant in Birmingham.

Sebastian Brooks

Job: Junior sous chef at Jumeirah Carlton Tower

Location: London

Sebastian Brooks is a junior sous chef at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London.

MasterChef: The Professionals begins on Tuesday 3 November at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Add MasterChef: The Professionals to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Katelyn Mensah, smiling against a lime green background.

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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