MasterChef UK winners – where are they now?

Eddie Scott wins MasterChef 2022 after an incredible season full of culinary prowess. What’s next for him? Let’s look back at the previous MasterChef champions.

We discover what past MasterChef winners, including Thomasina Miers, Dhruv Baker and Tom Rhodes, are up to today.

Tom Rhodes– 2021 

From being an assistant manager at Nando’s to impressing the whole country with his culinary skills, Tom Rhodes has sure come a long way. After winning MasterChef in 2021, Tom has gathered quite a following on social media where he shares his most recent recipes. He is also a private chef and will be touring at several foodies festivals this year.  

Thomas Frake – 2020

Amateur chef and London banker Thomas Frake was the winner of the 16th series of MasterChef. Cooking classic British dishes such as monkfish scampi and braised ox cheek, the finance professional beat 60 contestants, including David Rickett and Sandy Tang, to the top spot. Judge Gregg Wallace said “He takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary”.

Despite the rough timing of his win due to the pandemic, Thomas has been sharing his food nationwide through fine-dining home deliveries, writing recipe features for various publications and becoming a brand ambassador for Clarence Court eggs. He is planning to release his first cookbook, but you can also get some of his recipes from @thomas.frake. 

thomas.frake/Instagram

Irini Tzortzoglou – 2019

Greek-born chef Irini lifted the trophy after taking part in the first all-female final with Jilly McCord and Delia Maria Asser.

She quit her job as a banker in London and moved to the Lake District back in 2010, looking for a change of pace. So, it's not surprising Irini said she has no plans to open a restaurant. She has, however released a cookbook, Under the Olive Tree filled with easy, everyday recipes that celebrate the cuisine of her home country, and is working on her second book. She has also developed a nutrition and cooking class programme: Uni.Yum, which is delivered to students at Cumbria University. 

READ MORE: An interview with MasterChef winner Irini Tzortzoglou

Kenny Tutt – 2018

Kenny Tutt from Worthing, West Sussex, was the 14th home cook to scoop the MasterChef title. Once a bank manager at Santander in Brighton, Kenny is now at the helm of Pitch, a restaurant in his hometown of Worthing, serving a contemporary mix of modern and classic British food. 

Kenny Tutt/Twitter

Saliha Mahmood Ahmed – 2017

Watford-based doctor Saliha drew on her Pakistani heritage for exciting dishes packed with flavour. Her debut cookbook Khazana, featuring Indo-Persian recipes, was published in September 2018, followed by her second book Foodology which is about digestive health, all while continuing to work for the NHS.  

READ MORE: Great British Bake Off winners: where are they now?

Jane Devonshire – 2016

Since her win, mother-of-four Jane has moved onwards and upwards. She has created her own website and posts recipes and blogs about her culinary triumphs. In 2016 she spent a week in Michel Roux Jr's two Michelin-starred London restaurant, Le Gavroche, and has popped up at other restaurants and festivals. She has also published two cookbooks, Hassle-free, Gluten-free and Vegetarian Hassle-free, Gluten-free. 

Shine/BBC

Simon Wood – 2015

Data manager Simon Wood fought off fierce competition to win the 2015 edition of MasterChef. Judge Gregg Wallace said he had "no doubt" that Simon would secure a professional career in the food industry. John Torode added he thought Simon's food was "brilliant, it's delicious, it's refined – and we get to put him out into the real world". 

After winning, Simon was appointed executive chef at Oldham Athletic FC and Oldham Event Centre. Today, he has two of his own Wood restaurants found in Manchester and Cheltenham. His first cookbook At Home with Simon Wood was published in 2016. 

Ping Coombes – 2014

Malaysian-born Ping Coombes was made redundant shortly before being invited onto the show. Since her victory, she has run street food classes, appeared at food festivals and popped up at restaurants, working under the name Ping's Pantry. She is executive chef of Ping Pan-Asian, located in Selfridges, London, and has published a cookbook called Malaysia. She also hosts online cooking classes and has a meal service called Ping at Home. 

Shine/BBC

Natalie Coleman – 2013

Since her MasterChef victory, Natalie from Hackney, London, has worked at some of the UK's most renowned restaurants (including Le Gavroche, the Gilbert Scott and the Hand & Flowers) and published her first cookbook Winning Recipes: For Every Day in 2014, a world away from her earlier job as a credit controller and techno DJ. She was at the head of Waterloo-based bar and restaurant Hello Darling, which has since then, unfortunately, permanently closed.  

Shelina Permalloo – 2012

Following her victory on MasterChef in 2012, former charity worker Shelina has been sharing her take on Mauritian cooking with the world. Her first book Sunshine on a Plate was published in June 2013 and her second, The Sunshine Diet was published in January 2015. She's also fulfilled her dream of opening a restaurant – a Mauritian street food place called Lakaz Maman in Southampton. She is also a panelist on Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet, famously hosted by restaurant critic Jay Rayner. 

Shine/BBC

Tim Anderson – 2011

The American-born craft beer bar manager wowed John and Gregg by using elements of Japanese cooking in his dishes. Since he picked up the crown, he’s had stints at Le Gavroche and the Fat Duck and has been an ambassador for Malaysian food. 

His 'Japanese soul food restaurant' Nanban now has two sites, in Brixton and Covent Garden, London, and he has since then published five very successful cookbooks: Your Home Izakaya (2021), Vegan Japaneasy (2020), Tokyo Stories (2019), Japaneasy (2017) and Nanban: Japanese Soul Food (2015). You have to try Tim's Malaysian seafood curry 

READ MORE: An interview with MasterChef: The Professionals contestant Santosh Shah

Dhruv Baker – 2010

The Mexican-born, Indian-raised Dhruv Baker quit his job in media sales to take part in the 2010 series. Since his win he has worked with Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche and at De Librije in Holland. In 2014 he released his cookbook Spice: Layers of Flavour. His most recent venture is a company called Tempus Foods which makes high-end charcuterie. 

Packed with flavour, Dhruv's griddled prawn Thai salad is a must-try.

Shine/BBC

Mat Follas – 2009

After winning the title in 2009, New Zealand-born Mat Follas found it difficult to raise the financial backing to open a restaurant, so he went back to his job in IT. But he persevered and opened The Wild Garlic in Beaminster, Dorset, in June 2009. 

The restaurant moved and sadly subsequently closed in late 2013. He now runs foraging and gin-making courses and has published three books: Fish, Vegetable Perfection and Afternoon Tea and has a new venture in Sherborne, Dorset called Bramble Restaurant. 

From a chocolate fondant to a poached egg salad, there's a lot to love about Mat Follas' recipes.

James Nathan – 2008

After his victory, former barrister James Nathan spent time honing his craft at Bentleys Oyster Bar in Piccadilly, London, and at the Michael Caines-owned Bath Priory in Bath. He then worked as a chef at Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow and went on to open his own restaurant, The Green Room at the Retallack Resort and Spa in Cornwall. It closed in 2016 as James moved on to run the restaurant at the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock. 

He now works as a private chef and restaurant consultant, also doing bespoke private catering.

For a taste of his award-winning cooking, give James' pigeon breast and cider purée or vanilla sablé recipes a go.

Shine/BBC

Steven Wallis – 2007

The former fashion strategist packed up his bags after winning MasterChef and travelled the world, having culinary adventures and blogging about it on his website The Urban Foodie. He’s put that knowledge to good use as a writer, private chef and flavour consultant, and has worked with Sainsbury's and Rachel's Organic. 

Peter Bayless – 2006

Having previously worked in advertising, Peter Bayless wrote a book about winning the 2006 edition of MasterChef called My Father Could Only Boil Cornflakes before going on to work at Le Gavroche.

He is now a private chef and writes for food magazines as well as hosting private cooking classes. 

Shine/BBC

Thomasina Miers – 2005

Former freelance food writer Thomasina continued her media career after winning the 2005 series. This time she was the star of her own Channel 4 programmes and author of several cookery books. 

She also had a spell at Petersham Nurseries, under the tutelage of celebrated chef Skye Gyngell, before she opened London Mexican restaurant Wahaca, which has since expanded into a nationwide chain. She has released several cookbooks, including Meat-free Mexican. For a taste of Thomasina's cooking, why not try her Mexican aguachile recipe. 

READ MORE: An interview with Thomasina Miers

Main image: BBC/Shine TV