{"id":575639,"date":"2026-07-30T15:16:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:16:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/575639\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T15:16:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:16:18","slug":"bbc-confirms-next-batch-of-celebrity-masterchef-2026-contestants-including-coronation-street-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/575639\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC confirms next batch of Celebrity MasterChef 2026 contestants \u2013 including Coronation Street star"},"content":{"rendered":"

After previously confirming the first two groups of celebrities entering the MasterChef kitchen in 2026, the BBC has now also revealed the third heat \u2013 including a Coronation Street and Loose Women star. <\/p>\n

Keep scrolling for the full Celebrity MasterChef line-up so far, all competing in the cooking competition once it returns to our screens. <\/p>\n

Celebrity MasterChef 2026 lineup: Heat Three\"sue<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Sue Cleaver<\/p>\n

Best known for playing Eileen Grimshaw in ITV’s Coronation Street, a role that she held for 25 years, Sue has also gone on to become a Loose Women panellist, as well as appearing in I’m a Celebrity. <\/p>\n

“I really love the show and want to learn! Other people say I’m good, so we\u2019ll see,” she said of her reason for wanting to take part in MasterChef. <\/p>\n

“I will always try and make my food look presentable,” she said of her cooking style. “I mainly cook for my husband at home, most nights are easy, but I always do a big roast on a Sunday.”<\/p>\n

\"melvin<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Melvin Odoom<\/p>\n

A popular radio DJ and TV presenter, Melvin has fronted the Kiss FM breakfast show and BBC Radio 1, as well as The Xtra Factor, and taken part in red carpet hosting at the BRIT Awards. As a celebrity contestant, Melvin has previously competed in Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity. <\/p>\n

“I’ve lived alone for years so I only cook for myself\u2026 I want to show off my cooking skills and see if I\u2019m any good,” Melvin said of MasterChef. “I’d love to improve my skills, and it looks like a fun show. I can cook for one, but its hard for two or more, this is a real test. My cooking will be like my DJ’ing \u2013 I don’t DJ for myself, I DJ for the crowd.”<\/p>\n

“I’m by no means a gourmet cook, but a good cook with the basics,” he later explained. “I’m influenced by my Ghanaian\/West African background, we use a lot of flavour.”<\/p>\n

\"lauren<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Lauren Steadman MBE<\/p>\n

A Paralympic athlete who has competed across swimming and the paratriathlon, you may also recognise Lauren from her time in Strictly Come Dancing, when she was partnered with AJ Pritchard, making it to the semifinal. <\/p>\n

“I can compete in sports to a very high level and handle the pressure, I love to challenge myself and constantly learn new things,” Lauren said. “Being on Celebrity MasterChef would push my boundaries and hopefully give me the confidence that I can cook! It’s very different cooking for loved ones to stepping up and having the food critically analysed. <\/p>\n

“It is also a show I have watched many times and enjoyed seeing how people craft their interpretation of food and flavours \u2013 it’s very individual and I like that. Also, quite risky as it could go very wrong!”<\/p>\n

\"max<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Max Fosh<\/p>\n

A YouTuber and comedian, Max has explained: “I’ve done outrageous food videos for my career, like cooking a steak using lightning bolts, but it’s time I learnt a new skill. Plus, my parents love MasterChef and will be proud of me!”<\/p>\n

As for his go-to foods, Max joked: “I love mayonnaise! There aren’t many things I won\u2019t eat it with. Someone once commented \u2018you\u2019re the human embodiment of mayonnaise\u2019 on one of my YouTube videos, presumably to take the mick, but I take it as a huge compliment.”<\/p>\n

\"una<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Una Healy<\/p>\n

Part of hit girl group The Saturdays, Una has gone on to appear in a number of TV shows \u2013 including a long-standing position as a judge in RT\u00c9’s talent competition The Voice of Ireland.<\/p>\n

Una wants to do MasterChef because she likes to challenge herself and really likes to cook.
<\/p>\n

“I rarely follow a recipe; I cook from my head usually,” the singer explained. “I feel I can perform under pressure though!<\/p>\n

“I think presentation is really important when cooking for others, not really bothered when it’s just for me though!”<\/p>\n

Celebrity MasterChef 2026 lineup: Heat Two\"nitin<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Nitin Ganatra<\/p>\n

Probably best known for playing Masood Ahmed in the beloved BBC soap EastEnders<\/a>, the actor has also appeared in ITV sitcom Changing Ends as well as Sky thriller Sweetpea.<\/p>\n

As for why he’s decided to take part in the cooking show, he said: “I’m doing it for my mum who I was extremely close to. She was the best cook in the world. <\/p>\n

“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 \u2013 therefore, I have recently undergone a food revolution where I have explored cooking to utilise it in the healthiest way.”<\/p>\n

\"donna<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Donna Preston <\/p>\n

Donna Preston’s impressive acting CV spans roles in Prime Video’s Good Omens, Sky comedy Brassic, and British comedy Inside No. 9. Fans may also recognise her from her time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, where she appeared on the same season as winner Danny Beard, JoJo Siwa, and Chris Hughes. <\/p>\n

The actor described Celebrity MasterChef as “a dream of mine”, adding: “I want to do MasterChef to learn, to challenge myself, to work under pressure. I would absolutely love that trophy, but I\u2019m really excited about the apron.”<\/p>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Eric Underwood<\/p>\n

A presenter and former Royal Ballet Dancer, Eric Underwood has said of taking part in Celebrity MasterChef: “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\u2019m very willing to learn and put effort into it. I live on a farm with my husband and we\u2019re hoping to get into \u2018farm to table\u2019 \u2013 we grow our own veg and have cows, chickens, sheep, bees. We make our own honey.”<\/p>\n

He has also revealed that he learnt to cook by watching his mum, adding: “Food at home was definitely ‘soul food’. The first meal I made for my family was fried chicken, collard greens and mac and cheese.”<\/p>\n

\"emily<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Emily Steel<\/p>\n

One of the Gladiators on the BBC reboot, she is known as ‘Dynamite<\/a>‘ on the show. Emily Steel also has a background in competitive swimming, and is an elite CrossFit athlete. <\/p>\n

Emily has said that she rates her cooking skills an “eight out of ten”, and when asked what made her want to take part in MasterChef, she revealed: “I love experimenting with recipes and ideas I find it so enjoyable cooking for other people \u2013 I\u2019m really into presentation, and I always want to pair my food with a mocktail or nice drink.”<\/p>\n

\"tom<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Tom Simons aka TommyInnit<\/p>\n

A YouTuber and comedian, Tom said of joining the BBC show: “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!”<\/p>\n

“Most of my recipes are family recipes. I don\u2019t tend to use cookbooks or websites,” he also teased, adding: “I learnt to cook at 17 from my parents, we would cook over FaceTime together.”<\/p>\n

Celebrity MasterChef 2026 lineup: Heat One\"shakira<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Shakira Khan<\/p>\n

Love Island’s Shakira Khan was among the famous faces revealed on Monday for the competitive cooking show’s first round of heats, having captured the hearts of the public during her time on the ITV2 dating show last year as part of a breakout trio that also included Toni Laites and Yasmin Pettet. <\/p>\n

As a group, they now front Love Island’s spinoff vodcast show The Debrief<\/a>, but Shakira will go it alone to compete on MasterChef. <\/p>\n

“I’m always up for a challenge and I love cooking, but I’m a simple cook,” the TV personality said. “I’m good but I want to go out of my comfort zone and learn ‘sick recipes’ \u2013 it will be fun.<\/p>\n

“I want to make my family proud and show the flavours I grew up with. I also want to prove to myself that I can improve and surprise people.” <\/p>\n

Speaking about her earliest memories of cooking, Shakira said: “My dad is an amazing family cook. He has been tutoring me ahead of the competition, whereas my mom would burn fish fingers.<\/p>\n

“I learnt about Pakistani heritage from my dad. We ended up fusing cuisines and creating dishes like keema spaghetti bolognese or curried beans on toast.” <\/p>\n

\"emily<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Emily Campbell<\/p>\n

A weightlifter and Olympic medallist, Emily Campbell made history<\/a> when she took home Team GB’s first-ever medal in women’s weightlifting at Tokyo in 2020. <\/p>\n

“I’ve always been a massive fan of the show and always wanted to be on it! I love cooking and love food and really want to challenge myself in the culinary space,” Emily said. “I’m confident in the kitchen, but there’s a lot I want to know. My good friend Kadeena Cox won the show, and it inspired me to give it a go \u2013 we are bonded by food! Life’s too short not to challenge yourself!”<\/p>\n

When it comes to her favourite things to cook, Emily has said: “I love Mexican food, but with my Caribbean heritage I like to put a spin on it! <\/p>\n

“I cook for myself every day. I’ll make salmon, rice and grilled veg, chicken laksa, chicken caesar salad, poke bowls or spaghetti bolognese.”<\/p>\n

\"jay<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Jay McGuiness<\/p>\n

Following in the footsteps of his The Wanted bandmates Tom Parker and Max George, Jay is stepping into the famous BBC kitchen. “I was so impressed watching them,” he said. “I like challenges and learning new things. What’s the worst that could happen?”<\/p>\n

The musician said of his cooking style: “As a vegetarian, my cooking is 100 iterations of rice or potatoes and vegetables, fried tofu or mock meats. <\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t say I’m experimental, but I do love to add spice. My presentation is terrible but under pressure I can follow orders and rarely get in a flap. Regardless of how the cooking goes, I’ll eat it! Burnt, rubbery, salty, it’s going in. My loved ones have watched me eat some rotten stuff in awe and disgust.”<\/p>\n

\"jason<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Jason Mohammad<\/p>\n

The BBC presenter and radio host has fronted a number of different shows, including Radio 2, 5 Live Sport, and Match of the Day.<\/p>\n

“I love food and I’m passionate about feeding people,” he said of why he’s taking part in MasterChef. “Some of my greatest memories in my life have been surrounded by food, especially after Ramadan. Tables full of food at Eid and feeding and eating with my fellow Muslims at my mosque during Eid celebrations. <\/p>\n

“But also, very special Christmases and birthdays have been memorable because of the food we had. I take a lot of pride in feeding people. I love to see the joy in their faces once I have fed them. I also enjoy being fed.”<\/p>\n

\"joe<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Joe Pasquale<\/p>\n

A comedian and TV host, Joe Pasquale has also previously appeared in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, as well as Dancing on Ice. <\/p>\n

“I love a good challenge,” he said. “I don\u2019t like to be in shallow water; I love the deep end\u2026 and I love the adrenaline that goes with pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I’m a huge fan of the show and have watched it for many years. I really hope to learn something as I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a chef as I love to experiment but never had the confidence to pursue it.”
<\/p>\n

Of his go-to dishes, he said: “I don’t really have a favourite cuisine \u2013 I’ve been on the road for 41 years as a travelling comic, so I’ve tasted all sorts of food, good and bad over the years, but if I eat out it’s usually Thai.”<\/p>\n

Celebrity MasterChef is expected to return to the BBC this summer.<\/p>\n

Visit our Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating the global phenomenon of BTS, is here! Buy this ultimate fan guide in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

TV Editor, Digital Spy<\/a> Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. \u00a0Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV<\/a> desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. \u00a0As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).\u00a0<\/p>\n

linkedIn<\/a>
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