Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 11, 2026

Young MasterChef

Young MasterChef is a cooking competition broadcast between 2 January 2023 and 5 February 2024 on BBC Three. A derivative of the revived version of MasterChef, the series was open for young adults between 18 and 25.

Last revised
Jun 11, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
628 w
Citations
18
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Young MasterChef
GenreReality show
Created byFranc Roddam
JudgesPoppy O'Toole
Kerth Gumbs
Big Has
Narrated byCallie Cooke
Aimée Kelly
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes15
Production
Production locationDigbeth Loc Studios
Running time30 minutes (2023)
60 minutes (2024)
Production companiesShine TV
Ziji Productions
Original release
NetworkBBC Three
Release2 January 2023 (2023-01-02) –
5 February 2024 (2024-02-05)
Related

Young MasterChef is a cooking competition broadcast between 2 January 2023 and 5 February 2024 on BBC Three. A derivative of the revived version of MasterChef (1990–2001, 2005–), the series was open for young adults between 18 and 25.1

The BBC announced the show in February 20221 and Poppy O'Toole and Kerth Gumbs as hosts in July 2022. O'Toole started uploading videos as Poppy Cooks on TikTok after losing her job to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, while Great British Menu finalist Kerth Gumbs was head chef of The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street.23 The show was co-produced by Banijay derivative Shine TV and by Ziji Productions.4

Series overview

Five chefs started each of three heats, with three advancing to the final.5 Over the course of ten episodes, challenges included cooking a meal within a budget of £30,6 cooking pizza,7 and replicating a fine dining recipe by Great British Menu champion James Cochran.6 Of the finalists, the Knebworth entrepreneur Jordan Pomerance was described by V-land UK as the first vegan chef to appear in a UK MasterChef final89 and the Nottingham law student Keziah Whittaker won the series. Their final challenge was to cook a starter and a showstopper.10 Gumbs left the show in August 2023 and was replaced by Big Has, another social media chef.1112

Series two lasted for five episodes13 and featured nine contestants14 including TikToker Rima Aishah Begum. The third episode featured as guest judge Danny Malin of the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway, who challenged the contestants to create fakeaways.15 The final episode saw finalists recreate a recipe from Tom Booton, who had been head chef at The Grill at The Dorchester in London, and then cook a two-course meal for their families and the judges. The series was won by Famara Kurang, an intern from Brixton Hill.16

Transmissions

Series Start date End date Episodes
1 2 January 2023 23 January 2023 10
2 8 January 2024 5 February 2024 5
References

References

  1. "'Young MasterChef' series coming to BBC Three - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  2. "'Young MasterChef' announces two new judges for BBC Three contest". Yahoo News. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  3. "Young MasterChef judge on how the show will be 'inspirational' for young people". The Independent. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  4. Yossman, K. J. (2022-02-11). "'Young MasterChef' Heads to BBC Three". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  5. Garrett, Lee (2023-01-02). "BBC Young MasterChef to feature Leicester cook". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  6. "Nottingham Law School student wins Young MasterChef 2023". www.ntu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  7. "Vegan food entrepreneur makes it through to another round of Young MasterChef". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  8. Sheldon, Liberty (2022-12-29). "Herts vegan chef to feature on BBC's new Young MasterChef show". Herts Live. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  9. "Jordan Pomerance on being the first vegan in a UK MasterChef final". V-Land. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  10. "First Young MasterChef winner crowned". Peterborough Matters. 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  11. Rodger, James (2023-08-15). "MasterChef judge leaves show due to 'other commitments'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  12. Mensah, Katelyn. "Who is Big Has? Meet the new judge on Young MasterChef | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  13. "The great pottery throw down - 2 Jan 2024 - Heat Magazine - Readly". gb.readly.com. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  14. "Oldham TikTok star in new series of Young Masterchef". The Oldham Times. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  15. "Oldham Young MasterChef contestant reaches quarter-final". The Oldham Times. 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  16. Lee, Claudia (2024-02-06). "'If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have made it': Brixton chef dedicates Young MasterChef win to family". South London News. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
External links