MasterChef is returning to BBC One for its 22nd series, with new judges Anna Haugh and Grace Dent taking over as judges. The Irish chef and restaurant critic have replaced Gregg Wallace and John Torode for the new series, which is set to premiere at 9pm tonight (Tuesday 21).

The first heat will see six talented amateur cooks arrive in the kitchen for their first challenge. Their first objective will be to win one of four pristine white MasterChef aprons: their ticket to the thrilling journey ahead. The first two will be given to the cooks who wow Anna and Grace with their Signature Dish.

The remaining four hopefuls will receive one final opportunity to demonstrate their abilities as they compete for the last two aprons, tackling the Classic Recipe Test. The successful stars will then face another obstacle to secure their quarter-final spot, as they attempt to impress last year's finalist with two courses.

They include Wandsworth local Harry Maguire, who was crowned MasterChef Champion 2025. The former fishmonger outshone dozens of hopeful contestants across a series of breathtaking challenges, even cooking for culinary legends such as Heston Blumenthal.

Speaking to the Express, Harry previously opened up about what it was like to be inside the BBC cooking studio, sharing details that most viewers won't see on screen.

"Walking into the studio for the first time was a real pinch myself moment. I'd seen the studio so many times on previous series of MasterChef, so actually being there for the first time felt really special," he shared.

"Nothing can quite prepare you for the intensity of the MasterChef kitchen. Time seems to pass, and double the speed, and silly mistakes in your cooking that you've practised hundreds of times before can suddenly start happening. It's a truly exhilarating experience."

Opening up about the filming process, Harry revealed that producers strictly instructed the contestants to adhere to one particular rule.

"We were asked not to swear when in the MasterChef kitchen during challenges. They promoted an environment that allowed you to enjoy the challenges as much as possible. The focus then became about trying to remember your timings because every single cook came down to the last few seconds," the star confessed.

"The whole filming experience took place over the course of about 12 weeks, with the filming ramping up as we got closer and closer to the final. The last couple of weeks, we were filming most days of the week."

Harry concluded: "I didn't apply to MasterChef with the view to winning it, I simply wanted to test my skills and have fun as part of the experience. As the challenges progressed, I developed my skills massively, but I never allowed myself to think that I could win. I just kept focusing on the next challenge."

The amateur cooks taking part in the first heat of MasterChef 2026 are digital portfolio manager Rosdip, 33, construction project company director Brendan, 57, tech programme manager Jhané, 29, and environmental consultant Sabina, 49.

They will be joined by 39-year-old accounts assistant Samantha, who describes herself as a "superfan" of the show, and 41-year-old IT manager Matt, who hails from West Yorkshire.

MasterChef season 22 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer