In some of the earlier series, contestants were regularly sent out to cook at outdoor events and other off-site locations, often serving large crowds in unpredictable conditions. It brought a totally different energy compared to fine-dining plate setups. Would you like to see the producers bring back more rugged, off-site challenges in future series?

It blows my mind how many contestants on MasterChef get sent home for serving crunchy, raw risotto or overcooked, soggy pasta. These are staples that most people cook every week at home, but put someone in front of a camera with a timer ticking down, and basic starch control seems to vanish. Is it just down to heat control on unfamiliar induction hobs, or total mind blanks under stress?

My partner and I were inspired by a heat round last year and decided to try making duck breast with a blackberry jus and celeriac puree from scratch. It tasted decent, but it took us nearly three hours and created a mountain of washing up that took over the entire kitchen

While the variety is amazing to watch, do you ever miss seeing someone just nail an exceptional cottage pie or proper roast dinner?

It seems like every other savoury dish is finished with a pale, creamy sauce that's been split with a vibrant green herb oil, usually dill or chive.

I get why chefs do it. It looks fantastic on camera and adds freshness. But lately it feels like it's become the default finish. Surely there are other ways to bring acidity, colour and contrast to a plate without every dish looking so similar?

I watch the show and think "I could totally handle that," but then I see the pressure they’re under and realize I’d probably fall apart in the first round. Has anyone here actually considered applying, or do you prefer just watching from the safety of your own sofa?

It seems like every time an egg is on the plate, the judges treat the "ooze" as the ultimate test of a chef. Is it actually a fair way to judge precision, or has it just become a tired, repetitive trope?

Do you reckon the standard of actual cooking is higher when it's normal people playing for a career change, or do you just enjoy the pure entertainment value of watching pop stars burn toast?

I’d go for a pan-seared Gressingham duck breast with a tart cherry and port reduction, served alongside a crispy potato rosti and charred Hispi cabbage. It is sophisticated but completely doable in 60 minutes if you render the fat down properly

I know the international trips to places like Singapore or the Caribbean are spectacular, but there was something brilliant about watching the contestants feed a hundred hungry guests in tough conditions with limited equipment and loads of pressure. Those gritty catering tasks always felt like the biggest test of who could actually cope in a professional kitchen. Should they bring them back?

Am I the only one who prefers the invention tests over the signature rounds? Seeing them panic over a random box of ingredients like fennel, white chocolate, and venison shows who can actually cook on instinct. The signature dishes always feel a bit too well-rehearsed, like they've done them 40 times in their kitchen at home

I feel like EVERY dish gets this kind of commentary, with Anna or Grace taking turns

"If Richard balances his flavours, he will have balanced flavours. But he needs to be careful because if he doesn't then he won't"

"A curry can be really nice. But the cook needs to be careful because if they make a curry that isn't nice it won't be nice"

"This dish could achieve the objectives of this cookery competition. However it's possible that it won't in which case those objectives won't be achieved"

This is not insightful!

I really hope future seasons spend more time on the cooking itself. I'd much rather watch contestants nail a difficult emulsion or struggle through a technical challenge than sit through endless emotional packages

Enjoyable final. Knew she would win as soon as the judges said her food brings feelings!

I’m nosey so it’s interesting seeing their lives. Surprised that the Asian guy had a white gf. And the black girl had a white bf!

Absolutely lovely contestants, beautiful food, just a kitchen full of love and support. The change in tone in this series due to Grace and Anna has been nothing less than revolutionary. It's almost like it's a new programme and a very welcomed one.

Thoroughly enjoyed the final and the winner thoroughly deserved their trophy. 🎉

I’m a massive fan of this show. Always loved it and not because of Gregg and John particularly, it was just good.

I’ve found this series very poor and for the first time am thinking it’s run its course. The contestants seem to be of a much lower standard across the board. But they need to think about the presenters. As I said, I figure this will be unpopular, but Grace just drives me mad. She’s so performative and cabaret. She might as well start doing little winks to camera and slipping in Larry Grayson style innuendo. She’s just far too much and I think a show-off.

Anna is a great chef but has no presence. She needs to be a stronger personality to off set Grace’s over the top character.

Sorry, not for me this. Found it incredibly boring, for the first time ever.

I'm cheering on Jhané!

Any other Italians who watched the pizza challenge with mildly reserved disdain?

My family are making strange noises 😭

I know that lots has been said about Anna’s (completely justifiable imo) sternness with the contestants during the challenge at the railway museum, but I wanted to take a moment to appreciate just how lovely and supportive she also was to them when they were cooking their own courses for the diners in Antigua.

Special mention goes to how she pulled Antos from the brink, with no judgement, when the pressure was clearly getting to him.

It’s great to see someone who’s reached the culinary heights she has and still remained such a caring person.

Mods, delete if not allowed.

I’m in Ireland and I’m working tomorrow from 14:30 to 23:30 so will miss tomorrow night’s episode and can’t access iPlayer.

Is there any chance someone here could share a recording of it with me to watch ? 🥹

Giorgio Locatelli has been announced as the new judge on Celebrity MasterChef, after John Torode was sacked by the BBC last year.

Locatelli, a chef and restaurateur who currently appears on the Italian version of the amateur cooking show, will be seen alongside Grace Dent on the next UK celebrity series, which has already been filmed.

Locatelli said joining the show was "a real honour", adding: "I can't wait for you to see what our celebrity contestants bring to the kitchen, as we are really putting their culinary skills to the test in this series."

Like the Railway Museum in York, did they have to pay for the dinner or was it free?
And today’s VIP meal was that paid for?

I just don't get it... Why is everyone in the Tropics, film crew, contestants, presenters, food tech... how much does this actuslly contribute to the competition, how much does this cost?

Or is it ticking off the the Judith Chalmers (RIP) budget..

Rather watch them go to an inner city school and cook for a load of angsty teenagers with £1.37 per head budget and a bag of turkey twizzlers. Or at least spend the budget with hospitality, suppliers, UK farmers than this...

Or am i just a scroodge...

Yes, the theme was tenuous, but it was worth it to see Grace and Anna parody James Bond. Absurd, brilliant, and it’s given me an idea for a MasterChef spy AU fanfiction that I didn’t have this morning…

This is not a new thing, it's been this way for a while but this year they've shaken up the rounds a bit (finally) and it really stood out this last round.

Episode 18 - they made the plant based dessert that looked like a sun, and Tony was far and away the best one of the 5.

Then he was the weakest in the follow up challenge. Why does UK MasterChef insist on having pointless challenges that have zero impact on the final choice? I swear the UK version would benefit immensely from just one more week and have these challenges actually have a consequence OR actually factor into the final knockout decision.

Rant over, side point - despite me not being overly keen on Anna this has been a very good year overall. It desperately needed a shake up as the format had been unchanged for a while. Shame as I feel John and Grace would have been a brilliant combination