Celebrity MasterChef 2019 Line-Up: Meet the Famous Foodies

The Celebrity MasterChef 2019 cast has officially been revealed, bringing together a lively mix of familiar names from television, entertainment and sport as they compete for one of TV’s most sought-after cooking titles.

Over the coming weeks, the new celebrity contestants will be hoping to join past winners including Nadia Sawalha, Phil Vickery and Kimberly Wyatt, as they put their kitchen skills to the test in front of long-serving judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

This year’s Celebrity MasterChef lineup is certainly an eclectic one, with TOWIE favourite Joey Essex, Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse, boxing promoter Kellie Maloney and The Chase star Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan among the famous faces stepping up to the stove.

BBC bosses began building anticipation on Wednesday by giving viewers an early glimpse at three members of the cast, before confirming the complete lineup on Thursday.

French actress Elizabeth Bourgine, 62, best known to UK audiences for Death In Paradise, was the first name announced, followed by Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti, 28.

EastEnders favourite Adam Woodyatt, 51, was then confirmed for the BBC cooking competition, after months of speculation that he would be taking part.

Adam, who has played café owner Ian Beale on the long-running soap for 34 years, will be aiming to claim the Celebrity MasterChef crown from reigning champion John Partridge — another former EastEnders star.

Next comes reality veterans Vicky Pattison, 31, originally of Geordie Shore fame, and TOWIE’s Joey Essex, 28 – both of whom went on to feature on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after quitting their respective shows.

Another reality star, Gogglebox’s Dom Parker, 55, will also join the lineup, sans his wife Steph.

Last year’s favourite Love Isalnder Dr Alex George, 28, joins the fold, as does legend of Motown Martha Reeves, 77, who fronted Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. 

Ex-boxing promoter Kellie Maloney, 66, is in good company with heavyweight boxing champ Dillian Whyte, 31.

The former previously appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, following her much-documented announcement that she was undergoing gender reassignment, formally being known as Frank.

More sportsmen come in the form of football hardman Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock, 51 – also an alumni of the I’m A Celeb jungle and the CBB house – and Olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford, 32. 

The Chase’s Jenny Ryan, 37 – also known as The Vixen – will be competing in a very different contest than she’s used to.

Weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker, 40, DJ and lawyer Judge Jules, 52, and radio presenter Rickie Haywood-Williams, 39, are also battling it out for the accolade.

Comedian Josie Long, 37, actor and radio presenter Mim Shaikh, 23, icon of design Dame Zandra Rhodes, 78, and long-distance runner and former Marine Andy Grant, 35, round off the lineup.

BBC Commissioning Editor, Carla-Maria Lawson, said: ‘This Celebrity MasterChef has all of the right ingredients for a series full of entertainment, pressure and fun. Once again we have a brilliant variety of different characters and there will be some surprises along the way as they are put through their paces and pushed to their limits.’

Over six weeks and 18 programmes the celebrities will battle to take the trophy and become Celebrity MasterChef Champion 2019, each one being voted off as the weeks progress.