Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood was named the winner of the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas cook-off on Wednesday night.
The 55-year-old described the victory as “the best Christmas present ever” after finally taking the title, 13 years after first missing out on the show.
The festive special returned for its second episode of the week, with Craig competing against TV presenter Amar Latif, comedian Crissy Rock and Spencer Matthews.
Champion: Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood was crowned winner of Celebrity MasterChef Christmas cook-off special on Wednesday night
The win was especially sweet for Craig, who previously reached the final in 2007 but was beaten by eventual champion Nadia Sawalha, with Midge Ure also in the lineup.
His winning menu was built around an alternative Christmas dinner, beginning with fillet of beef served alongside sautéed potatoes with sea salt and rosemary, plus pork and cranberry stuffing.
The dish was completed with roasted and candied beetroot, crispy sprout leaves topped with walnut and pecorino, and a parmesan tuile served with chicken liver pâté and a port and red wine jus.
Delicious: For dessert he made a black forest rose crepe, filled with cherries in a cherry brandy liqueur served with Kirsch Cream and toasted almonds
Second time lucky: Craig was delighted by the win, after falling at the last hurdle when he reached the final with eventual winner Nadia Sawalha and Midge Ure in 2007
John described the potato dish as being: ‘so well seasoned they are like the best pack of crisps you have ever had in your life and the beef is absolutely perfect.’
For dessert the Strictly star made a black forest rose crepe, filled with cherries in a cherry brandy liqueur served with Kirsch Cream and toasted almonds.
Gregg loved it and told Craig: ‘It tastes fantastic. That is really good.’
Bring it on: The show returned for the second time this week with Craig going head-to-head against TV presenter Amar Latif, Crissy Rock and Spencer Matthews
Impressed: The judge, 55, said it was ‘the best Christmas present ever’ as he was crowned champion after wowing John Torode and Gregg Wallace with his fillet of beef
The final challenge followed the infamous Invention Test where the celebrities had to create a dish from ingredients found in a Secret Santa present box before a Christmas-themed Pairs Test which saw Craig and Amar Latif team up to create a Christmas Yule Log.
On his win, Craig said: ‘I have been waiting a long time for this. I’ve had a great time. I’d give everyone a great big Christmas kiss and hug if I could.
‘I never win anything and I love it. This is the best Christmas present ever! Absolutely amazing.’
Gregg said: ‘Craig put a lot into his main course. It was delightful.
‘The winner had to be him when you look at the technical skill, the ambition and the flamboyancy.
‘It was absolutely delicious; it was Christmas indulgence. Well done Craig.’
John added: ‘Today was a proper display of festive fantasticness. Craig has been waiting 13 years for this.
‘He is flamboyant, his food is indulgent and that is what Christmas is about. His food was amazing today.’
Festive cheer: On his win, Craig said: ‘I have been waiting a long time for this. I’ve had a great time. I’d give everyone a great big Christmas kiss and hug if I could’
