Where are the MasterChef: The Professional winners now? As the high-pressured cooking competition returns, we take a look at the 15 previous champions
MasterChef: The Professionals has confirmed that it will return this autumn for its 16th series.
The high-pressured cooking competition will see 32 professional chefs enter the MasterChef kitchen in a bid to become the 2023 Champion.
Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing will be doing the judging, as well as food critics.
The show will run for seven weeks, testing the chefs on their culinary skills across various high pressured challenges.
Last year Nikita Pathakji was announced as the winner, and in 2021 it was Daniel Lee.
Here we take a look back at the 15 previous winners of the hit series and find out what happened to them once they had won the coveted title.
Exciting: MasterChef: The Professionals has confirmed that it will return this autumn for its 16th series
1. Derek Johnstone (2008)
Derek Johnstone was the first ever winner of MasterChef: The Professional after his head chef at the time persuaded him to compete.
The Scottish chef then became the chef-proprietor of The Golf Inn, Gullane, in 2014, until it closed in 2018.
He’s now the head chef at the historic Borthwick Castle, in Gorebridge.
Derek was a runner-up in the Craft Guild of Chefs’ National Chef of the Year 2019 competition and placed third in the 2020 honors.
First: Derek Johnstone was the first ever winner of MasterChef: The Professional after his head chef at the time persuaded him to compete
2. Steve Groves (2009)
Steve Groves became the second champion in 2009 – the year the cooking show won its first BAFTA award.
Steve was made the Head Chef at Roux at Parliament Square three years after joining the culinary team in 2013, until it closed in December 2020.
He started as executive chef at the Glyndebourne opera theatre in Sussex in April 2021.
He has two kids, Lottie and Charlie, with his wife Alicia.
Impressive: Steve Groves became the second champion in 2009 – the year the cooking show won its first BAFTA award
3. Claire Lara (2010)
Claire Lara, who was pregnant when she took part, became the first woman to win the competition in 2010.
The chef worked part-time teaching food at Liverpool Community College before entering the competition, admitting she needed ‘fresh challenges’.
She presently works as a development chef at Koukash, a Doubletree by Hilton Hotel restaurant in Liverpool, alongside her husband.
The couple are proud parents to two boys.
Amazing: Claire Lara, who was pregnant when she took part, became the first woman to win the competition in 2010
4. Ash Mair (2011)
After winning MasterChef: The Professionals, Tasmanian Ash Mair went on to write a cookbook called My Basque Cuisine.
Before entering, Ash worked for a catering company during the day and studied web technology at night.
He has worked as a chef at several restaurants through out the years, but is now happy working as a product developer for brands like Waitrose, Aldi and Morrisons.
Talented: After winning MasterChef: The Professionals, Tasmanian Ash Mair went on to write a cookbook called My Basque Cuisine
5. Keri Moss and Anton Piotrowski (2012)
Keri Moss and Anton Piotrowski made history in 2012 by becoming the first ever joint winners of MasterChef.
Keri went on to became the Executive Chef at The Patch Pub, East Dulwich, in 2013, before opening her own cafe, called Keri’s Kitchen, in 2016.
Meanwhile, Aston became head chef at The Treby Arms, in Plymouth, where he won a Michelin star.
Duo: Keri Moss and Anton Piotrowski made history in 2012 by becoming the first ever joint winners of MasterChef
6. Steven Edwards (2013)
Steven Edwards took home the trophy in 2013.
When he entered the competition, he was working at the Camilla Restaurant in Sussex’s five-star South Lodge hotel, a position he returned to after winning.
Steven purchased the Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond in 2021 and later expanded the restaurant that he now runs.
Champion: Steven Edwards took home the trophy in 2013
7. Jamie Scott (2014)
Jamie Scott, from Kirkiston, Scotland, opened his first restaurant with wife Kelly in 2016.
The Newport restaurant has reportedly been successful from day one and was awarded two AA Rosettes.
The chef expanded his Scottish portfolio in October 2021 by opening Wrecking Ball Doughnuts in Dundee.
Achievement: Jamie Scott, from Kirkiston, Scotland, opened his first restaurant with wife Kelly in 2016
8. Mark Stinchcombe (2015)
For three years after his big win, Mark stayed as head chef at Eckington Manor in Worcestershire.
Mark and his wife/co-head chef Sue then both moved to Gloucestershire and took over the food offering at The Severn & Wye Smokery.
Career: For three years after his big win, Mark stayed as head chef at Eckington Manor in Worcestershire
9. Gary Maclean (2016)
When Scottish chef Gary won in 2016, he was a senior chef lecturer at City of Glasgow College.
Prior to this, Gary worked at some of Glasgow’s top restaurants, including Ferrier Richardson’s Yes restaurant in Glasgow and October in Princes Square.
After working at the college for 15 years, Gary opened Creel Caught, a fish restaurant in the Bonnie and Clyde marketplace in Edinburgh in 2021.
Winner: When Scottish chef Gary won in 2016, he was a senior chef lecturer at City of Glasgow College
10. Craig Johnston (2017)
Craig made history as the youngest ever winner of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2017.
Since winning the show he has become senior chef de partie at Marcus in London’s Belgravia.
History: Craig made history as the youngest ever winner of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2017
11. Laurence Henry (2018)
He began his career in London, working as a chef de partie for Gordon Ramsey and later, Jason Atherton.
Laurence then spent time working in France, cooking as a private chef before making his return to the UK in 2014.
In 2017, he came back to Nottingham having secured a position working at two-Michelin starred Restaurant Sat Bains, proving his skill and dedication and working his way up to sous chef.
His diverse culinary training demonstrates the breadth of his ability, which was highlighted in his winning of 2018’s Masterchef: The Professionals, where he became one of the youngest winners at the time.
The first restaurants from Laurence Henry are now open, with menus showcasing his talent, experience, and passion for food.
Amazing: Laurence Henry snatched the trophy in 2018
12. Stuart Deeley (2019)
Stu Deeley, from Birmingham, took home the trophy in 2019.
He has now opened his own restaurant, after plans were put on hold during the pandemic.
Stu planned to launch the restaurant last summer in the city, but an investor pulled out.
His new restaurant, Smoke, opened in 2021, with Stu explaining it was ‘an amazing feeling’.
Proud: Stu Deeley, from Birmingham, took home the trophy in 2019
13. Alex Webb (2020)
Alex Webb won the 2020 series of MasterChefs: The Professionals amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Essex boy wowed Gregg Wallace, Marcus Wareig and Monica Galetti as well as food critics, with a fishy main and an indulgent chocolate dessert.
The winner said he was delighted with the news, which saw him become the 14th professional chef to be awarded the prestigious title.
Having trained at Westminster Kingsway College, Alex was hugely influenced by fellow Essex chef Jamie Oliver as well as his current boss Spencer Hewitt.
Since then, he has resigned his position as head chef at Square One Restaurant, and his private chef services, as well as his Dine at Home boxes created in cooperation with Sauce Supper Club, have been in high demand.
Challenging: Alex Webb won the 2020 series of MasterChefs: The Professionals amid the Covid-19 pandemic
14. Daniel Lee (2021)
Daniel lee won the title of MasterChef The Professionals 2021.
The chef was self-employed at the time the pandemic began and was not able to qualify for furlough so had to pick up a job in a supermarket until things settled down.
Making tasty food at affordable prices is a passion for Lee, who hopes one day to set up a street food truck and a restaurant that promotes “really good” Asian food at affordable prices.
Happy: Daniel lee won the title of MasterChef The Professionals 2021
15. Nikita Pathakji (2022)
Nikita Pathakji was crowned MasterChef: The Professionals Champion in 2022.
The chef cooked her way to the top and beat off stiff competition from 31 other professionals, impressing judges Marcus Wareing, Anna Haugh and Gregg Wallace, with her innovative dishes inspired by her travels around Asia.
A shocked Nikita said following her win: ‘This is incredible and I can’t put it into words. It surpasses every achievement of my life’.
Critics and leading chefs also raved about Nikita, who works at London’s Kitchen W8, with William Sitwell describing her as ‘a force to be reckoned with’.
She started an apprenticeship aged 18 at the Lanesborough Hotel, in London, preparing finger sandwiches for afternoon tea.
Since then, she has gone on to work at a number of Michelin Star establishments in London, including Core by Clare Smyth and Claude Bosi at Bibendum. She currently works at Kitchen W8, also in London, as a junior sous chef.
Winner: Nikita Pathakji was crowned MasterChef: The Professionals Champion in 2022
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