The exciting Masterchef: The Professionals Rematch returns – we see some fan favourites put up against each other in one last challenge to impress the judges.
The one-off special on the December 27 will see five former contestants line up in one last clash in front of judges, Gregg Wallace and Michelin Star chefs Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.
We will also see where the returning chefs have been since they competed on the show and how their careers have changed since the five finalists took part in Masterchef: The Professionals.
Who will be back in the kitchen?
Claire Hutchings
Runner-up to Ash Mair in series 4 in 2011, Claire Hutchings returns after spending her time at two Michelin star Zaranda in Mallorca from the first opening of the hotel, Castell Son Claret. She announced the return on Instagram after filming with Michelin Star chef Monica Galetti.
She said: “I am delighted to announce I will be going back to Masterchef: The Professionals for a rematch! What a pleasure for @galettigram to visit me @zarandarest and @arellanofernan. Can’t wait to participate and meet @marcuswareing and @greggawallace again! @masterchefuk so exciting.”
Elly Wentworth
Elly Wentworth was runner-up in series 9 of Masterchef: The Professionals in 2016.
Elly has won the Young Professional class of the South West Chef of the Year competition in 2012 and 2014 before winning the South West Chef of the Year in the same year. In 2015, she was a finalist of the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition and the following June she was one of four winners of a Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence.
She then went onto Masterchef: The Professionals and has since been a Sous Chef at the Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa. Then in September this year became Head Chef at The Angel in Dartmouth. During her time on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2016 said: " MasterChef has been the most challenging, toughest competition I've ever been in, and to reach the finals is a dream! The judges have believed in my cooking from day one and it's something to be proud of - but every time I've walked into the MC kitchen I've known I'm only as good as the plate of food I'm about to cook. To get to the final four in the competition, I’ve had to cook my heart out. In Knockout Week I had to produce the best two plates of food I've cooked throughout the series so far.
“The most challenging moment for me was The Chef’s Table. Cooking for the most talented chefs we have in the industry, it’s really nerve-wracking having five hours to produce 28 of the best plates of food I've ever cooked.”
She announced her return to the BBC program with an Instagram post saying: “I’m pleased to announced that I will be returning back to the @masterchefuk kitchen, aired on 27th December BBC2 at 8pm. Masterchef the Rematch. A pleasure to welcome @galettigram to @theangeltasteofdevon and show her around ???????? What a honour to be cooking alongside @scottabmfc @matty2stone @clairehutchings and Scott.”
Scott Barnard
2015 finalist, Scott Barnard, started cooking at the young age of 16. He started his career working as a chef de partie at Flitwick Manor in Bedfordshire before joining Compleat Angler in Marlow working under Dean Timpson.
In 2007 became a sous chef at Collette’s Restaurant at The Grove in Chandlers Cross. And was there for 10 years until he moved to his first head chef position at Crockers Chef’s Table in Potten End in Hertfordshire.
Speaking with the final five competitors in 2015, he said: “I entered the competition for a few of reasons; both my head chef, Russell Bateman, and wife Dee both believed I could do well and 2011 finalist and fellow local chef Steve Barringer, insisted I should give it a go!
“For me the toughest round was the Critics in the quarterfinal, and pastry Invention Test…Or any Invention Test! Working with no recipes is extremely hard, especially with pastry as it’s such a science.
Matt Healy
Matt Healy was runner-up on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2016. Matt trained at Thomas Danby Catering College in Leeds and after graduating, he worked at Stuart’s Wine Bar and then started working under Simon Shaw at the original El Gato Negro. Matt then moved to London and worked at the critically acclaimed restaurant Terroirs.
After featuring on Masterchef, Matt has set up his first restaurant, The Foundry Wine Bar and Restaurant, part of the award-winning Round Foundry estate which has built a reputation in Leeds for its British Cooking.
He said to us in 2016: “I entered the competition because my wife challenged me to. As I'm always criticizing others on cooking shows she called me out! I've followed the show for many years and I didn’t know what to expect from MasterChef to start with, but I absolutely loved the experience! Truly awesome.
“The most challenging part of the competition is the very first test, the Skills Test, as you're walking into the unknown yet it feels so familiar and also The Chef’s Table, where the expectations from so many Michelin star chefs are insane"
Scott Davies
Finalist in the 2013 season of Masterchef: The Professionals will return to our screens for the rematch. Inspired by his parents and TV chefs, Scott Davies left his hometown at sixteen to start catering college in Dundee, working under Paul Whitecross and David Kinness at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel. Then going on to work with Craig Miller at The Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews and then with Robert MacPherson at the Isle of Eriska Hotel that Scott started to understand who he was as a chef.
Then moving to Australia and getting a job in Melbourne at The Point in Albert Park and working under head chef Scott Pickett. He then returned to Scotland and became senior sous chef at the Russacks Hotel in St Andrews and earned the restaurant 3 AA Rosettes when he was promoted to head chef. Then he moved to the Adamson before taking part in the 2013 series of Masterchef: The Professionals and finished as a runner up. In 2015, Scott left The Adamson and became head chef at The Three Chimneys in Skye after the exit of former chef-director Michael Smith.
By George Heal
