Who is chef Gareth Crimmins MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 contestant?

Ahead of MasterChef: The Professionals 2024, which airs on BBC One from Tuesday, October 29 at 8pm, we find out more about the chefs taking part.

 Introducing Gareth Crimmins, head chef at Heaneys in Cardiff

Head chef Gareth, 30, lives in Bridgend with his fiancée and two children, who are eight and four years old.  He was born and raised in Cardiff and is the youngest of four boys. After dropping out of college at 16, his mum told him to get a job or join the army

Name

Gareth Crimmins

AGE

30

Where are you from/where do you live

Gareth was born in Cardiff, has returned to Wales, and now works there.

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

After working in Cardiff, Gareth moved to Danesfield House, where the kitchen was run by chef Adam Simmons. He went on to cook at Roots in Norfolk for two years. In 2017, he started working with Tommy Heaney and has worked with him on and off since then, currently running the kitchen at Heaneys

WHO AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A CHEF?

“I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do career wise. I was a bit of a tearaway teenager. After being kicked out of college, my older brother who was in the army, told me I didn’t have what it takes to be in the army and I knew he was right. I started a cooking apprenticeship and was instantly hooked.  The discipline within the kitchen was the best thing I could have asked for at that time. That was me, signed up and done.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF COOKING AND ANY INFLUENCES ON IT?

“I started my career as a pastry chef, so I often like to incorporate these skills into my cooking. In lockdown I opened a bakery and sold sourdough bread to the local community, so it’s never left me. I love hearty food, with technique. My dream would be to one day have a gastropub of my own - good honest food but with the acclaim of a Michelin star.”

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS?

“I turned 30 and just had to go for MasterChef - this is my year. I wanted to test myself against others. I’ve got great support at home with my fiancée and the kids and just feels like this is the right time to try.”

OUTSIDE OF COOKING WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS?

“I love spending time with the children. We have a garden to teach them about growing food and take walks along the coast with our dog, forage - all those good outdoorsy activities. I’m also a massive Cardiff City football fan, so I watch matches whenever I can.”