Who is MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 chef, Paul Hood?

Introducing Paul Wood, one of 32 chefs on MasterChef: The Professionals 2020, airing on BBC One every tuesday and wednesday for six weeks starting on November 10th.

Paul Hood is the executive chef for Scottish event caterering company, Heritage Portfolio and was a contestant on MasterChef: The Professionals 2020.

Born in Prestonfield, Paul is just 34 years old but already has 20 years of experience working in professional kitchens, in which time he has kindled his passion for molecular gastronomy.

Under the tutelage of chef Kenny Coltman,  Paul worked his way up the ranks in the kitchen of Prestonfield House, before taking on roles at Edinburgh Waldorf Astoria's Pompadour and La Garrigue. 

Since he joined Heritage Portfolio, Paul has cooked at prestigious events at Ascot, at the Queen’s Garden Party, as well as at a birthday party for the creator of Minecraft, billionaire Markus Persson.

It was Paul's wife who pushed him to attempt the MasterChef: The Professionals competition, as, he told Edinburgh News, “I was always shouting at the TV out of frustration at the skills challenges when they didn’t know the basics, so I ended off applying for it at the start of the year."

After a gruelling interview process, the series was filmed in July this year, where contestants were required to abide by strict social distancing precautions. 

“The whole experience was absolutely amazing, just seeing how it’s all done is mind-blowing and how much work and effort is put into it. It's full on and makes you realise who you are as a chef," he said.

As for future plans, the chef added: “I’d love to see myself with my own place soon, my wife and I would love to be able to come out of this and do some pop ups, but I’d also like to collaborate with the other chefs.”