{{Infobox television | image = Young MasterChef logo.webp | alt_name = | genre = Reality show | creator = Franc Roddam | writer = | presenter = | judges = Poppy O'Toole<br />Kerth Gumbs<br />Big Has | narrator = Callie Cooke<br />Aimée Kelly | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 2 | num_episodes = 15 | executive_producer = | producer = | location = Digbeth Loc Studios | runtime = 30 minutes (2023)<br />60 minutes (2024) | company = Shine TV<br />Ziji Productions | network = BBC Three | first_aired = {{Start date|2023|01|02|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|2024|02|05|df=y}} | related = {{ubl|''MasterChef''|''Junior MasterChef''|''Celebrity MasterChef''|''MasterChef: The Professionals''}} | image_class = skin-invert }}
'''''Young MasterChef''''' is a cooking competition broadcast between 2 January 2023 and 5 February 2024 on BBC Three. A derivative of the revived version of ''MasterChef'' (1990–2001, 2005–), the series was open for young adults between 18 and 25.<ref name="upi" />
The BBC announced the show in February 2022<ref name="upi">{{Cite web|title='Young MasterChef' series coming to BBC Three - UPI.com|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2022/02/11/Young-Masterchef-series-BThree/1981644600585/|website=UPI|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en}}</ref> and Poppy O'Toole and Kerth Gumbs as hosts in July 2022. O'Toole started uploading videos as Poppy Cooks on TikTok after losing her job to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, while ''Great British Menu'' finalist Kerth Gumbs was head chef of The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Young MasterChef' announces two new judges for BBC Three contest|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/young-masterchef-two-new-judges-085247892.html|website=Yahoo News|date=2022-07-06|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Young MasterChef judge on how the show will be 'inspirational' for young people|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-michelin-celebrity-masterchef-tiktok-covid-b2254863.html|website=The Independent|date=2023-01-02|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> The show was co-produced by Banijay derivative Shine TV and by Ziji Productions.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web|title='Young MasterChef' Heads to BBC Three|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/young-masterchef-bbc-three-1235176829/|website=Variety|date=2022-02-11|access-date=2025-11-29|language=en-US|first=K. J.|last=Yossman}}</ref>
==Series overview== Five chefs started each of three heats, with three advancing to the final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Young MasterChef to feature Leicester cook|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/leicesters-oscar-takes-once-lifetime-7985029|website=Leicestershire Live|date=2023-01-02|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|first=Lee|last=Garrett}}</ref> Over the course of ten episodes, challenges included cooking a meal within a budget of £30,<ref name=":0" /> cooking pizza,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=Vegan food entrepreneur makes it through to another round of Young MasterChef |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/23241069.knebworths-vegan-chef-another-round-young-masterchef/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}</ref> and replicating a fine dining recipe by ''Great British Menu'' champion James Cochran.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Nottingham Law School student wins Young MasterChef 2023|url=https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/news/news-articles/2023/01/nottingham-law-school-student-wins-young-masterchef-2023|website=www.ntu.ac.uk|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> Of the finalists, the Knebworth entrepreneur Jordan Pomerance was described by ''V-land UK'' as the first vegan chef to appear in a UK ''MasterChef'' final<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheldon |first=Liberty |date=2022-12-29 |title=Herts vegan chef to feature on BBC's new Young MasterChef show |url=https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/hertfordshire-vegan-entrepreneur-feature-bbcs-7976079 |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=Herts Live |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jordan Pomerance on being the first vegan in a UK MasterChef final |url=https://v-landuk.com/ |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=V-Land}}</ref> and the Nottingham law student Keziah Whittaker won the series. Their final challenge was to cook a starter and a showstopper.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First Young MasterChef winner crowned|url=https://www.peterboroughmatters.co.uk/things-to-do/national/23271137.first-young-masterchef-winner-crowned/|website=Peterborough Matters|date=2023-01-23|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> Gumbs left the show in August 2023 and was replaced by Big Has, another social media chef.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MasterChef judge leaves show due to 'other commitments'|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-masterchef-judge-leaves-show-27524108|website=Birmingham Live|date=2023-08-15|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en|first=James|last=Rodger}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Who is Big Has? Meet the new judge on Young MasterChef {{!}} Radio Times|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/big-has-young-masterchef-judge/|website=www.radiotimes.com|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-GB|first=Katelyn|last=Mensah}}</ref>
Series two lasted for five episodes<ref>{{Cite web|title=The great pottery throw down - 2 Jan 2024 - Heat Magazine - Readly|url=https://gb.readly.com/magazines/heat/2024-01-02/658cc27bcddd8a39dcfc7bb1|website=gb.readly.com|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> and featured nine contestants<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oldham TikTok star in new series of Young Masterchef|url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/24034382.oldham-tiktok-star-new-series-young-masterchef/|website=The Oldham Times|date=2024-01-08|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en}}</ref> including TikToker Rima Aishah Begum. The third episode featured as guest judge Danny Malin of the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway, who challenged the contestants to create fakeaways.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oldham Young MasterChef contestant reaches quarter-final|url=https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/24078260.oldham-young-masterchef-contestant-reaches-quarter-final/|website=The Oldham Times|date=2024-01-27|access-date=2025-12-02|language=en}}</ref> The final episode saw finalists recreate a recipe from Tom Booton, who had been head chef at The Grill at The Dorchester in London, and then cook a two-course meal for their families and the judges. The series was won by Famara Kurang, an intern from Brixton Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|title='If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have made it': Brixton chef dedicates Young MasterChef win to family|url=https://londonnewsonline.org.uk/news/if-it-wasnt-for-them-i-wouldnt-have-made-it-brixton-chef-dedicates-young-masterchef-win-to-family/|website=South London News|date=2024-02-06|access-date=2025-12-02|language=en-GB|first=Claudia|last=Lee}}</ref>
== Transmissions == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !Series !Start date !End date !Episodes |- |'''1''' |2 January 2023 |23 January 2023 |10 |- |'''2''' |8 January 2024 |5 February 2024 |5 |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{BBC programme|p0dlgvt5}}
{{MasterChef}}
Category:BBC television game shows Category:2023 British television series debuts Category:2024 British television series endings Category:English-language British television shows Category:British reality television spinoffs Category:Reality television spinoffs young Category:Cooking competitions in the United Kingdom Category:BBC Three original programming