MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics | Preview (BBC One)

For the first time in MasterChef history, after years of tasting and critiquing contestants’ dishes, the tables will be turned on five of the country’s top food critics.

In this special episode, the Restaurant Critics will be putting their own culinary reputations on the line as they battle for the title of MasterChef Critics Champion 2023.

Competing are Grace Dent, Leyla Kazim, William Sitwell, Jay Rayner, and Jimi Famurewa, who will be pushed to the extreme in two demanding challenges cooking for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and then also returning champions Ping Coombes (MasterChef 2014), Kenny Tutt (MasterChef 2018) and Nikita Pathakji (MasterChef: The Professionals 2022).

Will the diners show them any leniency, or do they have scores to settle? Who will receive positive reviews and who will crumble at being critiqued? Only one critic will be crowned champion and take home the coveted Golden Cutlery trophy. It’s the ultimate showdown.

MasterChef: Battle of the Critics 2023 is made by Shine TV, part of Banijay (1 X 60) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Airs 28th December.