Celebrity MasterChef UK 2023 episode 1: what are the Heats? Under the Cloche and Dinner Party Dishes explained

Celebrity MasterChef is back for its 18th season, with another host of famous faces from across television competing against each other to be crowned the Master Chef. 

Of the five celebrity contestants who appear in the first Heat, only four will get the opportunity to move to the next round – depending on how well they’re able to impress Gregg Wallace and John Torode during the Under the Cloche and Dinner Party Dishes challenges. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the first episode of the Celebrity MasterChef Heats.

What is the Under the Cloche challenge?

The first challenge sees the Celebrity MasterChef contestants presented with a mystery ingredient (hidden under a cloche, hence the name). Each celebrity must then create a dish that showcases and accentuates their mystery ingredient, using only items from a shared larder.

As the official BBC synopsis explains, “in front of each celebrity is a cloche, each concealing a different ingredient. With access to a larder, the celebrities must create one plate of food showcasing their ingredient to demonstrate to the judges they have potential. With nerves running high and just over an hour to create their dish from scratch, the contestants must think on their feet to impress the judges.”

What is the Dinner Party Dishes challenge?

In the second of the two challenges, the celebrities are given a broader brief, and asked to create a main course and dessert in a little over an hour (but with more of an opportunity to prepare in advance than in the previous Under the Cloche challenge). 

As the official BBC synopsis explains, “the celebrities are asked to prepare their Dinner Party Dishes – a main course and a dessert that they would cook to impress someone who was coming round to eat – in just one hour and fifteen minutes. The celebrities work furiously in a final attempt to prove themselves to John and Gregg because at the end of this test, one of them will be going home.”

Who is competing in the first Celebrity MasterChef Heat?

Celebrity MasterChef week one sees reality star Dani Dyer (best known for Love Island), actor James Buckley (best known for The Inbetweeners), comedian and actor Marcus Brigstocke (best known for Sorry I’ve Got No Head), TV personality Mica Ven (previously of Gogglebox), and TV and Radio personality Richie Anderson (from BBC Radio 2) compete against one another to make it through to the next round.

Future Celebrity MasterChef Heats will see Shazia Mirza, Sam Fox, Dave Benson Phillips, and Max George among others attempt to impress Gregg Wallace and John Torode. 

Who won Celebrity MasterChef 2022?

The most recent series of Celebrity MasterChef was won by presenter and broadcaster Lisa Snowdon, who cooked a pan-fried duck breast in the finale. 

When is Celebrity MasterChef 2023 on TV?

Celebrity MasterChef Series 18 is set to begin on BBC One on Wednesday 2 August at 9pm. New episodes will continue at the same time each week thereafter.