‘Here we go!’ – Start date confirmed for return of MasterChef: The Professionals
The BBC has confirmed the return date for MasterChef: The Professionals 2026, with the new series set to begin on Tuesday, February 10.
The programme will air at 8pm on BBC One, with episodes also available on BBC iPlayer following broadcast.
The announcement was shared via the official MasterChef UK social channels, alongside the first promotional image for the upcoming series, marking the return of one of the most closely watched competitions in the professional chef calendar.
A break from tradition in the broadcast schedule
Traditionally, MasterChef: The Professionals airs on the BBC each November and December, a slot that has helped cement it as one of the most-watched culinary competitions on British television and a familiar fixture in the hospitality calendar.
The most recent final, series 17, was won by Dan Merriman, with the concluding episode broadcast on Thursday, December 12, 2024.
However, series 18 was pushed into 2026, with Celebrity MasterChef airing and running over the festive period in 2025 instead.
A new judging trio for series 18
The forthcoming series will be judged by Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Matt Tebbutt, marking a notable change to the judging panel.
Matt’s appointment was confirmed in September, when the BBC announced that the long-standing Saturday Kitchen host would replace Gregg Wallace as the third judge on MasterChef: The Professionals. The move represented the biggest shake-up to the judging team in over a decade.
Matt joins the programme alongside Marcus and Monica, both of whom have been central to the professionals’ format for many years, bringing continuity alongside fresh perspective.
Taking to social media, Matt responded: "Here we go!"
New judge Matt Tebbutt
Before joining MasterChef: The Professionals, Matt Tebbutt had built a long career across both television and restaurants. He trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine before working under respected chefs including Marco Pierre White at the Oak Room and Bruce Poole at Chez Bruce.
Matt later took over The Foxhunter in Monmouthshire, where he earned strong critical praise and a number of regional awards for modern British cooking. His appointment brings a different energy to the judging panel, shaped by both professional kitchen experience and years of food broadcasting.
The established judges
Marcus Wareing was already one of the UK’s most acclaimed chefs before joining MasterChef: The Professionals in 2014. After training under Anton Edelmann, Pierre Koffmann and Gordon Ramsay, Marcus earned his first Michelin star at L’Oranger, followed by a second star at Marcus at The Berkeley.
Long-standing judge Monica Galetti was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand before moving to London to join Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche. She rose to become senior sous chef – the first woman to hold the position in the restaurant’s history.
Monica later opened Mere in Fitzrovia with her husband David Galetti, earning strong reviews for her refined, soulful cooking.
A competition that has launched careers
Across its 17 series, MasterChef: The Professionals has become one of the hospitality world’s most influential stages. Former winners and finalists have gone on to achieve Michelin stars, open restaurants and lead some of the UK’s most respected kitchens.
Notable alumni include Steven Edwards, Stu Deeley, Dan Lee, Claire Lara, Alex Webb and Craig Johnston, whose post-show careers remain closely followed by the industry. Many contestants credit the competition with accelerating their progression, raising their profiles and opening doors to new opportunities.
Applications already open for series 19
Despite series 18 yet to air, applications are already open for series 19. It is not yet confirmed whether that series will return to its traditional late-year slot in 2026, or if it will instead be broadcast in 2027.
The Staff Canteen will bring you more as further details on future scheduling and contestants are confirmed.
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‘Here we go!’ – Start date confirmed for return of MasterChef: The Professionals
