Who is chef Gregory Schaad-Jackson on MasterChef: The Professionals 2026?

MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 continues on BBC One this week, and virtual cooking experience host and mobile caterer Gregory Schaad-Jackson is one of the six chefs fighting for a place in the next round in the second heat.

The 47-year-old, who lives in Woking, faces Ben Black, Clara Lim, Filomena "Philly" D'Uva, Ibraheem "Ibz" Umar and Morteza Nouri in the second group of this year's MasterChef: The Professionals 2026 series, which features 24 chefs competing in groups of six.

Age at start of filming

47

Job role

Virtual cooking experience host and mobile caterer

Chef background

Gregory took an unconventional route into professional kitchens.

Asked where he studied cooking, he said: "I didn't go to culinary school; I originally trained as a mechanical engineer before retraining on the job in some extraordinary kitchens."

He names Sissi Fabulous Food, his family's catering business, as the most memorable place he has worked, having spent 15 years there as executive chef.

On what he does now, he said: "I work independently as a chef, food educator and entrepreneur, creating private and corporate food experiences, while developing my Cooking Smarter Not Harder programme and working on my first cookbook."

On his career highlights so far, Gregory said: "It's difficult to choose just one! I've been fortunate enough to cook for royalty, heads of state and some extraordinary people over the years, but spending five years as the resident chef on Swiss television show Al Dente was particularly special because it allowed me to combine cooking with my other great passion: inspiring people to get into the kitchen themselves."

Who or what inspired you to become a chef?

"My parents were my earliest inspiration, particularly my mother. I remember her cooking incredible feasts and filling our home with people. When we later moved to the UK, she turned that natural talent for food and entertaining into her own catering company.

"She taught me how to cook from the heart and how food can bring people together. She was also responsible for my early love of making desserts.

"My father was an engineer, like I eventually became, but he was also a real foodie who loved to cook. Sadly, I lost him to cancer when I was very young, but his curiosity about food, and perhaps his engineer's curiosity about how things work, definitely lives on in me."

How would you describe your style of cooking and influences on it?

"Global food with a Central European soul. I'm fascinated by the food of the places I've lived in and travelled through, so my cooking happily jumps continents. I particularly love the freshness, heat and explosive flavours of South American and Asian food, but my European heritage is always there somewhere in the background.

"These days I'm less interested in formality and more interested in taking those techniques and applying them intelligently to vibrant, accessible food."

Three ingredients you can't live without?

"Himalayan pink salt, lemons, butter."

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What do you eat when you get back from service?

"This can be wonderfully unpredictable because I always taste the food I cook for clients and invariably end up eating whatever is left from an event. After a virtual cooking experience, that might mean eating two pizzas at 2am! After a street-food event, it could be anything from a poke bowl or smoked BBQ pork ribs to raclette and potatoes.

"One of my favourite meals is a beautifully roasted chicken with air-fried Tenderstem broccoli and olive-oil confit garlic, followed by plenty of fresh fruit, nuts and kefir."

Why did you want to take part in MasterChef: The Professionals?

"I love cooking and I love sharing that enthusiasm with other people, so I wanted to challenge myself on one of the biggest stages in professional cooking.

"More importantly, I want to inspire people to get back into their kitchens. I believe you can cook food at home that is fast, healthy and absolutely packed with flavour.

"If being part of MasterChef encourages even a few more people to cook, experiment and enjoy feeding themselves and the people they love, then that means something to me."

Outside of cooking, what are your passions?

"Travelling the world, dancing, hiking, horse riding and exploring food markets wherever I go. I love cooking and entertaining friends at home. Apparently even when I'm not working, I still end up in the kitchen!

"I also love creating businesses and new ideas. That probably comes from the engineer in me."

>>> Read more: MasterChef: The Professionals series 19: start date, judges and the full chef lineup