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Love Island & Gladiators Stars Join MasterChef
2 Mar
Summary
- New Celebrity MasterChef series features Love Island's Shakira Khan.
- Dynamite from Gladiators is also reportedly joining the cast.
- Grace Dent and Anna Haugh will judge the upcoming season.
The highly anticipated new season of Celebrity MasterChef is reportedly assembling a star-studded cast, with Love Island's Shakira Khan and Gladiators' Dynamite among the latest rumored signings. This upcoming series will be the first to be judged by Grace Dent and Anna Haugh. They step into their roles after John Torode and Gregg Wallace were removed from the BBC program.
Shakira Khan, who gained fame as the runner-up on Love Island's 12th season, and Dynamite (Emily Steel), a record-holding weightlifter from the Gladiators reboot, are expected to showcase their culinary skills. Other rumored contestants include EastEnders actor Nitin Ganatra and BBC Sports presenter Jason Mohammad. The production reportedly aims for a diverse lineup to appeal to various viewer demographics, from reality TV fans to soap opera enthusiasts and sports audiences.
The judging changes follow significant controversy. John Torode departed in July 2025 after allegations of using a derogatory racist slur in 2018. Gregg Wallace was sacked after an investigation upheld 45 complaints regarding his on-set behavior, including inappropriate language and conduct. The BBC has apologized for missed opportunities to address his conduct sooner.
