Inside Celebrity MasterChef: Judges Dish Out 360° Food Drama and Fun!

Celebrity MasterChef is back with its 21st series, and this year there is a new judging team at the heart of the show. Grace Dent, a well-known food critic, and Giorgio Locatelli, an Italian chef, are the new pair in charge of tasting and judging the dishes made by celebrities. The show is filmed at Digbeth Loc Studios in Birmingham, where the cameras roll for up to 12 or 13 hours a day. Grace Dent says that it is impossible to pretend to be someone else for that long, so viewers get to see the real personalities of the judges and contestants. Grace has been living in Birmingham for a year and feels very comfortable in the city. She loves the shopping, the people, and the friendly atmosphere. She says she never feels lonely because people in Birmingham are always happy to chat and share stories.

Giorgio Locatelli, who comes from Italy, also enjoys living in Birmingham, especially in the Jewellery Quarter. He finds the people welcoming and likes hearing about their lives. However, he admits that the British winter is tough, with lots of rain and darkness. Both judges are impressed with the studio where MasterChef is filmed, calling it a fantastic and busy place. Grace and Giorgio have different backgrounds, which helps them judge the food from different perspectives. Giorgio focuses on the cooking techniques and how well the food is made, while Grace looks at the story behind the dish and what it represents. Giorgio says that having two judges with different views means they can look at the food from every angle. He has also learned a lot about Indian food from Grace, which is important in Birmingham's food scene.

One big difference between MasterChef in the UK and Italy is the variety of food. In Italy, the show mostly features Italian dishes, but in the UK, there are influences from Indian, Japanese, Mexican, and many other cuisines. The judges say that watching the celebrities cook for hours reveals their true personalities. Some celebrities start out just wanting to have fun, but as the competition goes on, they become more serious. Others use their performing skills in the kitchen, singing, dancing, or dressing up. This year's contestants include Olympic medallist Emily Campbell, broadcaster Jason Mohammad, comedian Joe Pasquale, TV personality Shakira Khan, and musician Jay McGuinness. They will compete in three heats, with the best cooks moving on to the quarter-finals. Guest judges like Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball, and Morgan Burtwistle will set special challenges for the celebrities. Celebrity MasterChef returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, 18 August, promising lots of excitement and tasty dishes.