Matt for MasterChef 2026 Heat 1 / BBC
Age: 41
Job: IT Manager
From: West Yorkshire
How would you describe your cooking style?
“My cooking is flavour driven, curious and quite ingredient led. I love dishes where lots of small elements come together – sauces, herbs, pickles and crunch so every bite has contrast and balance. I’m particularly drawn to ingredients that bring umami and acidity, so things like fermented sauces, citrus, herbs and good olive oil appear quite a lot in my food. My cooking often sits somewhere between Mediterranean and East Asian influences, but it isn’t tied to one cuisine.
“I’m inspired by chefs who cook simple food with real personality, like Yotam Ottolenghi, and by restaurants that mix flavours and cultures in interesting ways.”
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with?
“Probably chickpeas. They’re incredibly versatile, you can roast them, purée them, turn them into batters, fritters, stews or crunchy toppings. They absorb flavour brilliantly and work across loads of cuisines. I love ingredients that transform depending on how you cook them, and chickpeas do that really well.”
Why did you take part in the show?
“Cooking has quietly become a huge part of my life, and I reached a point where I thought why not push myself and see how far I can take it? MasterChef feels like the perfect challenge. It forces you out of your comfort zone and tests your creativity and technique.”
Would you like to work professionally in the food industry?
“I don’t have a dream of running a restaurant. What excites me most is sharing food in a more personal way, like teaching people to cook or writing recipes that encourage people to experiment more in the kitchen. For me the best part of food is bringing people together around a table.”
The new series of MasterChef begins tonight at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
