Masterchef judge spy-themed semi final

28 May 2026

Having watched MasterChef for many years, the thought never crossed my mind that I would one day appear as a judge!

In series 17, episode 22, I am recruited as a special guest, alongside six others drawn from the world of espionage. Dr Marsha Quallo-Wright, the director of technology futures at GCHQ, and former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger join me at the dinner table at the luxury hotel Raffles London at the Old War Office (OWO), alongside Charlotte Philby, Gordon Corera, Charles Cumming and Fiona Harris.

Five semi-finalists are presented with a secret mission of cooking an espionage-themed feast in the Michelin-starred kitchen at The OWO, a building long associated with secret operations, Ian Fleming and James Bond. The episode marks the landmark building's 120th anniversary.

Sadly, I don't have a licence to cook, but I can reveal the contestants were incredible, the food was out of this world, and certain spy historians make excellent dinner guests.

MasterChef series 22 airs on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.