In a landmark moment for the long-running series, Celebrity MasterChef has crowned its 20th champion, with RuPaul's Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson taking the title in a historic finale. The episode, broadcast on Friday, 19th December 2025, also served as judge John Torode's final appearance on the BBC show after his departure earlier this year.
A Triumph of Flavour and Flair
Ginger Johnson made television history by becoming the first drag queen ever to win Celebrity MasterChef. She succeeded last year's champion, Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola, after a fierce five-week competition that began with 15 celebrities. The final culinary showdown was a three-legged race between Ginger, rugby icon Alun Wyn Jones, and television presenter Dawn O'Porter.
For the ultimate test, the finalists were given three hours to produce a stunning three-course meal that encapsulated everything they had learned. Ginger approached the challenge as a performance, telling cameras: "The dinner table is a stage today and I'm going to try and make the most fun, exciting, humorous food that I can." She described her menu as "the ultimate, contemporary 1970s dinner party," inspired by her love for the era's art and culture.
The Winning Menu and Judging Verdict
Ginger's victorious meal commenced with a Bloody Mary prawn cocktail, which Torode hailed as "absolute brilliance." This was followed by a main of duck a l'orange with hasselback potatoes, culminating in a spectacular flaming baked Alaska for dessert.
The judging panel, consisting of Torode and new MasterChef judge Grace Dent, were unanimous in their praise. Dent described Ginger's cooking as "intriguing, inventive, exciting, imaginative." Torode, who filmed this series before his exit from the BBC, added: "With all the presentation, all the fun, the laughs, her food tastes delicious and she's an extraordinary cook. For me, that's why she is our champion."
A Shocked Champion and a Bittersweet Farewell
Reacting to her unexpected win, an elated Ginger Johnson said: "I cannot believe this, I'm so shocked. I really thought I was going to come here and have a laugh. I can't believe this is the end result... It's absolutely crazy! I've actually learned a real-life skill!" She credited her foodie passion to her parents, who encouraged her to experiment in the kitchen from a young age.
Reflecting on the MasterChef experience, Ginger noted it pushed her to be adventurous, "trying to bring the creativity that I find in the rest of my life into food." She confessed to having "caught the bug for the food and the competition."
The finale marked the end of an era, serving as John Torode's final episode as a judge. He and co-host Gregg Wallace were both let go by the BBC in the summer of 2025, though this series was filmed prior to their departure.
Celebrity MasterChef is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
