Celebrity Masterchef 2018: John Partridge crowned WINNER of cooking show

John Partridge has been crowned the triumphant champion of BBC One’s Celebrity MasterChef 2018.

The EastEnders actor was awarded the coveted trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace after six weeks of gruelling challenges and an incredibly emotional final on Friday night. 

The ecstatic 47-year-old, who beat out Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews and former rugby player Martin Bayfield in the final, said taking part was ‘one of the best experiences of my life’.

Ecstatic: John Partridge has been crowned the triumphant champion of BBC One’s Celebrity MasterChef 2018

‘I thought it was going to be all about cooking and about food and it ended up being so much more than that,’ he said. 

‘I cooked to remember. To remind myself of who I am, where I’m from and what I can still be. And now to have actually won… it just feels really really good.’

John Torode praised the actor for battling past 19 celebrities to scoop the gong.   

‘John along the way has thrilled me. The guy draws on every bit of emotion to deliver the food he knows and loves to eat,’ he said. 

 Can’t believe it! John was overwhelmed with emotion when his name was called out

Emotional: The ecstatic 47-year-old, who beat out Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews and former rugby player Martin Bayfield in the final

Blown away: The ecstatic 47-year-old, who beat out Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews and former rugby player Martin Bayfield in the final, said taking part was ‘one of the best experiences of my life’

‘It’s about him, there’s a story attached to it and you can taste it. Anybody who walks into a final, cooks food from his heart and makes us smile, is a worthy winner.’

Gregg Wallace added: ‘John only cooks what he truly believes in, truly loves, and has got a bit of his history in it – do you know who else does that? The great chefs of the world – and that is why he is our MasterChef Champion.’

Throughout the Final Week John, Spencer Matthews and Martin Bayfield had to draw on everything they had learnt during his time in the MasterChef kitchen, and cook to the very highest standards to impress the judges.

Taken aback: The EastEnders actor was awarded the coveted trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace after six weeks of gruelling challenges and an incredibly emotional final on Friday night

Commiserations: Fellow finalists Spencer and Martin seemed more than happy for the winner

The series of final challenges included: cooking an Afternoon Tea to impress judges John, Gregg and leading Pastry Chef Eric Lanlard, producing a two-course menu for the infamous restaurant critics, and one of the toughest and most daunting challenges of the competition – The Chef’s Table.

This year it was hosted by Bryn Williams at Bryn Williams of Somerset House, and they cooked for some the best chefs in the country – Marcus Wareing (two Michelin stars), Lisa Goodwin-Allen (one Michelin star), Shaun Rankin (one Michelin star), Robin Gill and Romy Gill MBE.

The final task was to cook and present a flawless three-course meal for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace in two-and-a-half hours. 

Impressed: John Torode praised the actor for battling past 19 celebrities to scoop the gong. He said: ‘John along the way has thrilled me. The guy draws on every bit of emotion to deliver the food he knows and loves to eat’

Big fan: Gregg Wallace added: ‘John only cooks what he truly believes in, truly loves, and has got a bit of his history in it – do you know who else does that? The great chefs of the world – and that is why he is our MasterChef Champion’

John’s winning menu, entitled ‘There’s No Taste Like Home’ and inspired by his Lancashire roots, consisted of a starter of Pan-fried scallops on ‘Bury’ black pudding, topped with spiced apple and bacon crumb, pea puree, pea shoots and white truffle oil.

His main consisted of lamb and potato Lancashire hotpot served with buttered carrots and pickled beets in a honey and mustard dressing topped with chives.

The three course meal was finished off with a slice of egg custard tart with a dusting of nutmeg for dessert.

Culinary genius: John’s winning menu, entitled ‘There’s No Taste Like Home’ and inspired by his Lancashire roots, consisted of a starter of Pan-fried scallops on ‘Bury’ black pudding, topped with spiced apple and bacon crumb, pea puree, pea shoots and white truffle oil

Overwhelmed: Speaking about his final meal, John said: ‘It is a reflection of who I am, this is me on a plate and that’s really all I could do’

Speaking about his final meal, John said: ‘It is a reflection of who I am, this is me on a plate and that’s really all I could do.’

On his MasterChef journey, John said ‘It’s been an absolute joy from beginning to end, getting to know myself, remembering my childhood and the things that I loved.’

John follows in the footsteps of previous winners Angellica Bell, Alexis Conran, Kimberly Wyatt, Sophie Thompson, Ade Edmondson, Emma Kennedy, Phil Vickery, Lisa Faulkner, Jayne Middlemiss, Liz McClarnon, Nadia Sawalha and Matt Dawson. 

Incredible: His main consisted of lamb and potato Lancashire hotpot served with buttered carrots and pickled beets in a honey and mustard dressing topped with chives