The curtain has closed on this season’s Celebrity MasterChef, as a new champion has been awarded the title after an impressive performance in the BBC finale.

Emerging victorious is Ginger Johnson, known for her role on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. She captured the esteemed trophy, marking her as the 20th celebrity to claim this prestigious honor as the series concluded.

Ginger, whose real name is Donald Marshall, 37, triumphed over formidable opponents, including rugby icon Alun Wyn Jones and television presenter Dawn O’Porter, in the nail-biting final showdown.

Judges Grace Dent and John Torode, who have been at the helm of this culinary journey, named Ginger the victor after she presented her most exceptional dishes yet.

In response to her victory, Ginger expressed her surprise, saying, “I can’t believe this; I’m absolutely stunned. I truly thought I was just coming here to have a good time.”

‘I can’t believe this is the end result of the competition. It’s absolutely crazy! I can’t wait to tell my mum and dad. I’ve actually learned a real-life skill!’

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Ginger Johnson lifted the coveted trophy – becoming the 20th celebrity to win the dazzling prize as the series came to an end

Ginger, the stage name of Donald Marshall, 37, beat rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, and broadcaster Dawn O’Porter in the tense final episode

Grace Dent praised: ‘Throughout this entire competition Ginger has delivered these intriguing, inventive, exciting, imaginative, difficult feats. What’s she’s done is something really impressive.’

And John Torode 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.’

The final week saw the celebrities tasked with creating a three-course meal, within just three hours, to reflect on how far they had come in the series.

Their last chance to wow the judges, the stars had the opportunity to come up with their own menu to be presented to the judges. 

Talking about her menu ahead of the challenge, Ginger revealed: ‘This is showtime for me. The dinner table is a stage today and I’m going to try and make the most fun, exciting, humorous food that I can. 

‘I’m cooking the ultimate, contemporary 1970s dinner party. Surprise, surprise, I love the art, the fashion, the music and the culture.’

Ginger served up a Bloody Mary prawn cocktail, which featured prawns in a tomato, chilli and vodka sauce, with diced cucumber and Worcestershire jelly cubes, garnished with roasted prawns, lettuce, celery and olives. 

The impressive dish was topped with celery-salted crisps and mayonnaise. 

Judges Grace Dent and John Torode, who have presided over the competition, crowned Ginger after delivery her best food to date 

The star served up an impressive three-course meal for the judges

Commenting on the dish, John said: ‘This is showstopping, absolute brilliance.’

Ginger went on to serve up a Duck a l’Orange, a duck leg and vegetable pie with an orange and red wine gravy, served with garlic hasselback potatoes, purople carrot, a charred baby romanesco and kale. 

The menu was completed with a Flaming Baked Alaska dessert, a Swiss meringue covered a sponge base, a caramelised pineapple ring, a glacé cherry and a vanilla and cherry ice-cream.

The dessert was soaked and covered in rum.  

After the menu, Grace told Ginger: ‘You’ve always put on a show and made us laugh, but at the root of it there is a serious cook. 

‘There’s never been a point when you haven’t tried take things and twist them to another level to impress us and excite us.’

Ginger, who lives with partner Vyv and their two cats, and is originally from County Durham, has been a drag performer since university. 

The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, who won the fifth series in 2023, said of her influences behind her menu: ‘I have always been a big eater. 

Ginger made it to the final of Celebrity MasterChef alongside writer Dawn O’Porter, and rugby star Alun Wyn Jones

Ginger, who won her series of Drag Race in 2023, took to the MasterChef kitchen in full drag, including her large ginger wig and glamorous make-up

‘My mum would do the weeknight dinners and on a Saturday my dad would try something a bit special. That definitely inspired me to try lots of different things. 

‘So, I’ve always had a real passion for eating, and now, for cooking.  

‘Being part of this competition has pushed me to be adventurous – trying to bring the creativity that I find in the rest of my life into food. I’ve caught the bug for the food and the competition.’

Ginger joins an impressive cohort of winners, including Strictly’s Vito Coppola, Wynne Evans, Lisa Snowdon, Kadeena Cox, Greg Rutherford and Kimberly Wyatt.

It comes after Ginger hit back at a troll who made vicious swipe at her ‘absolutely ludicrous’ appearance on the BBC One cooking competition. 

She took to social media to hit back with a response to the nasty comment. 

Ginger took to the MasterChef kitchen in full drag, including her large ginger wig and glamorous make-up, each week including the final. 

It saw Ginger branded ‘ludicrous’ by one cruel viewer, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to hit out at her appearance. 

The RuPaul’s Drag Race star took to social media to hit back with a response to the nasty comment

‘Ginger, you’re not a “woman” you look absolutely ludicrous,’ the nasty commenter penned, including the hashtag for the Celebrity MasterChef series.

Underneath the comment, Ginger hit back: ‘Thank you, sweetheart! “Ludicrous” is exactly what I’m aiming for. Have a lovely Christmas.’

Fans of the star were thrilled to see her clap back against the user, and flooded her with supportive messages telling her they ‘love her’. 

‘Well you’re succeeding beyond expectations dear, well done,’ one wrote, as another chimed in: ‘There’s something really funny about adding a hashtag to a hate post…’

Ginger made it to the final of Celebrity MasterChef alongside writer Dawn O’Porter, and rugby star Alun Wyn Jones, beating Uma Jammesh, Ashley Cain, Chris Hughes and Michelle Heaton. 

She shot to fame in 2023 when she won RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and went on to co-present online breakfast show Wakey! and host her own BBC Three series, Ginger’s House the following year. 

Ginger has also written children’s short stories Glamorous Gran and Other Tall Stories, which she has performed at the Southbank Centre. 

Celebrity Masterchef is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.