After five weeks of high-pressure cooking, season 20 of Celebrity MasterChef concluded this evening, with this year’s winner finally revealed.
The finale put RuPaul’s Drag Race star Ginger Johnson, rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, and author-broadcaster Dawn O’Porter to the ultimate test, challenging them to deliver their finest dishes yet.
Over three hours, each contestant crafted a three-course meal designed to showcase their growth and bring everything they’d learned in the MasterChef kitchen to the table – their last chance to impress judges John Torode and Grace Dent.
In the end, only one could claim the crown. Here’s everything you need to know about the dramatic finale.
Who won Celebrity MasterChef 2025?
Ginger Johnson was crowned Celebrity MasterChef Champion 2025, beating 14 other celebrities in the kitchen to become the 20th person to claim the coveted trophy.
“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 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!” Ginger said after her win.
“Throughout this entire competition Ginger has delivered these intriguing, inventive, exciting, imaginative, difficult feats. What’s she’s done is something really impressive,” Grace gushed.
“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,” John added.
Ginger’s winning menu kicked off with a Bloody Mary prawn cocktail – prawns in a spicy tomato and vodka sauce, with Worcestershire jelly cubes and celery-salted crisps. John called it “showstopping, absolute brilliance.”
For the main, she served a twist on Duck à l’Orange: a duck leg and vegetable pie with orange-red wine gravy, accompanied by smoked garlic Hasselback potatoes, purple carrot, and charred baby romanesco.
Dessert was a Flaming Baked Alaska – Swiss meringue over sponge, caramelised pineapple, glacé cherry, and vanilla-cherry ice cream, all soaked in rum and set alight for a dramatic finish.
Originally from a small village in County Durham, Ginger Johnson – the stage name of Donald Marshall – began performing in drag while at university, a journey that quickly snowballed into a successful career. Now living with her partner Vyv and their two cats, she went on to win RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season five in 2023, describing Ginger as an expressive alter ego that allows her to step outside her naturally shy personality.
Reflecting on her MasterChef experience, Ginger said: “Being part of this competition has pushed me to be adventurous – bringing the creativity I find in the rest of my life into food. I’ve caught the bug for both cooking and competition.”
Ginger joins previous winners including Strictly pro Vito Coppola, Lisa Snowdon, Kadeena Cox MBE, Sophie Thompson, Ade Edmondson, and more.
Celebrity MasterChef is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.