Paralympic star Lauren Steadman wins Celebrity MasterChef after tense finale
Paralympic gold medallist Lauren Steadman has won the 2026 season of Celebrity MasterChef. She secured the victory after a final cook-off where she impressed judges with a three-course meal, including a highly praised sticky toffee pudding.
Why it matters
The win highlights the crossover appeal of Paralympic athletes in mainstream entertainment media.
Lauren Steadman has won Celebrity MasterChef, and the Paralympic champion needed every single course to do it. Three finalists cooked a three-course meal for judges Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli on Friday night, and only one could lift the 2026 trophy.The BBC One final capped a contest that began with 15 celebrities. Olympic medallist Emily Campbell and Love Island's Shakira Khan pushed hard, and Dent found the choice close to impossible. One dessert tipped the verdict, though, and a runner-up had a joke ready afterwards.Lauren Steadman beats Celebrity MasterChef rivals in dramatic final showdownLauren Steadman took the title on Friday, September 18, in a final shown on BBC One and iPlayer at 8 p.m. The Paralympic gold medallist beat Campbell and Khan in a head-to-head where each finalist had to cook and present a faultless three-course meal.
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