LOVE ISLAND STAR, GLADIATOR AND EASTENDERS ACTOR JOIN CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF LINE-UP

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Love Island's Shakira Khan and Gladiators star Dynamite are the latest stars reported to have signed up for the new series of Celebrity MasterChef.

The BBC culinary competition will return to screens later this year and will be the first to be presided over by Grace Dent and Anna Haugh, after former hosts John and Gregg Wallace were both given the boot from the BBC show.

Shakira, 23, rose to fame as the runner-up on Season 12 of Love Island last year, while British record-holding weightlifter Dynamite, whose real name is Emily Steel, 23, joined the 2024 reboot of Gladiators. 

She will follow in the footsteps of 2024 finalist Nitro (Harry Aikines-Aryeete) and last year's semi-finalist Fury (Jodie Ounsley). 

EastEnders' Nitin Ganatra, 58, who is known for playing Masood Ahmed on the soap and BBC Sports presenter Jason Mohammad, 52, are also said to be taking part in the show.  

 A source told The Sun: 'Celebrity MasterChef really needs a strong star line-up for the new series after all the controversies with the judges over the last year, and producers have done just that.

'There are a really good mix of names so far which cover a lot of bases. Shakira will pull in younger viewers who are obsessed with Love Island, while Dynamite will also provide some eye candy as well as appealing to family viewers.'

'Nitin is a legend among soap fans, while Jason draws in the sports crowd. There is something for everyone so far.' 

The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC and the stars' representatives for comment.  

The Saturdays singer Una Healy, 44, and BBC Radio 1's Melvin Odoom, 41, are also rumoured to be taking part alongside Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver, Strictly Come Dancing pro Lauren Steadman and YouTuber Max Fosh.

Last year's celebrity spin-off was won by RuPaul's Drag Race UK star Ginger Johnson. 

The television personality beat rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, and broadcaster Dawn O'Porter in the tense finale in December.

Judge Grace replaced Gregg on the celebrity series of MasterChef last year, and shortly after, John was removed from the series. 

In September the BBC announced Grace and Anna as the judges for the upcoming 22nd series of the programme.  

John stepped down from the show in July 2025 after two decades following allegations he used a derogatory racist slur allegation in the workplace in 2018.

The complaint against him was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg's inappropriate behaviour.

John identified himself as an unnamed person in the report who was accused of using 'racist language', but claimed he 'had absolutely no recollection' of the incident and did 'not believe that it happened'.

The BBC said the host's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during drinks after filming the show.

John claimed he only found out about his sacking through media reports rather than being informed by the BBC or production company Banijay.

However, the BBC release a statement that read: 'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin.

'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.'

Meanwhile, Gregg was sacked after an external investigation which upheld 45 complaints about his behaviour on the series, out of 83 allegations that were made.

He issued an apology saying he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of an investigation, where 41 people complained in total.

The substantiated claims included inappropriate sexual language and humour, culturally insensitive or racist comments, one instance of unwelcome physical contact, and three instances of being in a state of undress.

The BBC apologised at the time of his dismissal to 'everyone who has been impacted' by his behaviour, admitting that 'opportunities were missed to address' his conduct and stating: 'We accept more could and should have been done sooner.'

The corporation said Gregg's behaviour 'falls below the values of the BBC and the expectations we have for anyone who works with or for us'.

However, in January Gregg launched a fresh defence against the misconduct allegations, claiming the 45 upheld complaints against him represented a 'pile on' rather than a pattern of sustained behaviour over two decades.

The presenter insisted that only two complaints were ever raised during his 20-year tenure and that the remaining 43 emerged only after 'sensationalised (and untrue)' initial allegations became public in late 2024.

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2026-03-02T21:13:56Z