Celebrity MasterChef: Episode 9
Series 25, Episode 9

Celebrity MasterChef
Series 20: 9. Episode 9Just one round remains before the enormity of the semi-finals takes hold. The stage is set for the last quarter-final to determine which three celebrities push on in the competition. Two tough tasks are on the cards, meaning the stars need to use every trick in their recipe book to stand any chance of success.
In the appropriately named pairs challenge, these celebrities work in twos for the first time. The judges arm each team with a recipe, and each couple must deliver two identical portions of that dish – but only one member of each team will have access to their recipe. The recipes are not easy, and include the Indian fried chickpea delight Aloo Tikki and some delicious Middle Eastern falafel. Communication is key to convey the recipe, the technique, and above all, the flavour.
Life as a pair is short-lived, as it's then back to flying solo. The contestants deliver their best two-course menu for the judges, and extra portions for three special celebrity guests: 2024 finalist Craig Doyle, 2023 finalist Amy Walsh and 2021 champion Kadeena Cox. Delighting these diners, as well as the judges, is no mean feat. To be worthy of a place in the semi-finals, the food will need to look and taste the part.
Grace and John name the lucky cooks who have made it through. The successful stars will need to brush up on their skills fast, as next up, all remaining celebs come together for the first time and the heat gets turned up to high!