Celebrity MasterChef 2025: Who went home tonight as Ginger Johnson falls ill in the semi-finals
It was a shock double eliminationCelebrity MasterChef 2025 has lost two contestants tonight in a shock double elimination during semi-finals week – but who went home?
Judges John Torode and Grace Dent pulled the plug on the two celebrities’ cooking dreams following a jam-packed episode.
Celebrity MasterChef contestant Ginger Johnson was also noticeably absent from the show.
The Drag Race UK star was forced to bow out of the first group task after being struck down with illness.
Here’s what happened in the first semi-final episode of the week, including who went home and what happened to Ginger.
Celebrity MasterChef: Coombe Abbey semi-final
John and Grace have whittled the semi-finalists down to nine and the gang were handed a huge challenge tonight (Monday December 8, 2025). They were taken by coach to Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire.
The MasterChef contestants were told they would be cooking a medieval banquet for 80 medieval enthusiasts. And they all looked shell-shocked!
There was one contestant absent from the start. John told the group: “Sadly Ginger can’t be with us today, because she’s unwell. She will be joining us later in the semi-finals.”
The contestants were split into two teams. Dawn O’Porter, Ashley Cain, Jamie Lomas and Alfie Boe were put in the red team. Antony Costa, Katie McGlynn, Chris Hughes and Alun-Wynn Jones were the blue team.
The blue team made venison pie with celeriac mash and roasted vegetables. They also cooked cod with a herb crumb served with beans, peas and asparagus and a fennel sauce. Their third dish was mushroom and blue cheese quiche.
There was a huge disaster, though, at the hands of Antony. He almost dished up raw venison pie in an oven mishap.
John gasped: “Antony’s put the pie filling in the oven and the oven was on 100C not 180C. The pie filling hasn’t been cooked. It is now in a pot.”
Antony fumed: “The oven mucked it up for me. I’m gutted. I’ve let everyone down.”
The reds, meanwhile, made roasted pork loin and crackling, carrot and swede mash and red wine gravy. Their first vegetarian dish was trout en-croute, veg and fennel sauce. They also made a pearl barley risotto.
Both teams cooked up sticky toffee pudding. The blues also served an almond and cherry sponge and custard. The red team’s second dessert was fig and berry tart tatin.
Task two: Ginger Johnson returns
The celebrities were back in the MasterChef kitchen for their second task. Ginger had returned to the competition and they were all tasked with making a pie to impress John and Grace. It could be sweet or savoury.
Ginger said: “I was absolutely gutted to not be able to take part in the last challenge. I’ve got to make sure my pie is strong enough to keep me in the competition, despite the fact I wasn’t there to join in.”
Ginger made rhubarb and raspberry Swiss meringue pie with a watermelon and sweet basil pesto. The judges looked slightly alarmed at how unusual complicated it was, but by the end, they loved it!
Chris failed to impress the judges with his game pie, as it was served in a pot with just a pastry lid. He was told his game was “tough” by Grace, while John said it had “a few problems”.
Antony served poached pear and frangipani pies, but John pointed his pears were raw and still had their cores. Grace, however, said it was “wholly edible”.
Katie made an apple tart tatin, almond cream and caramel sauce. But John said the apples had “disappeared” and he was left with a caramel pie. Katie admitted she was “gutted”.
Who went home?
John and Grace decided to send Chris and Antony home.
Speaking about his exit from the BBC competition, Blue singer Antony said: “I knew it was my time to go today. Everyone was just unbelievable. I can’t cry about it. I’ve had a brilliant time.”
Chris, who is a Love Island star-turned-horse riding pundit, added: “I’m obviously sad to be going home. But to be honest, it’s probably expected. I’ve learned so much and it’s been an amazing experience.”
When is Celebrity MasterChef on next?
There is no Celebrity MasterChef tomorrow night. The next episode of this week’s semi-final is on Wednesday December 10, 2025. It starts at 8pm and is on for one hour.
The seven remaining contestants will be set two more challenges. First, they will have to recreate a dish from Italian chef, Gennaro Contaldo. Whoever doesn’t impress will be sent home midway through the episode!
The six left will then have to cook a dish for John and Grace that really means something to them. One more celebrity will leave at the end of the episode.
Semi-final week concludes on Thursday December 11.
Read more: Celebrity MasterChef 2025: Ginger Johnson out of drag ‘looks just like Dermot O’Leary’
