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Young MasterChef is a cooking competition broadcast between 2 January 2023 and 5 February 2024 on BBC Three. A derivative of the revived version of MasterChef (1990–2001, 2005–), the series was open for young adults between 18 and 25.^[1]

The BBC announced the show in February 2022^[1] and Poppy O’Toole and Kerth Gumbs as hosts in July 2022. O’Toole started uploading videos as Poppy Cooks on TikTok after losing her job to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, while Great British Menu finalist Kerth Gumbs was head chef of The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street.^[2][3] The show was co-produced by Banijay derivative Shine TV and by Ziji Productions.^[4]

Five chefs started each of three heats, with three advancing to the final.^[5] Over the course of ten episodes, challenges included cooking a meal within a budget of £30,^[6] cooking pizza,^[7] and replicating a fine dining recipe by Great British Menu champion James Cochran.^[6] Of the finalists, the Knebworth entrepreneur Jordan Pomerance was described by V-land UK as the first vegan chef to appear in a UK MasterChef final^[8][9] and the Nottingham law student Keziah Whittaker won the series. Their final challenge was to cook a starter and a showstopper.^[10] Gumbs left the show in August 2023 and was replaced by Big Has, another social media chef.^[11][12]

Series two lasted for five episodes^[13] and featured nine contestants^[14] including TikToker Rima Aishah Begum. The third episode featured as guest judge Danny Malin of the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway, who challenged the contestants to create fakeaways.^[15] The final episode saw finalists recreate a recipe from Tom Booton, who had been head chef at The Grill at The Dorchester in London, and then cook a two-course meal for their families and the judges. The series was won by Famara Kurang, an intern from Brixton Hill.^[16]

• Young MasterChef at BBC Online