Storming back to BBC Three, Young MasterChef returns for a second series, as nine of Britain’s best young foodies press pause on their day jobs to put their cooking skills to the test. Judging their every move is Michelin-trained social media sensation Poppy O’ Toole, who is joined by new judge – chef, author and YouTube food star, Big Has.

Poppy O’Toole said: “We have super high expectations but I know standards are going to be up there. I can’t wait to get started and find 2024’s Young MasterChef Champion!”

Big Has said: “This is going to be special. I’m ready for the cooks to walk through the doors and show us what they’ve got.”

After the first series of Young MasterChef shone a spotlight on this country’s self-taught young foodies, all with dreams of making it in Britain’s food revolution, the competition is now hotter than ever. This time, the ambitious cooks will also be stepping out of the MasterChef kitchen to work on real world challenges – including treating volunteers at a busy community kitchen to a special meal of their own and wild outdoor cooking for a party of celebs.

Over the course of the series, the contestants will be joined by a number of prestigious guest judges at the top of their game, who will provide their expertise and knowledge to take the contestants’ culinary skills to the next level. These guest judges are:

• TikTok sensation, Martyn Odell (@Lagomchef)
• TikTok star and author, Sam Way (@samseats)
• Treats Club founder, Lungi Mhlanga (@thetreatsclub)
• RateMyTakeAway YouTube star, Danny Malin (@RateMyTakeAway)
• Viral foodies, The Taste Cadets (@tastecadets)
• Head Chef, The Grill at The Dorchester Hotel, Tom Booton

This year’s foodie hopefuls are hungry for success and are paving their own way outside of their day jobs; from running their own at home takeaway businesses, creating pop-ups and cooking for their growing social media followings. Now, they are taking another leap into the MasterChef kitchen to prove they have what it takes to reach the endgame. The stage is set for the ultimate kitchen battle, as Young MasterChef returns to shake things up for 2024.

The first test for the nine budding cooks will be to showcase their ‘Number 1’ dish to the judges – a plate that shows off personality, has bags of flavour, and leaves the judges hungry for more. However, they will be faced with a twist where they have to choose wisely to be safe from elimination in the next round. The skill factor is then turned up a notch, as the contestants will need to deliver one of the Big Has’ go-to dishes - the perfect plate of pasta - from scratch. Only seven will make it through to the next round.

The competition then continues across the following four weeks and challenges will include: preparing a three-course meal for the volunteers at the London Community Kitchen, which last year alone dished up enough meals to feed over half a million people from the local area; perfecting a incredible brunch dish; delivering a Quarter Final dinner date dish to spoil the judges rotten - complete with a socials clip that will get hearts fluttering; taking on a tall order and cooking for the credit crunch by rustling up their best home ‘Fakeaway’. The Semi Finalists then must fire up the coals to deliver a Big Has’ BBQ-inspired menu for a celebrity bash with some special guests expecting top-class catering.

After battling it out through various challenges and tasks, only three rookie cooks are left vying for the ultimate title. They will square off in two challenges that will shake things up and require next-level cooking. The finalists must each re-create a recipe from top drawer chef Tom Booton, who, when he was just 26, became the youngest head chef to ever run The Grill at the Dorchester Hotel in London. They must use all their culinary know-how to follow Tom’s recipe to the letter and plate up some killer food that not only tastes, but also looks, the part.

With the finish line in arm’s reach, just one mission remains: to cook the best ultimate two-course menu and deliver a main and dessert packed with skill, technique and some seriously popping flavours. To pile on the pressure, Poppy and Big Has will invite some special guests who are already connoisseurs when it comes to tasting the finalists’ food – their family. Will they be proud as punch, or throw some shade? With five identical plates of each course to dish up, this will be the ultimate showdown to crown the Young MasterChef Champion 2024.

The first episode of Young MasterChef will air on 8 January on BBC iPlayer at 6am and 8pm on BBC Three with episodes airing weekly. All episodes of Series 1 of Young MasterChef are available on BBC iPlayer (see link below).

Young MasterChef was commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning and Fiona Campbell, Controller, Youth Audience (BBC iPlayer & BBC Three). The series of 5 x 60 is made by Shine TV, part of Banijay UK, in association with Ziji Productions, and the Executive Editor is David Ambler. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Sarah Clay.