Meet the Celebrity Chef Judges

The stellar line-up of world-class chefs on this year's judging panel includes James Martin, Rick Stein and Raymond Blanc.

of 5

James Martin

The well-known TV chef was born in Yorkshire in 1972. He was brought to London by Anthony Worrall Thompson to work in his 190 Queen's Gate restaurant in Kensington and quickly went on to work for some of the best restaurants in the the UK and France, before returning to open his own restaurant in Winchester at the age of just 22.

He made his first TV appearance in 1996 and became a regular on shows such as Ready Steady Cook and Junior MasterChef. He's now a household name, with numerous TV shows, ten cookery books and restaurants in Leeds and North Yorkshire.
Rick Stein

One of the UK's top seafood chefs, Rick Stein's empire in the Cornish fishing village of Padstow includes a seafood restaurant, a bistro, a deli, a patisserie, a hotel and a fish and chip shop, not to mention the Padstow Seafood School. Rick is so important to the local economy that the little fishing village has been nicknamed Padstein.

It was his enthusiasm for the great seafood around the coast of Britain that led him to make his first TV cookery series, Taste of the Sea, in 1995. He has been bringing his enthusiasm for good, simple food to our screens ever since.

But his greatest passion is still uncomplicated, fresh seafood, as served in his restaurants in Padstow. "Nothing is more exhilarating than fresh fish simply cooked," he says.
Raymond Blanc

Frenchman Raymond Blanc is often hailed as one of the world's finest chefs, famous for his inspired French food and his quest for perfection.

After trying jobs as a nurse and a factory worker, Raymond decided at the age of 21 that he would enter the restaurant world. He worked his way up the ranks, first washing dishes in a restaurant in France, then as a waiter at The Rose Revived near Oxford. After a year there, he was promoted to chef.

At the age of 28, Raymond opened his own restaurant, the highly acclaimed and awarded Les Quat' Saisons in Oxford. In 1984, he relocated to a country house in Great Milton to create Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel, restaurant and cookery school.
Angela Hartnett

Born in Kent, Angela is one of the most high-profile women in the restaurant world and gained a love of food from her Italian grandmother and mother.

After completing a degree in Modern History she worked at the Sandy Lane hotel restaurant in Barbados. in 1994, she returned to the UK and began work for Gordon Ramsay at his first restaurant, Aubergine, which led to a long-running working relationship at a number of top venues.

In 2002 she opened Menu Restaurant at the Connaught hotel with Ramsay and became the first woman to run its kitchen. She won her first Michelin Star in 2004 and in 2007 she was awarded an MBE for her services to the hospitality industry.

In 2010, Angela became the sole owner of Murano in London's Mayfair which serves modern cuisine with an Italian twist reflecting her Italian roots.
Andrew Fairlie

At just 20, Andrew was awarded the very first Roux Scholarship, gaining the opportunity to train with legendary chef Michel Guerard at Les Prés d'Eugénie in Gascony. After several years in some of the finest Paris kitchens he returned home to Perthshire in 2001 to open his eponymous restaurant, Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles.

It is regarded as Scotland's leading eatery and in 2006 it was one of only eleven restaurants in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars. The menu blends French and Scottish cooking with ingredients from both local and Parisian suppliers.

In 2012 Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles topped the Sunday Times Food List of the top 100 UK restaurants.

Slideshow Pause Show Images Hide Images

James Martin

Rick Stein

Raymond Blanc

Angela Hartnett

Andrew Fairlie