Celebrity MasterChef stars face blindfold test as Emily admits fear
Celebrity MasterChef stars faced a blindfolded taste test on BBC One's August 25 heat, where Gladiator Emily 'Dynamite' Steel admitted she was scared before identifying mystery food cubes. Wrong guesses risk elimination from the challenge and a lost round advantage, while Emily's chilli-heavy signature dish left judge Grace Dent unable to feel her mouth.
The BBC cooking competition returned for its second week of heats on Tuesday night, putting five new famous faces through two pressure-packed days in the kitchen.
Key Takeaways
- Emily Steel, Donna Preston, Eric Underwood, Nitin Ganatra and TommyInnit competed in Heat 2 on August 25.
- Contestants had to identify blindfolded mystery cubes of meat, fish, vegetables or fruit using taste and touch alone.
- Eric, Donna and Nitin correctly guessed beetroot, cucumber and pineapple; Emily and TommyInnit still faced elimination pressure.
- Emily's chilli-packed Thai signature dish left judge Grace Dent unable to feel her mouth.
- No celebrity left on Day 1, but one elimination is expected in the next episode.
What happened on Celebrity MasterChef this week?
Heat 2 kicked off on BBC One at 9pm on August 25, 2026, with Gladiator Emily Steel, actor Nitin Ganatra, YouTuber TommyInnit, comedian Donna Preston and former Royal Ballet dancer Eric Underwood.
After signature dishes, Giorgio Locatelli revealed the next test: a blindfolded taste challenge focused purely on the palate. The contestants received small plates of mystery cubes and had to name each ingredient without seeing it.
Getting it wrong meant elimination from that challenge and losing the chance to win a significant advantage in the next round. For more offbeat TV moments, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man category.
Why did Emily Steel say she was scared?
When Locatelli handed out blindfolds and explained the rules, Emily appeared caught off guard. She gasped "Of course" before admitting, "Oh, I'm scared."
Donna Preston took a lighter approach, joking to camera: "Get that blindfold on me, babes." But the stakes were real. With Eric, Donna and Nitin already through after correct guesses, the pressure shifted to Emily and TommyInnit.
Eric identified beetroot after a cautious second bite, Donna landed on cucumber, and Nitin confidently called pineapple. Grace Dent praised Nitin's enthusiastic eating before confirming he was correct.
How did Grace Dent react to Emily's chilli dish?
Before the blindfold test, Emily drew on her Thai heritage for her signature dish: fillet steak marinated in chilli, soy and oyster sauce, served with sticky rice, papaya apple salad and a tamarind Nam Jim dipping sauce.
Grace said she watched Emily hurl a healthy handful of dried chillies into the sauce, alongside large pieces of fresh red chillies. After tasting it, she took deep breaths and told the Gladiator she could not feel the inside of her mouth. Giorgio Locatelli swallowed his portion, but asked Grace if she was okay as she sweated through the heat.
Grace reassured Emily: "It will grow back, it will grow back." Later, Giorgio said the Nam Jim sauce was full of flavour but perhaps a little too full of chilli.
Who leaves Celebrity MasterChef next?
Everyone survived Day 1 and advanced to Day 2, but the show teased that one celebrity would leave in the following episode. Heat 1 had already sent Welsh presenter Jason Mohammad home after Grace noted he looked increasingly stressed during his cabbage rolls dish.
Viewers can stream episodes on BBC iPlayer to see whether Emily and TommyInnit survive the blindfold round and who ultimately exits the kitchen.