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For the first time in MasterChef history, after years of tasting and critiquing MasterChef contestants’ dishes, the tables will be turned on five of the country’s top food critics. This year, the restaurant critics will be putting their own culinary reputations on the line as they battle for the title of MasterChef Critics Champion 2023. Competing in this special episode for the brand new Golden Cutlery trophy are Grace Dent, Leyla Kazim, William Sitwell, Jay Rayner and Jimi Famurewa. All of them will be pushed to the extreme in two demanding challenges.

Far from their usual dining room, the critics will enter the MasterChef kitchen to face their first daunting test. They will have 90 minutes to cook a dish that represents their guilty pleasure. To impress, they will have to pull out all the stops to produce a comforting showstopper that will tickle the judges’ taste buds and deliver food that lives up to their exceptional palates. After years of pulling contestants up on lack of flavour and shoddy presentation, can they do better?

Next, they will need to hold their nerve, as they will have just 90 minutes to cook their best two-course menu. This time, they will not only have to delight John and Gregg, but three ultimate guest judges and MasterChef trophy winners: Ping Coombes – MasterChef champion 2014, Kenny Tutt – MasterChef champion 2018 and Nikita Pathakji – MasterChef: The Professionals Champion 2022. Each of the guest judges have their own experience of facing the critics, and emotions are running high. Now that it’s time to return the favour, will the diners show them any leniency, or do they have scores to settle?

Only one critic will be crowned champion and take home the coveted Golden Cutlery trophy. It’s the ultimate showdown. Who will receive positive reviews, and who will crumble at being critiqued?