Street food is growing in popularity in the UK dining sector and the MasterChef Bus acknowledges this. Past contestants from the TV show will be cooking in the purpose built kitchen while diners can sit upstairs to eat.

After the bus has visited Marble Hill it will continue to follow the Foodie Festival for it's other London celebrations, stopping off in Kenwood House in Hampstead from the 30 May to 1 June and then in Clapham Common from the 6 June to 8 June.

The Bus
The MasterChef Bus was unveiled yesterday morning (21 May) at Marble Hill House. Winner of MasterChef 2009 Mat Follas and ...

... 2011 finalist Jackie Kearney were there for the reveal, and will be among the ex-MasterChef competitors cooking on the bus at the Foodie Festival this weekend. Diners will be able to eat on the top deck of the bus and the chefs are supporting local suppliers and seasonal produce.

The bus will be offering street food dishes including Smoky Chicken Burger served with salad and yuzu chilli sauce, and Singapore Softie (a deep fried soft shell crab with aubergine, green bean and cauliflower on egg noodles with spicy chilli crab bacon, American cheese, pickled veggie ribbons and gochujang burger sauce and salad, all served in a crusty roll), as well as sweets like lemon & lavender ice cream.

Exhibition Director Sue Hitchen said: "We are delighted that MasterChef chose our festival for the great reveal. it is a massive coup for us and we are sure it will prove a huge draw this Bank Holiday weekend.

MasterChef will also be running a pop-up Restaurant & Bar in Southwark in London for four weeks this September, where winners and champions from the past ten years will be cooking for the public. The site will be able to seat 130 people, and reservations open in three days' time.

MasterChef has welcomed 850 eager amateur cooks through its kitchen doors in the past nine years.

And the judges, celebrity chef John Torode and former greengrocer Gregg Wallace, have been lucky enough to sample more than 10,000 plates of food.

The much-loved BBC1 show returns to our television screens tonight with a feast of culinary delights in celebration of its 10th birthday since the new format was launched.

Hundreds of home cooks auditioned, keen to take part in such a landmark series, but they have been whittled down to 60.

This series promises to push the contestants further than ever before.

Challenges include cooking for the cast and crew of EastEnders, creating a feast for the country’s most renowned historians and devising a sumptuous meal out of rubbish scraps.

Those who know how hot it really gets in the kitchen are the former MasterChef winners and finalists.

Gregg and John have remained tight-lipped ...

... on their favourite champion, saying: “That’s impossible, all our winners stand out. We couldn’t name just one!”

They have all reunited to reveal what they’re up to now, and how having a buttery biscuit base, expert chopping skills and creating original flavours helped change their lives…


Shown in top picture:
Left to right (standing): Thomasina Miers (2005 Champion), Jonny Stevenson (2008 Finalist), Hannah Miles (2007 Finalist), Mat Follas (2009 Champion), Andy Oliver (2009 Finalist), Tim Anderson (2011 Champion), Sara Danesin Medio (2011 Finalist), Tom Whittaker (2011 Finalist), Jackie Kearney (2011 Semi Finalist),  Andrew Kojima (2012 Finalist), Shelina Permalloo (2012 Champion) and Dale Williams (2013 Finalist).

Left to right (sitting): Peter Bayless (2006 Champion),  James Nathan (2008 Champion),  Dean Edwards (floor, 2006 Finalist), Daksha Mistry (2006 Finalist), Chris Gates (2009 Finalist), Dhruv Baker (2010 Champion), John Torode (standing, Judge), Gregg Wallace (standing, Judge), Alex Rushmer (2010 Finalist), Tim Kinnaird (2010 Finalist), Natalie Coleman (2013 Champion), Tom Reynolds (2012 Finalist), Larkin Cen (2013 Finalist).

Thomasina Miers
Series One Champion, 2005

After storming to victory in series one, Thomasina went on to open Mexican food chain Wahaca, star in her own Channel 4 show, write food columns for The Times and Country Life, and produce five cookbooks.

“MasterChef put me on an incredible journey of discovery,” the 37 year old says. “John and Gregg, and winning, made me think completely differently about myself. They gave me hope when I was floundering.”

Thomasina, who lives in London with her husband and two children, plans to open a new restaurant in July and is launching a London festival, Chilli Chilli Bang Bang, in May to coincide with a new recipe book, Chilli Notes.

Her tip for winning? “Be inspired. If you are inspired by the food you eat and read about, then the food that you cook will be imbued with that inspiration and will excite others.”

Peter Bayless
Series Two Champion, 2006

Peter bagged a short-term chef job with Michel Roux Jr at Michelin-starred Le Gavroche after winning series two.

He then worked in a country house hotel kitchen as he felt he needed to get “experience of working in a pro environment".

The 67 year old, from East Sussex, says the show made him do a career U-turn.

“After 40 years in advertising, I’ve now been a chef for the last nine years,” he says. “The programme always promises to change people’s lives and of course that’s exactly what it did.”

Peter, who has written and published a book, has continued his passion for cooking and plans to be in the kitchen “as long as my feet will carry me”.

“These days I operate as an independent chef, I do private functions, dinner parties, chef’s table evenings, one to one teaching, and teaching at various cooking schools, and I’ve spent a few winters out in France working as a private chef to a large family and their guests.”

Steven Wallis
Series Three Champion, 2007 

Winning MasterChef gave 41 year old Steven the confidence to pursue a career in food. 

"Winning made me trust my intuition, my creative instinct, and that actually I can cook and I can cook damn well!" he says. 

Steven, who lives in London, now has his own consultancy business called Tastebillion and works as a flavour and creative consultant for global brands and food companies.

He says cooking is his "ultimate passion" and his future plans include opening a restaurant in the South of France. 

James Nathan 
Series Four Champion, 2008

Former lawyer James says his MasterChef victory opened many doors for him - not all of them positive.

“Hand on heart, there’s been some quite dark moments, it’s not a well-paid job, it’s very long hours, very gruelling – but being a criminal barrister you never made anyone happy,” the 40 year old says.

"For me cooking is making people happy.”

James, who is married with one child, has now opened a restaurant in his native Cornwall.

“We’ve got a great restaurant on a site with lots of self-catering Cornish holiday lets, ...

... and we’re about to open a much larger restaurant, and hopefully become a recognised culinary destination in Cornwall. It’s an exciting time.”

In the future James says he hopes to develop a “sushi, oyster and champagne bar”.

Mat Follas
Series Five Champion, 2009

Mat admits bagging the coveted MasterChef champion title was “unexpected” as he was “up against two very good finalists".

A highlight for the 47 year old was cooking at Noma in Denmark, which has been voted the best restaurant in the world.

“It made me realise that my hobby, which was foraging and eating foraged plants and things, was something that actually could be done at a really high level, and taught me an awful lot about it.”

Mat, who lives in Dorset with his wife and three children, went on to open a restaurant in his home town but it closed six months ago.

“It was very successful, we got a couple of AA rosettes and had mentions in the Good Food guide and the Michelin guide. With the economy as it still is in Dorset, keeping a fine dining restaurant going is a real challenge.”

Mat is now opening a small restaurant for weekends only, Mat Follas at The Casterbridge, and he helps out in a café attached to a local prison.

Dhruv Baker
Series Six Champion, 2010

Mexico-born Dhruv, 37, says winning MasterChef was a life-changing experience.

“The long story short is that I get to cook for a living, which has always been my dream.”

Dhruv, who now lives in London, has started a catering company, finished his first book Spice: Layers of Flavour, writes food articles for magazines and does some brand consultantcy.

“It’s really all the aspects of food that I love and I’ve always wanted to be involved with, and I get to do it as a job, which is amazing!”

His tips for success include staying calm, devising a plan and cooking things you’re confident with.

“Cook the food your friends and family praise you for, not the food you think John and Gregg want you to cook.”

Tim Anderson 
Series Seven Champion, 2011

Tim hasn’t forgotten his MasterChef experience - and wishes he could go back and do it all again.

“I’d love to go back and show John and Gregg what I could do now – I’m so much better, so much better than I was!”

When the show finished 29-year-old Tim, from London, continued cooking and now does it for a living.

“I’ve been doing a lot of pop ups, and different events, some private dining, some recipe development for different companies, and most recently I’ve been finishing my first cook book, which is called Nanban: Japanese Soul Food, and that’s coming out this year.”

Tim says he’d tell the lastest crop of contestants to “have fun, and stay true to what makes you smile and gets you excited".

Shelina Permalloo
Series Eight Champion, 2012

Shelina’s Mauritian puddings were praised by dessert fanatic Gregg, and she used her Caribbean background as inspiration for her first cook book, which launched last July.

“Since winning MasterChef I spent about a year writing, testing and launching my first cook book Sunshine on a Plate, which focuses on modern Mauritian food and includes a lot of traditional recipes that my mum taught me. It was quite nostalgic.”

The 31 year old, who lives in London, now plans to open a restaurant serving Mauritian food.

“That will make me really happy! I also plan to continue writing cookery books, travel and learn more about food and cooking techiniques.”

Natalie Coleman
Series Nine Champion, 2013

Natalie has been lucky enough to work with some of the nation’s best chefs, including Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr and Marcus Wareing, since winning the show.

But as well as working in high-end kitchens, the 30 year old is keen to get kids in her home town of Hackney cooking.

“I run cookery lessons for children in half terms in East London and I’ve also been doing projects with Borough Market and Jamie’s 15, teaching the chefs there. I’ve also just finished my own cookbook, which is due out in October. It’s been busy!”

Natalie says practice makes perfect and she “cooked every meal at least three times before putting them in front of John and Gregg".

She says the key to winning is “cooking food that reflects you as a person, don’t try to be something you’re not!”

Mat Follas

I will be watching Masterchef this year, I don't always watch the celeb or professionals but always the amateur series

Why ?

... as a fan of the program I've always enjoyed the honesty of the judges, John and Gregg, the aspirations of the contestants, the ones who flourish and the ones who's pomposity is burst with a truly awful dish. John and Gregg are not your friends who, at every dinner party, praise you for your 'wonderful cooking', they're direct and honest and more than a little painful at times. The 'journey' is a much copied format now but its always great to watch the huge leaps the semi-finalists take as they progress and get opportunities to learn.

... as a previous contestant and winner I have a huge debt and can share the highs and lows from a privileged perspective. I know a lot of the team behind the cameras, the directors and the brilliant and committed Series Editors Karen and David. I know the program is honest to its core, John and Gregg, the production and the contestants are kept at arms length from each other. I'm sure the production would have preferred a female finalist in the last couple of years but the judges are kept separate from influence and, I believe, only ever judge on the food placed in front of them.

I know now Gregg and I are friends that I wasn't his favourite to win my series until the final day although I had no inkling when I was contestant which way either of them felt.

... finally as a restaurateur there are some wonderful new ideas and dishes, its great to see other kitchens (we cooks lead pretty insular lives)

The format changes this year, I don't know how similar to the Aussie or NZ Masterchef it will be but I do know the production team is basically the same as the previous series. I know they're a bit nervous of the new, more glamorous perhaps, format and studio losing the audience who like the grittiness of the original series but am confident there will be the underlying honesty kept which will ensure the series will continue as a success.

So good luck to the program, more importantly I wish the last few luck as they are now committed to cooking for the next few years, I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I have. I look forward to hopefully meeting you soon.

Series 7 Masterchef starts on BBC1 at 9pm this Wednesday 16 February
(I might be making a brief appearance on the 24th February)

After 6 weeks of heats, a week of gruelling semi-finals and a week of finals, Mat Follas was awarded his trophy by judges and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Mat said, "My final 3 courses were very personal and incorporated my love of food, foraging and catching great ingredients. I'm humbled and proud that my dishes won such an amazing competition. It's been a fantastic experience and I've learnt an enormous amount. Although, at times, I have never worked so hard in all my life, it's been great fun and yes, I hope it will change my life!"

John Torode said of Mat, "Mat came in here and absolutely wowed us with food which was extraordinary in both presentation and flavour." Gregg Wallace said, "There is now no doubting the absolute originality and brilliance of Mat. The guy is cooking his own style. He is absolutely superb".

Mat Follas, 42, beat fellow finalists Andy Oliver and Chris Gates to the title. Mat's winning menu consisted of a starter of Trio of Wild Rabbit, a main course of Spider Crab with hand-cut Chips and Sea Vegetables and a dessert of Lavender Mousse with Hokey Pokey and a Blackberry sauce.

Mat Follas

Just a brief update as the week has been mad. A flurry of press interviews and a few TV shows. BBC Breakfast went well with John T taking the p*** followed by This Morning with Eamon Holmes and his wife Ruth ... they were lovely ... really nice and supportive on and off screen. We saw Eamonn again briefly the next morning on his radio 5 show which was great fun ... my final pudding was compared to a McFlurry Chrunchie ! lol.

Off to London to meet agents next ... I'm a little skeptical of getting much TV work but publicity is all good if we can get the restaurant going this year ...

... several offers of investment and premises so far so looking at them over the next few weeks.

The comments and emails ... and cards have been amazing ... it really is incredibly flattering, so thank you.