The tense semi-final of Celebrity MasterChef 2025 saw opera star Alfie Boe's journey come to a poignant end, as the final three contestants were confirmed for Friday's grand finale.
A Tribute That Missed the Mark
In Tuesday's episode, judges Grace Dent and John Torode tasked the final four with creating a dish dedicated to someone special. Alfie Boe, 52, chose to honour his late father, who passed away 28 years ago, with an ambitious two-layer cake.
One layer was a Yorkshire ginger Parkin, his father's favourite, while the other was a Belgian Le Misérable cake – a nod to his own career as a tenor – topped with ginger and cinnamon poached apricots. Despite the heartfelt sentiment, the execution faltered.
Judge Grace Dent critiqued the offering, stating, 'The Le Mis part of it is undercooked and because of that, it tastes a bit of egg. But the Parkin is just incredible, it's gingery and satisfying. Love it.' The criticism proved decisive, ending the tenor's time in the competition.
Viewers React with Disappointment
Following his exit, fans of the show took to social media platform X to express their dismay. Many felt Alfie, who had won 'cook of the day' three times, was unfairly eliminated.
One viewer wrote, 'I'm gutted Alfie has gone. He's done such good dishes and it was great seeing him fight his nerves. He should still be there.' Another added, 'Alfie should have stayed!!', highlighting the divisive nature of the result.
Reflecting on his experience, a gracious Alfie Boe said, 'This has been quite precious. These moments in life that come about are really special. I’m happy to be going home as a Celebrity MasterChef finalist.'
The Final Three Face the Chef's Table
With Boe's departure, the remaining contestants – broadcaster and author Dawn O'Porter, actor Alun Why Jones, and comedian Ginger Johnson – sailed through to the next round.
Their challenge took them straight to Lichfield in Staffordshire, where they faced the daunting Chef’s Table at The Boat, a three-rosette restaurant led by chef patron Liam Dillon.
Each finalist had to prepare one of Dillon's modern British dishes for a panel of six esteemed chefs: Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Sat Bains, Paul Ainsworth, Chet Sharma, David Taylor and Chantelle Nicholson. All three survived this intense test, setting the stage for the final showdown.
John Torode summarised the situation, declaring, 'All the lessons are over. It’s back to the MasterChef kitchen because there’s three cooks and only one that can be our winner.'
The Celebrity MasterChef 2025 Final will air on Friday December 19, 2025 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
