The intense pressure of Celebrity MasterChef 2025 proved too much for one finalist this week, as opera singer Alfie Boe suffered a visible panic attack, forcing the BBC competition to temporarily halt filming.
Kitchen Pressure Reaches Breaking Point
During the latest episode, which aired on 15 December 2025, the final five contestants were tasked with creating an elaborate afternoon tea under the exacting eye of pastry chef Cherish Finden. Competing alongside Ginger Johnson, Jamie Lomas, Dawn O'Porter, and Alun Wyn Jones, Alfie Boe was assigned the challenge of making garlic butter prawns in a charcoal bun with pickled cucumber.
Even before entering the kitchen, Boe expressed serious doubts about his ability to cope. He confessed to cameras that he shakes noticeably when nervous and stressed, humorously hoping he might only be asked to brew tea. His fears were quickly realised once the clock started ticking.
'I Can't Do This': A Star Struggles
The task required meticulous precision, from dicing tiny, uniform cubes of cucumber and mango to weighing dough portions into exact 15-gram segments. As the pressure mounted, Boe's composure crumbled. Cameras captured his hands trembling visibly as he admitted, "This is horrible, the pressure I'm feeling, for crying out loud."
While attempting to plate his dish, his anxiety peaked. He was heard saying, "I'm struggling, I'm really struggling, I can't do this," prompting immediate concern from judge Cherish Finden. She was seen instructing him to stop, take a deep breath, and calm down, before giving him a comforting hug and asking if he was okay.
"I'm actually very worried about Alfie. He is shaking," Finden told the production team, highlighting the severity of the moment.
From Hell and Back: Praise After the Storm
After taking a moment to collect himself, Boe managed to complete the challenge, albeit with some mishaps, including breaking a piece of his carefully crafted garnish. Reflecting on the experience to the camera, he stated, "That was another level, ridiculously hard. I couldn't do this particular side of the job." He later joked that the ordeal was "why I'm a singer."
Despite the struggle, his efforts did not go unnoticed. Judge Grace Dent, who is standing in for Gregg Wallace this series, offered high praise: "I know that Alfie went to hell and back but it was worth it."
Prior to the series, Alfie Boe had shared that his goal was to learn and improve his timing, rather than just win. This particular episode certainly tested that resolve to its limit. Celebrity MasterChef is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
