In a moment of high drama that left the studio in stunned silence, Celebrity MasterChef contestant Noreen Khan suffered a heartbreaking kitchen disaster live on air.
A Tense Bake-Off Against the Clock
The incident occurred during the broadcast on Monday, December 2, 2025, as the 36-year-old comedian and former BBC Asian Network broadcaster battled for a place in the quarter-finals. She was competing against a star-studded line-up including tenor Alfie Boe, former Wales rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones, reality TV's Ashley Cain, and Gladiator star Jodie Ounsley.
The challenge required the celebrities to create a dish featuring a surprise ingredient revealed under a cloche. Noreen drew oranges and ambitiously decided to make two miniature orange sponge cakes with desiccated coconut, served with whipped cream, fresh orange, and pistachios. Admitting she is often a "lazy cook," Noreen took the bold step of attempting her bake without following a recipe.
The Crushing Final-Minute Disaster
Initially, her bake seemed to be progressing well, with both sponges safely in the oven with time to spare for decoration. However, catastrophe struck in the nail-biting final moments. With just two minutes remaining on the clock, Noreen went to retrieve her creations from the oven. In a split-second accident, one of the delicate cakes slipped from her grasp and crashed onto the floor.
The room fell into a hushed shock. Judge Grace Dent was seen covering her mouth in disbelief, while a concerned John Torode rushed over to see what had happened. "I dropped one on the floor because I opened it," a clearly distressed Noreen explained. Displaying remarkable composure amidst the setback, she calmly set the ruined cake aside, accepting it could not be presented to the judges.
Judges' Verdict on the Salvaged Showstopper
John Torode quickly offered reassurance, urging her, "Don't worry, you can save it." Racing against the clock, Noreen frantically worked to present her single remaining cake as attractively as possible. When it came to tasting, the judges were impressed with her recovery and the bake itself.
Grace Dent praised the dessert, saying, "This is a lovely cake. With the cream on the side with the orange and pistachio I am enjoying it. The orange is the star of the show." She also commended Noreen's resilience, adding, "I love the fact you dropped the cake on the floor, breathed and then just served what you had."
John Torode agreed, noting, "Your cake is really good, lovely and crispy on the outside. This is impressive because you made a cake without a recipe so good on you."
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster afterwards, Noreen admitted, "Trust me to drop the cake. It wasn't all bad but it could have been better. I feel relieved." The latest series of Celebrity MasterChef, judged by Torode and Dent, continues on the BBC, with episodes available to catch up on via BBC iPlayer.
