Shakira Khan turned a rough start into the week’s cleanest finish on Celebrity Masterchef. After Giorgio Locatelli branded the rice in her first dish a disaster, she came back to win the final challenge and pick up a Masterchef pin.
One heats this week
The 23-year-old from Burnley was back on One this week as her heats began airing, putting a former Love Island runner-up into a cooking competition that asks for much more than a decent signature dish. She had already said she wanted to make her family proud and show the flavours she grew up with.
Her first challenge was a chicken curry based on one her father makes, the kind of home-cooking choice that usually exposes whether a contestant can translate family food for a judged format. Khan called her result diabolical, but she also drew praise when Locatelli said the combination of spices was very nice and the two sauces were very elegantly presented.
Papa Khan and the first plate
Khan’s own line about the pressure was even sharper: “I think my dad is going to have palpitations watching that back.” That matters because her dish was not a polished restaurant invention; it was a family recipe under pressure, and the judges were judging both execution and restraint.
The final challenge changed the story. The contestants cooked along as Giorgio Locatelli made one of his favourite gnocchi dishes, and Khan’s plate stood out enough for her sauce to be called absolutely perfect before she was named the winner.
Friday at 8pm
That result gives the week a clear arc: the contestant who stumbled on rice in the opening round ended the run with a pin and a stronger case for a place in the semi-finals. Celebrity Masterchef next airs on Friday at 8pm on One and streams on iPlayer, where the next episode will show whether Khan turns this challenge win into a deeper run.
