How to Watch MasterChef UK Series 22 Online From Anywhere
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MasterChef UK is back for its 22nd series, and it marks one of the biggest shake-ups in the show's history. Premiering on BBC One on April 21st, 2026, at 9pm BST, Series 22 introduces an entirely new judging duo: renowned Irish chef Anna Haugh and Guardian restaurant critic Grace Dent. They replace long-running hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace, both of whom departed following separate controversies. The new series runs for 21 episodes across seven weeks, with three episodes airing each week.
If you're outside the UK, MasterChef UK Series 22 is available completely free on BBC iPlayer. The catch is that BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to UK IP addresses, so viewers in the US, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere need a VPN to access it. There is currently no confirmed international broadcaster carrying Series 22.
Quick facts
- Platform: BBC iPlayer
- Cost: Free
- New judges: Anna Haugh and Grace Dent
- Total episodes: 21
- Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9pm BST
- Premiere date: April 21st, 2026
- Filmed at: Digbeth Loc. Studios, Birmingham
- Available outside UK: no international broadcaster confirmed
How to watch MasterChef UK series 22 from anywhere with a VPN
MasterChef UK Series 22 is free to stream on BBC iPlayer. Because iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, viewers outside the country need a VPN to get a UK IP address and access the stream.
- Choose a VPN. We recommend NordVPN for streaming BBC iPlayer. It has 9,300+ servers globally and retains 94% of your base connection speed. Cybernews ranks it the #1 VPN for BBC iPlayer, thanks to its NordLynx protocol and SmartPlay DNS feature, which make it particularly reliable for accessing geo-restricted UK content.
- Download and install the VPN app. NordVPN is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and select smart TVs.
- Connect to a UK server. Open the app and select a United Kingdom server. This gives you a UK IP address so iPlayer can detect you as a UK viewer.
- Go to BBC iPlayer. Open BBC iPlayer in your browser or app. You may need to create a free BBC account if you do not already have one.
- Start streaming. Find MasterChef Series 22 and watch for free. New episodes drop every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9pm BST. Keep your VPN connected throughout.
Meet the new MasterChef UK judges
Anna Haugh
Anna Haugh is an Irish chef, restaurateur, and TV personality born in Dublin in 1980. She trained across Europe before moving to London, where she worked alongside celebrated chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Philip Howard. In May 2019, she opened Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea, named as a nod to her Irish heritage, which quickly became one of London's most talked-about Irish fine-dining destinations. She brings deep technical expertise and a reputation for exacting standards to the judging panel.
Grace Dent
Grace Dent is a British columnist, broadcaster, and author born on October 3rd, 1973. She has been the restaurant critic for The Guardian since 2017, a role she has described as "the greatest job in the world." Away from her career, Grace is in a relationship with her partner Charles, though she keeps her personal life largely private. Her sharp critical eye and broad knowledge of food make her a natural fit for the role.
Why did John Torode leave MasterChef
John Torode was sacked from MasterChef in July 2025 after an allegation that he used an extremely offensive racist term was upheld by producers. His contract was not renewed, ending a near-20-year run on the show. Gregg Wallace had already departed separately following his own controversy. Series 22 marks a clean break, with Anna Haugh and Grace Dent stepping in to lead the show into a new era.
Series 22 preview and episode schedule
Series 22 is filmed at the purpose-built Digbeth Loc. Studios on Fazeley Street in Birmingham, the show's home since the BBC relocated production to the city. This series features 60 amateur cooks competing across 21 episodes for the coveted MasterChef title.
The format follows the familiar heat-based structure, with six contestants per episode battling to impress the new judges and earn a place in the knockout rounds. Anna Haugh brings Michelin-level culinary rigor, while Grace Dent offers a critic's perspective on flavor, presentation, and originality. The judging dynamic is noticeably different from previous seasons, and early audience reaction has been divided but engaged.
New episodes air three times a week at 9pm BST on BBC One and are available on BBC iPlayer immediately after broadcast. The first three episodes were made available on iPlayer a day early, on April 20th, 2026.
Episode schedule
| Episode | Day | Date | Time |
| Episode 1 | Tuesday | April 21st, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episode 2 | Wednesday | April 22nd, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episode 3 | Thursday | April 23rd, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episode 4 | Tuesday | April 28th, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episode 5 | Wednesday | April 29th, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episode 6 | Thursday | April 30th, 2026 | 9pm BST |
| Episodes 7-21 | Tue / Wed / Thu | Continuing weekly | 9pm BST |
