Celebrity MasterChef 2014: Are past winners of the show still cooking?

We take a look at whether past celebrity winners are still busy in the kitchen

MasterChef 2014 finalists Charley Boorman, Wayne Sleep, Sophie Thompson and Jodie Kidd (BBC)

The standard on this year’s Celebrity MasterChef has been hailed as the best the series has ever seen.

There’s no doubt that the four finalists are passionate about food, but unlike the original MasterChef, it would be unusual for them to leave the world of showbiz to open a small gastro-pub in the Shires.

As fashion model Jodie Kidd, TV presenter Charlie Boorman, actress Sophie Thompson and dancer Wayne Sleep prepare to battle it out for the title of MasterChef 2014 champion, how likely is it that they will keep up the cooking once the series finishes?

Judging by what past winners have gone on to do, the chances of the celebrities going on to have some sort of career in food looks fairly likely. Although this could also involve creating a bespoke dish for Pizza Hut, if 2008 winner Liz McClarnon is anything to go by.

While none of the celebrity contestants were in dead-end jobs waiting for a win to catapult them into a coveted career, five of the eight past winners have gone on to promote their love of cooking on some level.

Of the eight winners, 2010 champion Lisa Faulkner has had the most success in her new-found cooking career, penning a number one bestselling cook book Recipes from My Mother to My Daughter.

She is also the only winner to have managed to woo steely judge John Torode, as the two have been dating since she appeared on the show.

Liz McClarnon, who won in 2008, certainly learned more from the show than the average celebrity.

The Atomic Kitten had never cooked before taking part in Celebrity MasterChef, due to spending her life in hotels since the age of 16 travelling with the girl band.

Since her win she has made a number of TV appearances on cooking programmes, and is now a qualified chef.

Other celebrities, like 2011 winner Phil Vickery (that’s the former rugby international, not the already famous TV chef), have gone on to promote wider food awareness by backing campaigns and working alongside manufacturers.

Celebrity MasterChef continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One