A CONTESTANT on the BBC's MasterChef has gone from cooking at a Somerset Chinese takeaway to a head chef role.
Matty Grove, 34, started his career at Precious Cuisine in Minehead, joining at just 15 years old. Fast forward to 2026, and he is now the head chef at Caper & Cure and Carmen Street Wine in Bristol, a role that makes him a worthy competitor for a spin-off of the famous cooking show - MasterChef: The Professionals.
People in Minehead and nearby areas may remember Precious Cuisine, which was renamed China Garden, a popular cash-only Chinese takeaway.
The 34-year-old is one of 24 top chefs from across the country who are competing in groups of six in season 19 of MasterChef: The Professionals. The chefs will be hoping to impress judges Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing as they navigate the competition.
He was involved in the opening heat of the competition, competing against chefs from across the UK in a bid to reach the quarter-finals and eventually the final.
Matty's career has included work in hairdressing and a seven-year stint at Menu Gordon Jones in Bath.
In a video posted via social media, Matty said: “It’s been an overwhelming couple of days in the best way.
“To have that much bulk love and support and care in one big go is very, very special.
“Thank you so much.
"I’ve read all the messages, seen all the love, all the comments, and I promise to get back to all of them.
“But I just wanted to say thank you for now. It’s been a very, very surreal and beautiful experience, it has been so fun.
“Tiring for my friends, family, kitchen, and partner. I’m sure it’s been exhausting for them in my absence, but I’m really, really excited and happy to come out.
“It’ll be funny to watch me run around like an idiot.”
The BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals began airing on November 3 and will continue airing until Friday, December 18, when all the remaining contestants will compete in a grand final.
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