MasterChef 2021: Tom Rhodes crowned winner after wowing Gregg Wallace and John Torode with ‘phenomenal talent’

The winner of MasterChef 2021 has been crowned, with 31-year-old Tom Rhodes taking home the prize after astounding judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode with his masterful three-course meal.

The final of BBC’s MasterChef was originally scheduled to air on Friday April 9.

However, following the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, it was postponed to Wednesday April 14.

In the final episode of the 17th series, Tom went up against Alexina Anatole and Mike Tomkins in a bid to claim the coveted title.

Tom was utterly astonished by his win, describing his time in the competition as ‘the most incredible experience’.

‘Being this year’s MasterChef Champion, after watching and admiring so many past Champions, seems like a dream come true,’ he said.

‘I’m grateful that I met, got to know and cook alongside some of the most wonderful and talented people, and have found friends for life in them.’

Tom also paid homage to ‘all the friendly, hard working, fantastic people that make MasterChef such a special show’.

‘I feel this is just the start, and I’m excited for what comes next,’ he said, expressing his aspirations to write a cookbook and one day open up his own cookery school.

In the grand finale, Tom and his competitors were challenged to create the best three-course meal of their entire lives, with the eventual winner delighting John and Gregg with his trio of oysters, a reverse seared rib-eye steak and a lemon tart.

‘Tom walked into this kitchen and surprised us. He has defined himself a style all of his own and it’s fantastic. His food is delicious and it looks beautiful. As an amateur chef what he is doing is really impressive,’ John said.

Gregg added: ‘I love this fella. He has delivered some of the most beautiful, elegant dishes I have seen in this competition for a long while. He is a phenomenal talent and the sky’s the limit for him.’

After tasting Tom’s main course, Gregg described it as ‘shockingly modern’, adding that it was ‘absolutely fantastic’.

The judges were also thoroughly impressed with the cook’s third course, with Gregg calling it ‘a work of absolute genius’ and John saying it was ‘flawless’ and ‘a joyous dessert’.

In their final week, the finalists were tasked with cooking a five-course meal at the Plaisterers’ Hall in London, serving their food to 20 people who work in the hospitality industry and during the first lockdown helped to provide thousands of meals to frontline workers and people in need.

They also took on the daunting task of working alongside two-star Michelin chef Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, presenting their food to diners including former MasterChef: The Professionals champion Steve Groves, MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti and Michel’s daughter Emily Roux.

MasterChef is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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