Tom Rhodes from Rochdale has been crowned MasterChef 2021 champion

31-year-old Tom Rhodes, originally from Rochdale, has been crowned BBC One’s MasterChef 2021 champion.

Announced as the winner in the final aired on Wednesday (14 April) - which was postponed following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh - Tom is the 17th amateur cook to claim the prestigious title.

Tom battled against fierce competition from 39 other amateur cooks, through six weeks of culinary challenges and an exhilarating final cook-off against fellow finalists Mike Tomkins, 27, and Alexina Anatole, 30.

In the end, Tom was awarded the MasterChef trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Tom grew up in Rochdale before moving to Newcastle for university and settling in the city where he now lives and works. He commented on his win: “From beginning to end, MasterChef is the most incredible experience. Being this year’s MasterChef champion, after watching and admiring so many past champions, seems like a dream come true.

"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. I’ll also never forget and can’t be more thankful 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.”

MasterChef judge, John Torode, said: “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.”

MasterChef judge, Gregg Wallace, 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."

 

 

In an intense last week of the BBC cooking competition, MasterChef viewers saw Tom take on cooking a five-course lunch at the resplendent Plaisterers’ Hall in the City of London, where he served 20 members of the hospitality sector who during the first lockdown delivered thousands of meals to frontline workers and those most in need.

He also headed to Le Gavroche and worked with the two-star Michelin chef, Michel Roux Jr, where he cooked one of the late Albert Roux’s legendary main courses; roasted filet of veal served with a sweetbread pithivier and a rich bone marrow sauce bercy for guests including MasterChef: The Professionals judge, Monica Galetti; MasterChef: The Professionals Champion 2009 Steve Groves, and Michel’s daughter Emily Roux who described Tom's food as 'an impressive dish for an amateur cook'.

The ultimate task was to prepare a three-course meal for MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Tom’s winning menu started with a trio of oysters - one raw oyster topped with apple, cucumber and sake granite, a beer battered oyster with umeboshi mayonnaise, and a grilled oyster with miso and seaweed butter topped with a panko crumb and oyster leaf.

His main course was reverse seared rib-eye steak, topped with kombu pickled beetroot, baked beetroot cooked in beef fat, wasabi buttermilk, and a watercress puree served with sake and bone marrow sauce.

To finish his menu, Tom served his take on a lemon tart with a short crust case filled with a yuzu citrus cream topped with a black olive meringue and candied yuzu peel, served with an olive oil ice cream, olive oil and sea salt flakes. Judges John and Gregg both agreed it was a perfect way to finish off the meal with Gregg describing it as 'a work of absolute genius' and John agreeing, commenting that it was 'flawless'.

 

 

Tom has loved being in the kitchen from the age of four, although it was in his teens when he 'became fascinated with mastering classic and modern techniques, loved using kitchen gadgets and learning to make things from scratch'.

He said: “It would be great to spend time in professional kitchens as, even after over 20 years of cooking, I know I still have so much to learn.

"I’d also love to see more of East and South East Asia, to learn more about their food and culture, and would love to write a cookbook and have a cookery school one day.

“I've had a great time in the competition and I have so many great memories. I am so proud of myself and so happy.”

All episodes of MasterChef 2021 are still available on BBC iPlayer. Applications for MasterChef 2022 are open now.