Loose Women panellist Janet Street Porter was crowned the champion of the Celebrity MasterChef: Christmas Cook-Off. The columnist, 73, faced off against reality TV star Vicky Pattison, radio presenter Dev Griffin and actor Christopher Biggins on Monday night’s episode.

Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace were back together to give their thoughts on the contestants’ Christmas cooking. Her mincemeat filo pastry parcels went down a treat, with John saying the creation was ‘fantastic’ and ‘executed really well’.


Janet was typically grumpy, barking orders at Christopher during the team communication challenge as they cooked up beef wellington, a dish she confessed she ‘doesn’t actually like’. At one point she yelled at him, ‘Don’t nag! It’s like bloody brain surgery!’ with the actor simply laughing the outburst off.

For her final challenge, making a festive two course meal of a venison and damson Christmas pudding for main with a damson fool for dessert. Her presentation was praised, and Gregg said: ‘Absolutely lovely, beautifully tender bits of venison. I think this may be the best dish you’ve ever cooked for me. It shows the touch of a really good cook.’ At the end of the episode, the judges handed her the win, leaving Janet totally stunned.

‘I don’t believe it!’ she said, laughing. Holding her glass of champagne aloft at the end of the episode, she added: ‘This is one for the pensioners’ before taking a swig.

The Christmas cook-offs continue later in the week with Spencer Matthews, Craig Revel Horwood, Amar Latif and Crissy Rock in the kitchen.