This year’s Celebrity MasterChef finalists have expressed their hopes and fears ahead of this season’s long awaited grand finale. 

The group of twenty chefs was whittled down to just three over the course of six weeks as dozens of cookery challenges and eliminations left only the very best. 

Danny Jones, Lisa Snowdon and Melanie Blatt will have to present a three-course meal in two hours that will be judged by Gregg Wallace and John Torode to decide 2022’s MasterChef champion. 

What did the three finalists say? 

Danny Jones 

Bournemouth Echo: PA Photo of McFly (left to right) Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones and Harry JuddPA Photo of McFly (left to right) Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter, Danny Jones and Harry Judd (Image: PA Features Archive/Press Association Images)

McFly singer, Danny Jones said: “At the final you’ve got nothing to lose, I wanted to make everything taste, look and be presented as good as I practised it so that I made a good impression of myself as a finalist. 

“My biggest fear was to get my lamb perfectly cooked.” 

Jones also reflected on becoming friends with the other contestants, saying: “The last six or seven became really close as we were a smaller group and we were going through the same experience in terms of the pressure, and we supported each other and helped each other. 

“If one of us were worried about something we’d help them out, so it was quite nice having that. Some nice healthy competition.” 

Lisa Snowdon 

Bournemouth Echo: PA Lisa Snowdon supporting Red Nose Day 2022PA Lisa Snowdon supporting Red Nose Day 2022 (Image: PA)

TV and radio presenter, Lisa Snowdon suggested she was fearful of the “jeopardy of cooking duck” as part of her final challenge. 

She added: “I’d previously cooked (Irish chef) Anna Haugh’s dish, which was duck and waffle. I got it out of the oven and cut it straight away – it didn’t have time to rest. 

“That was a big learning curve, so I said to myself, ‘If I get through to the final I’m going to cook duck’. 

“I knew all eyes would be on me and that Gregg would be like, ‘Really? You’re going to do that again when you messed it up before?’” 

Melanie Blatt 

All Saints singer, Melanie Blatt said she was fearful of “everything, absolutely everything.” 

She added that her highlight of the series had been when Dame Mary Berry made a surprise appearance during the semi-finals stage. 

What nights is Celebrity MasterChef on? 

Celebrity MasterChef is normally broadcast on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays – However, some episodes were postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. 

The last episode will be aired tonight (Thursday 22 September) at 8:30pm. 

How can I watch Celebrity MasterChef? 

Celebrity MasterChef can be watched on BBC One or BBC iPlayer on demand.