CHRIS Willoughby took a leap of faith when he decided to swap being a circus performer for cooking on MasterChef, but his gamble paid off, reaching the finals this month, and endearing himself to millions of viewers with his eclectic and inventive style of cooking.
But what was it like competing in such a popular and high pressured BBC TV show, and what does the future hold? We catch up with Chris to find out all about it!
“I always had my eyes on that final round even though it was such a roller-coaster ride to get there, because there were 58 contestants in all. But I felt that I cooked my best all the way through, so to make the final three was amazing,” he says.
“John and Greg are such nice people. In fact the entire Masterchef crew are really lovely”
Having first entered Masterchef in 2023, reaching the quarterfinals (let down by an undercooked pear), Chris was as surprised as anyone when he was asked to return to the show in 2024 for its 20 year anniversary, and excelled, only losing to veterinary surgeon Brin Pirathapan in the final round earlier this month.
So is he deflated or triumphant? “I have taken it on the chin and my passion for food keeps growing,” Chris says. “But I couldn’t believe it when I was called back, or that I was doing it again. But I knew what the pressure was like over that eight week period, and the Masterchef kitchen is so amazing to cook in.
“So I decided to play less safe this year, for it to be more reflective of me, my food and influences and not about what I thought they wanted to see. So if I was going to go out, I was going to go out with a bang.”
“I was always a performer, even as a child, doing pantomimes at Chipping Norton Theatre and shows in the Town Hall”
And what was it like working with Masterchef presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace? “John and Greg are such nice people and John has such a wealth of information, and I learned so much from him, especially at The MasterChef 20th Anniversary Dinner in Fishmongers’ Hall for 70 famous guests!
“And Greg has been judging Masterchef for 20 years so has an amazing palate and gives such good feedback. In fact the entire Masterchef crew are really lovely,” he reflects.
Still a far cry from his day job as a circus performer at Box in Soho? “Well I grew up in Chipping Norton and went to Holy Trinity School but even then I was always a performer, doing pantomimes at Chipping Norton Theatre and shows in the Town Hall.
“And while and I love the Oxfordshire countryside, I moved to London to become a performer and dancer before running away to join the circus,” he says.
“who knows maybe I’ll be back for their 30th anniversary and get the trophy then”
Specialising in trapeze, acrobatics, sword swallowing and fire-eating, Chris soon found his forte, working in circuses all around the world before settling at The Box in Soho, his subversive act soon becoming infamous.
But during lockdown his love of food took over and he applied for Masterchef 2023. So how did his approach differ this year? “I made sure my food was interesting to look at, with a real focus on ingredients, and having travelled so much with work in places like Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Japan really helped with that.
“Plus I love introducing, and cooking with, new ingredients that people might not have come across. So you take a traditional meal like a Sunday roast and then think about how you can do it differently and question everything on the plate; from a gravy foam to a sprout puree – you just have to change the process and deliver something different in terms of flavour and texture. It’s like making a piece of art,” he says. “Although I still cook my grandma’s gravy. It’s the best gravy you can imagine.”
“you just have to change the process and deliver something different in terms of flavour and texture. It’s like making a piece of art”
So did his partner Kim like all the cooking practice? “Yes but sometimes we both just wanted to eat pasta,” Chris laughs.
Chris looks like he dealt with the stress well though? “Oh that’s my poker face which I’ve learned over the years as a performer. I was very different inside, and it was hard to sleep, but I’m very proud of what I delivered. So my focus was on staying calm and collected and concentrating on what I was doing rather than my nerves. Plus I’d already cooked in the Masterchef kitchen so knew what to expect
So what does the future hold? “Well, fire eating and sword stalling an acrobatics take its toll on your health. But I love TV and film and I’d love to incorporate that with my love of cooking and ingredients and bring some unique flavours and dishes to a new audience in a travel documentary style format.
“I’d love to incorporate my love of cooking and ingredients in a travel documentary style format”
“And of course a cookbook – how to entertain at home. People like entertainment and food and I can deliver them both,” he says.
“So who knows? Maybe I’ll be back for their 30th anniversary and get the trophy then! But first I’m going on holiday to relax on a sandy beach.”
