Matt Willett (KG 2012) Reaches MasterChef 2026 Final

Congratulations to Matt Willett, a Mathematics and Computing PhD student and Enrichment Scholar at the Alan Turing Institute, who reached the final of MasterChef UK 2026, after progressing through weeks of demanding culinary challenges and impressing the judges with his skill and creativity.  

Alongside his research in AI safety, Matt has nurtured a passion for cooking that took him all the way to the final stages of one of the UK's best-known cooking competitions. The title was ultimately awarded to Jhané Gibson, with Matt finishing as one of the competition's outstanding finalists.  

Reflecting on the experience, Matt congratulated winner Jhané Gibson and fellow finalist Kristen Dodd, describing it as a privilege to share the journey with them. He also praised judges Grace Dent and Anna Haugh, saying their guidance helped him develop as a cook, and thanked the wider MasterChef team and everyone who supported him throughout the competition.