Bradford’s Radha Kaushal-Bolland has returned to the MasterChef kitchen as the competition heats up in the latest series. 

The 24-year-old chef is back on our TV screens as a judge alongside fellow contestants Pookie Tredell and Eddie Scott, who was crowned last year’s winner. 

The three cooks battled it out in the final of BBC One’s MasterChef in 2022 and now it’s their turn to join the professionals. 

The trio will appear on the show on Friday, April 14, as the week's four best cooks take on the quarter-final and battle for a place in Knockout Week. 

The MasterChef quarter finalists include IT Project Coordinator Matthew, delivery driver Nickolas, accountant Terri, and anti-piracy manager Vanessa. 

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Radha, who runs her own takeaway and private dining service, ‘The Spicy Flexitarian’, has revealed what she’ll be looking for in the search for the perfect dish. 

“It was an honour to be asked back to judge this year’s contestants,” Radha said.

“It was a real joy to be back in the MasterChef studio, and all of those butterflies and adrenaline came rushing back.

“It was a pinch-me moment, sitting on the other side of the table. I remember myself this being one of the toughest rounds, one of the few where you have to cook and time multiple dishes simultaneously.

“Pookie, Eddie and myself had a great day together. It was so wonderful to see Gregg and John and catch up on the exciting year that it’s been for me since MasterChef aired on the TV back in 2022.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

“I remember the nerves I felt when I was doing this round of MasterChef. 

“What I was looking for in the contestants' food was layering of flavours and textures. For me, it’s so important that a dish has different textures as this is what brings the dish to life.”

Radha added: “The biggest lesson I learned about cooking and culinary arts on MasterChef was to stay calm and always cook from the heart.

“I wish all of this year's contestants the best of luck, and I hope they enjoy this exciting rollercoaster of a journey as much as I did last year.”

What is Radha doing now?

The law graduate’s ambitious dishes marked the start of Radha’s incredible culinary career. 

The businesswoman launched a specially curated menu for Prashad, became a chef in the Michelin-star kitchen at Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough, and joined the line-up for the Wakefield Rhubarb Festival 2023. 

Meanwhile she’s taking her cooking skills to food festivals and schools, including Bradford College, and hoping to inspire the next generation.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

When she isn’t working in North Yorkshire, Radha returns home to her family in Clayton.

In a previous interview, Radha said: "Bradford has got the youngest population and it's about inspiring as many people as possible. 

"So many people move down South but the problem is you're leaving your roots behind."