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James Skelton

Biography 

James Skelton, aka “Silver Fox Cooks” appeared on Masterchef UK Series 18. Reaching the Semi-Finals, and then went on to the last 8.  A passionate cook, who prepares hearty food, incredibly delicious pasta dishes and exceptional desserts.  James has been a PGA Golf Professional for over 20 years but has always had a passion for cooking.  He seized the opportunity to showcase his love of food by appearing on MasterChef UK in 2022 and now offers a variety of experiences from supper clubs and private dining.

At some point James wants to take this passion further and combine it with his current career & offer Luxury golf and food travel breaks.  James has presented cooking demonstrations on various food festivals stages in England. 

Website:  https://www.silverfoxcooks.com

Instagram: @silverfoxcooks 

Olayemi Adelekan – Yummy By Design

MasterChef UK 2022 (Top 6) Semi-Finalist | Food Writer | Private Chef

Olayemi Adelekan is a passionate cook with over 40 years of experience, known for her bold and exciting fusion of West & North African, European, West Indian, and Middle Eastern flavours. A MasterChef UK 2022 semi-finalist, she shares her love of food through blogging, private dining, pop-ups, supper clubs, and live cooking demonstrations.

She writes a weekly food feature, Yemi’s Food Stories, for The Stray Ferret, celebrating Yorkshire’s best producers. As a member of the Guild of Food Writers and a judge for the prestigious Taste Awards (USA), Olayemi is a respected voice in the food world.

Born in Nigeria, with roots in the Caribbean and the UK, Olayemi’s cooking is a vibrant tapestry of cultures. She regularly appears at top UK food festivals, including The Great Yorkshire Show, Great British Food Festivals, and BBC Good Food Shows, and has been featured on BBC Radio York, Sheffield, and Manchester.

Websites: yummybydesign.co.uk

Instagram: @yummy_bydesign 

*Matthew Samuels*

MasterChef Quarter Finalist 2023, 2024

Matthew's love for food began in childhood, rolling dumplings with his Jamaican grandfather and preparing ackee and saltfish with his mother. For him, food has always been more than sustenance—it’s a language of family and tradition.

In 2023, Matthew competed on MasterChef, earning a spot as a Quarter Finalist. His vibrant Caribbean flavorscaptivated the judges, with his ackee and saltfish dish hailed by John Torode and Greg Wallace as the best they had ever tasted.

Matthew was one of ten lucky contestants to be reinvitedback on to MasterChef 2024 to celebrate the 20th-anniversary. Matthew once again reached the Quarter Finals, impressing the judges with his refined take on Caribbean cuisine.

Beyond the show, Matthew has co-hosted a sold-out dinner in Dublin alongside fellow MasterChef contestants and made multiple appearances at the Good Food Show, crafting exquisite canapés on the Fabulous Food Finds stage.

Now, he offers catering and private dining experiences, taking guests on an immersive Caribbean culinary journey while sharing the rich history behind each dish.

Follow Matthew’s journey:

📷 @matthew_samuels1

🌍 www.chefmatthewsamuels.co.uk

Thuy Hoang was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She came to the United Kingdom at the age of nine as a refugee with her family. In 2023, Thuy was a Quarter Finalist on BBC1's MasterChef. She is a member of the judging panels forprestigious UK food industry awards: the UK Quality Food Awards, the Great Taste Awards (Guild of Fine Food), and the Great British Food Awards. Thuy is also a guest chef teaching classes at Jeremy Pang's award-winning School of Wok in Covent Garden, London. She has published articles and recipes in leading food magazines, as well as a review of London’s Vietnamese restaurants in Time Out this year. As a chef-presenter, Thuy has featured on food festival stagesacross the UK, including at Knebworth House, Lydiard Park, London Olympia and the Hurlingham Club, Fulham. She has also been a chef at supper clubs for central London businesses. Thuy shares films of her Vietnamese recipes and her passion for the cuisine of her cultural heritage through aYouTube channel. In 2024, she was interviewed by Channel News Asia (CNA) journalist and Editor, Amanda Oon about her life, work and love of Vietnamese food.

www.thuycooks.com

www.youtube.com/@thuycooks

Instagram @thuycooks

Meet Jonathan Henry, an up-and-coming food content creator who is taking the culinary world by storm. Known as ‘ThePlasticItalian’, this self-taught cook has a passion for Italian cuisine and aims to inspire others with fresh ideas and recipes using minimal ingredients for maximum flavour.

Aged 28, Jonathan, who didn’t grow up in a foodie environment, had to learn later in life about the importance of homemade food. But despite only cooking for the last five years, his dedication and love of food has gained him a vast following on social media and beyond.

Jonathan’s culinary journey began in lockdown when he moved to London to be with his partner Taylor. It was there his eyes were opened to a whole new world involving food. By watching chefs in the open kitchens and appreciating the full dining experience, he fell in love with hospitality and in particular, Italian cuisine. He knew then and there that he wanted to dedicate his life to a career based around food.

The nickname, ‘ThePlasticItalian’ was coined by his mother over FaceTime one evening as he cooked a Bolognese. The word ‘plastic’ is a term in the north for ‘fake’ and his mother playfully told Jonathan ‘You’re not Italian - you’re a Plastic Italian!’ Jonathan immediately embraced the name but he gives all the credit to his mama!

In a nod to his moniker, Jonathan wants to challenge the perception that British chefs cannot excel in creating recipes from other countries and cultures. And with the success he’s been having so far, Jonathan is living proof that Italian cuisine can be done expertly by non-Italians as well.

Over the years, Jonathan has solidified his presence in the Italian culinary world. He was invited to a reception with the Italian Prime Minister at the Embassy where he was the only British person in the room. Representing his country and forging a relationship between Italy and Britain through food has been one of his biggest achievements and greatest honours. Furthermore, Jonathan has been accepted into theillustrious Italian Culinary Consortium; becoming one of only a handful of British chefs to be accepted into this exclusive club.

Following in the footsteps of his Hero Gennaro Contaldo, Jonathan wants to recreate the passion and love for Italian cuisine which has had a huge impact on his life, giving back the same enthusiasm, with every dish a nod to hero.

With a desire to inspire others to cook, Jonathan is a popular and well-respected food influencer who offers new tips, tricks and money saving ideas for healthier diets. By showcasing the Italian concept of ‘Cucina Povera’which uses humble ingredients to create delectable meals bursting with flavour, he hopes to bring real Italian cooking to the wider British public. Watch this space as Jonathan’s influence in the culinary

world continues to skyrocket. With an unstoppable enthusiasm for Italian cooking, using the freshest ingredients, Jonathan ultimately wants to share his passion for food to inspire and bring happiness to others and low budget friendly cost.

Nicky – originally from Scotland and now based in the West Midlands – captured hearts on The Great British Bake Off Series 14 with her joyful, creative approach to baking. From her viral Norman the Beaver cake in week one to the unforgettable Angus the Highland Cow plaited bread, Nicky quickly stood out for her vibrant personality and inspired bakes.

Her love of baking began in childhood, learning alongside her Gran. Covered head to toe in flour, scraping the last of the cake batter from the bowl, those cherished memories sparked a lifelong passion for creating delicious, feel-good food.

Since her time in the Bake Off tent, Nicky has continued to share her baking expertise through lively demonstrations at food festivals, engaging recipe reels, and a regular column in a local magazine. She’ll be appearing at the BBC Good Food Show in June on Louisa’s Honey stand, and at The Brands Hatch Italian Festival on August 10th.

Off the baking bench, Nicky is a seasoned skier who’s been hitting the slopes since the age of three. She also enjoys countryside walks with her two cocker spaniels, cycling, and dreaming up her next recipe. Before her rise in the baking world, she travelled the globe as long-haul cabin crew—bringing a touch of that jet-set spirit into everything she creates.

Follow her delicious adventures on Instagram: @nickybakesalot