Former University of Portsmouth student, Adriana Almeida, will appear on a new spin-off BBC cooking competition
A University of Portsmouth graduate has been selected to compete on the new spin-off cooking show Young MasterChef.
Adriana Almeida, who studied in the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering and graduated in 2022, will appear on the BBC Three series alongside 14 other contestants when it airs on 2 January (Monday).
The now engineer explained why she decided to sign up to the competition: “I wanted to learn new things, I am so open minded and I love to meet new people so it’s so exciting to meet people who love food as much as me. I feel I have a lot to learn but I also have a lot to bring to the table and I’d love to share that.
“It doesn’t feel real. I keep telling myself “don’t worry it’s not a big deal” to try and calm down. But it’s a huge deal! I’ve probably imagined this moment a million times over, so I thought I was prepared. But coming here and experiencing it, it’s nothing like I thought it would be. I know there’s so many talented chefs out there, so I’m extremely grateful I got a chance to be here.”
I keep telling myself “don’t worry it’s not a big deal” to try and calm down. But it’s a huge deal!
The new ten-part series will be dedicated to up-and-coming young food talent between the ages of 18 and 25. Over the competition, the young hopefuls will be put through their paces by a panel of expert judges and exciting guests (TBA) as they undertake a variety of unique new challenges designed to push them to new culinary heights and reflect Britain’s food revolution – where a new generation of young foodies are rewriting the rules.
Adriana, 22, grew up in Mozambique and moved to London when she was six years old.
Recalling her earliest cooking memory, she said: “I remember eating my mums chicken curry called “chacuti”. It’s so special to me because I remember eating it on special occasions as a child. It makes me feel so nostalgic as I remember her cooking everything from scratch, I love how she does it with so much care. The flavours are indescribable!
“I think coming from a beautiful country like Mozambique is a huge advantage. Growing up with so much colour and flavour around me has reflected on the type of cook I’ve become. My dinners consisted of the fish that my dad would fish for us that morning. I think there’s something really special in that.”
Young MasterChef will sit alongside MasterChef, the original series, which has consistently been the BBC’s highest rating cookery format over the past five years.
Kate Phillips, Controller, Entertainment said: “We’re delighted that Young MasterChef will be coming to BBC Three. We know how much BBC viewers love MasterChef and the BBC Three series will be a great opportunity to tap into the huge wealth of young budding chefs out there, from all over the UK.”