Who won MasterChef 2020? Here’s what Thomas Frake is up to now

MasterChef 2020 was one of the most memorable series in the show’s long history. Featuring 60 amateurs, hundreds of delicious dishes and dozens of difficult challenges, it was always going to take something special to end up on top.

Beating the very best amateur cooks in the country, 32-year-old Thomas Frake won MasterChef 2020 after impressing the judges with his hearty, wholesome food.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2020 champion.

Thomas Frake won MasterChef 2020 (Credit: BBC)

Who won MasterChef 2020?

London-born Frake won MasterChef 2020 off the back of his fondness for classic British cooking.

Throughout the series, he impressed both John Torode and Gregg Wallace with his command of what could loosely be described as “gastropub food”.

In the final, for instance, his winning menu featured monkfish scampi, ox cheek and salted caramel. However, Frake’s signature style was evident throughout his time on the show.

READ MORE: When is MasterChef on? 

As Wallace described in his summation of the final, Frake specialises in “proper, old-fashioned, hearty grub” that “had his heart and his soul in every single forkful”. High praise indeed from someone who’s seen more than his fair share of MasterChef maestros.

However, the 2020 series wasn’t all plain sailing for Frake. He had to overcome serious opposition from fellow finalists 31-year-old David Rickett and 24-year-old Sandy Tang, for instance.

Frake cited his dish for chef Tom Kitchin as his most challenging moment during the show. As he later explained to Delicious:

“When I cooked for chef Tom Kitchin on the show it was palpably the most stressful day and I didn’t do my best – but I did learn that every detail matters.”

It just goes to show that in order to win the UK’s toughest cooking show, you need some good fortune along the way.

Thomas Frake’s winning main course from the final (Credit: BBC)

What is Thomas Frake up to now?

It’s fair to say that Frake’s MasterChef champion experience has been compromised somewhat by the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Every MasterChef winner ever and where they are now revealed

Instead of going on the usual victory tour expected of a winner, Frake has spent most of the last year stuck at home. In fact, as he revealed in a live Instagram video, he had to wait several months before even receiving his trophy.

As he put it:

“The trophy is the real symbol of success and finally having it in my hands and being able to put it on the shelf at home has made winning the competition suddenly feel really real. I’m over the moon to have it.

“Winning MasterChef was a strange enough experience, but being on lockdown has made it extra bizarre.

“It’s given me time to take it all in, and I’ve been in contact with friends, family and the public through social media, but I can’t wait to celebrate properly once the pubs are back open.”

Frake has also hinted that he plans to open a gastropub at some point in the future. However, these plans have understandably been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

2020 MasterChef finalists with judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode (Credit: BBC)

When is MasterChef on?

MasterChef 2021 kick-started on Monday, March 1, on BBC One at 9pm.

Coincidentally, the first episode of this season saw see last year’s champion, Thomas Frake, pass judgement on four competitors’ cooking.

READ MORE: Meet the Celebrity MasterChef 2021 line-up

Frake will feature alongside a new addition to the show dubbed the “Favourite Ingredient” round. As the name suggests, this new challenge will invite contestants to cook a dish showcasing their personal favourite ingredient.

With 40 cooks competing in this year’s show, MasterChef 2021 promises to be just as dramatic as ever. We’ll definitely be tuning in at 9pm on BBC One.