Marine pilot Eddie Scott has become MasterChef 2022 Champion, it was announced on Thursday, as he becomes the 18th amateur cook to claim the prestigious title.
The ex-Merchant Navy officer, 31, took on fierce competition from 44 other amateur cooks, through seven weeks of culinary challenges and an exhilarating final cook-off.
After producing outstanding plates of food along the way, Eddie was awarded the MasterChef trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Winner winner chicken dinner! Marine pilot Eddie Scott has become MasterChef 2022 Champion, it was announced on Thursday
On his win, an emotional Eddie Scott said: 'It's everything. My whole life I feel has been building up to this moment.
'I can't believe I'm standing here as the MasterChef champion. It's just been the most stressful and the most enjoyable! I feel like I've just discovered who I am as cook. It's the best feeling ever.'
MasterChef judge, John Torode, said: 'Eddie is nothing short of a culinary powerhouse. His love of classic French food blended with the spices of India, has made us really stand up and take notice. He's daring, he's adventurous, he doesn't play it safe.'
Well done: The ex-Merchant Navy officer, 31, took on fierce competition from 44 other amateur cooks, through seven weeks of culinary challenges and an exhilarating final cook-off
Gregg Wallace, added: 'I think we've just seen the birth of a future great chef. Eddie impressed from the moment he set foot in this kitchen. He's hardly put a foot wrong throughout the competition.'
On his MasterChef experience, Eddie said: 'I sat watching the show for years telling myself to apply. I wanted to go up in front of John and Gregg to see what I could really do.
'I think every amateur cook secretly dreams of having the chance to go onto a show like MasterChef - to have that one chance of totally changing your life in what you love doing!'
Congrats: After producing outstanding plates of food along the way, Eddie was awarded the MasterChef trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace
To John and Gregg, he said: 'It's been life's greatest pleasure to sit here and cook for you both the food that I love. It's the best thing I've ever done.'
Eddie faced off strong competition in the final week from tonight's runners up Pookie Tredell and Radha Kaushal-Bolland, as well Sarah Rankin (Final Four), who left the show last night, and Ioan Jones (Final Five), who left on Tuesday night.
The Final Three were tested beyond anything they'd experienced, to prove to John and Gregg their skill, tenacity and culinary flair were worthy of success in the intense last challenges.
Lovely: To John and Gregg (pictured), he said: 'It's been life's greatest pleasure to sit here and cook for you both the food that I love. It's the best thing I've ever done'
In a gruelling and thrilling last week, MasterChef viewers have seen Eddie travel to Ballymaloe House and Cookery School in the South-West of Ireland, walking in the footsteps of professional chefs from all over the world, who come to learn the 'farm to table' philosophy of the late, great patron of Irish cuisine, Myrtle Allen.
Eddie drew on all he learned there to prepare a celebratory dinner for some of Ireland's finest food producers, food historians and relatives of Myrtle.
Eddie also earned the opportunity of a lifetime, to work with one of the world's greatest chefs, Gordon Ramsay - whose incredible three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay hosted this year's Chef's Table.
Happy: On his win, an emotional Eddie Scott said: 'It's everything. My whole life I feel has been building up to this moment'
Eddie worked under enormous pressure to master their classic dishes, uphold impeccable standards and impress a dining room of some of the country's best chefs.
Former three-star Michelin legend Pierre Koffmann described his
