The five celebrities taking part in the second week of Celebrity MasterChef heats are put through their paces in a challenging blindfolded taste test.09:24, 25 Aug 2026Celebrity Masterchef: Blindfold challenge teaser Celebrity MasterChef stars have been put through their paces this week.‌The BBC hit cooking show is back for the second week of heats tonight (August 25), with five new famous faces hoping to impress the judges with their culinary skills.‌Gladiator ‘Dynamite’ Emily Steel, actor Nitin Ganatra, YouTuber and comedian Tom Simons, better known as TommyInnit, actor, comedian and writer Donna Preston, and retired Royal Ballet dancer and presenter Eric Underwood will all be taking on the culinary challenge.‌But in a preview clip from tonight’s episode, which is available to stream now on iPlayer, the celebrities are faced with a particularly tricky test as they are forced to rely solely on their senses of taste and touch.The contestants must identify mystery cubes of meat, fish, vegetables or fruit without being able to see what they are eating.And there’s plenty at stake, as getting an answer wrong will see a celebrity eliminated from the challenge and cost them the chance to win a significant advantage in the next round.‌As the stars prepare to take part, judge Giorgio Locatelli can be seen holding a handful of blindfolds before explaining exactly what is expected of them.“Since this challenge is about the palate and the palate only, you will be doing this blindfolded,” he tells the celebrities. The announcement appears to catch Emily off guard, with the Gladiator gasping: “Of course.”‌Donna, meanwhile, takes the challenge in her stride, joking to the camera: “Get that blindfold on me, babes.” But as Giorgio begins handing out the blindfolds, Emily admits: “Oh, I’m scared.”The first celebrity to take on the taste test is Eric, who is handed a small plate containing a mysterious brown food item in the shape of a square.He picks up the mystery ingredient and begins smelling it before taking a small bite. “It is kind of familiar but I’m not really sure,” Eric admits.‌Grace Dent then notices the dancer going back for more and jokes: “He’s going in for a second bite.” After pondering his answer, Eric eventually guesses: “Umm, beets… like a beetroot?”Grace then reveals whether he has managed to identify the mystery food. “You are correct. You’re still in the game,” she tells him.‌Next up is Donna, who is presented with another green mystery square. After taking a bite, she struggles to work out exactly what she is tasting. “It’s hard. I’m thinking a fruit. Oh, my God, what is that?” she says.But the comedian soon has a lightbulb moment and confidently declares: “Cucumber!” Giorgio confirms her answer, telling her: “You are right.” The other contestants erupt into applause, with one heard shouting: “Whoop! Go Donna.”Former EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra is then faced with his own mystery ingredient. Unlike some of his fellow contestants, Nitin wastes no time getting stuck in and takes a bite of the mystery food almost immediately.‌He is left impressed by what he tastes, exclaiming: “Oh my God, this is so nice. It’s juicy, it’s fresh and I can take my time and…” Before he can finish his thought, Donna jokingly interrupts: “Just get it in your gob.”Nitin then makes his prediction, saying: “I think it’s a pineapple.” Grace responds: “That was the noisiest eating we’ve had. And I’m happy to say you are correct.”Article continues belowWith Eric, Donna and Nitin successfully identifying their mystery ingredients, the pressure will be on Emily and TommyInnit to prove that their taste buds are up to the challenge.The unusual test will force the celebrities to put their senses to the ultimate test, with every wrong answer potentially sending them out of the challenge. Viewers will have to tune in to find out who manages to out-taste their opponents and who is left struggling in the dark.You can stream Celebrity MasterChef on BBC iPlayer.