MasterChef The Professionals final: Who is chef Gareth Baty?

Gareth Baty is a 39-year-old private chef who runs a business named The Wandering Cumbrian, where he can be hired for private events, pop-ups, and takeovers.

The self-taught chef was inspired by his mother, Barbara, who was also a chef at Carlisle Golf Club when he was young.

He lives in Whitefield with his wife, Catherine, and two children.

He described his cooking style as “modern British with influences from around the world” and says nostalgia plays a big part in the building of his dishes.

Aside from cooking, he is also passionate about singing and playing blues music in addition to fell walking.

Gareth has been part of series 18 of MasterChef: The Professionals and, after weeks of hard graft and nail-biting moments, has landed himself a spot in the final of the TV competition.

Over the course of the series, his cooking has consistently impressed the judges, and he has made dishes such as Catfish, Moroccan-inspired lamb, and ox heart skewers.

Gareth lives in Whitefield with his family (Image: BBC)

When he found out he had made it to finals week, bowled over by the news, Gareth said: “I can’t believe it.

“I’m doing things that I never thought I was capable of.

“I probably wasn’t capable of them a few weeks ago.

“Now I’m here, I think it’s anyone’s game, and it’s all to play for.”

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What is Gareth’s background?

According to his website, Gareth’s career began with hosting supper clubs in his East London flat before he spent time in New York cooking soul food.

When he came back to England, he went home to Cumbria and worked in the Lake District before heading to Newcastle, where he opened his own kitchen within a brewery.

But he wanted to go back to his roots of the supper clubs and so decided to take the plunge and become self-employed.

Tonight, the final episode of the series will air, and only one more challenge stands between Gareth and being crowned the winner of the show.

Three contestants remain, and he will have to beat Luke Emmess, who is a chef at The Wykeham Arms in Winchester, and Irish chef Mark O’Brien, who is based at Willy’s in Margate as head chef.

Viewers will be able to watch Gareth in the very final challenge of MasterChef: The Professionals at 8pm tonight on BBC One.