MASTERCHEF The Professionals viewers were left in floods of tears tonight as Dan Merriman was crowned winner.
The last seven weeks have seen the three chefs invest battle it out in the BBC competition.
Pro chefs Chiara Tomasoni, Dan Merriman and George Birtwell went head-to-head in a bid to secure the title.
The finalists had just three hours to deliver three of their best courses.
First up was Chiara, with Gregg Wallace telling that he “really liked the look of her three dishes”.
Her final menu included an Italian red prawn tartare, confit quail egg yolks and Amalfi lemon emulsion.
Gregg praised her saying it was a “brilliant way to start a menu”.
She then followed this up with barbecue monkfish, brushed with black garlic and sourdough miso and for dessert she made a bay leaf and yoghurt mousse filled.
The judges praised the mousse by struggled to taste the bay leaf – but admitted it was “exquisite”.
Next up was George, who made lobster tail for starter, venison for main and a blackcurrant leaf parfait for dessert.
The judges were equally impressed and branded his dishes “beautiful”, while Monica Galetti praised his dessert as an “absolute joy”.
And last up was Dan, who presented barbecued scallops with fennel ragu and a red curry sauce.
After tasting it, Monica said: “Beautiful scallops, lightly seared on the barbecue. For me, the cooking is spot-on.”
He then made a beef with maitake mushrooms glazed in black garlic.
Monica was full of praise saying the flavour was “wonderful” – while Gregg admitted he had “fallen in love with his truffle ketchup”.
He told him: “I think this is a new ketchup that I’ll be dipping my chips into for a long time to come.”
Dan’s dessert blackcurrant mousse and yuzu curd was also a knock-out.
After the feedback, Monica said: “Dan, I can’t help but smile because that’s just what your food does.
“Really enjoying this.
“You have been one of the most humble chefs I’ve seen walk in here.
“Very reserved, quite unsure where he stood, maybe not just in the kitchen but the world,” to which Dan agreed and said: “Yeah.”
She went on: “I almost feel like this has been a bit of a haven for you to rediscover your love for your craft and for yourself.
“Whatever life goes to throw at you, maybe think back to this moment and the highs that you’ve had and you’ve given us.
“Really take my word for it, we see something great in you.”
Dan emotionally told the judges: “I can’t say enough to you three. You just sparked something back in me what I felt when I was 17 when I first walked into a fine dining restaurant.
“I’ve really fell back in love with food. It’s life-changing, this whole competition is life-changing.”
A tearful Dan told the camera: “I’m feeling elated, they touched my heart, they really did. I’m feeling fantastic.”
After some tough competition, the judges announced that Dan was MasterChef The Professional’s 2024 winner.
Marcus Wareing revealed: “It’s the best final I’ve ever been in. But as we know, there was only ever going to be one winner.
“The professional MasterChef champion 2024 is…Dan.”
Dan broke down in floods of tears, with George telling him: “The most deserved winner ever.”
Viewers were left sobbing as Dan was crowned the winner.
One wrote: I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING,” with a crying emoji
A second said: “Tears here – just glad I didn’t have to choose. Well done Dan!”
A third commented: “Congratulations Dan. So pleased for you. Had a few tears flowing! Good luck for the future.”
“Never been as happy for a #MasterChefTheProfessionals winner. I’m in tears here. Such a humble, genuinely lovely lad. His story is incredible,” a fourth echoed.
Another added: “Am I the only one moved to tears by Dan’s story, the soul he put in every one of his dishes.”
