The winner of MasterChef The Professionals has revealed how judge Gregg Wallace supported the family when his dad was dying in hospital.
Alex Webb, 26, won the show in 2020 and told The Mirror he became friends with Wallace during filming - alongside other judges Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.
The chef sailed to victory with a scallop ceviche starter, pan-seared trout main and white chocolate and passionfruit dessert which wowed all three judges.
During the series Alex had the chance to cook for renowned chefs such as Atul Kochhar, who has two Michelin stars, and showcased some of his best dishes.
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But aside from being crowned Masterchef champion, he said the best part of being on the show was having the camera crew come home to meet his family when he made it into the final three.
“I’d just cooked a dish in memory of my grandad which put me through to the final. To get through on that dish meant a lot.
“When the cameras came to see my mum and dad it just pushed me to try and win,” he told The Mirror.
Alex said his grandad, who was his biggest fan, had encouraged him to enter the competition several times before he finally decided he was ready.
By the time Alex did apply, his grandad had passed away. But his mum Jenifer and Dad Phillip supported him all the way - and were over the moon when he was crowned champion.
Tragically, Phillip passed away at the age of 61 in January after a battle with lung cancer.
While it was a tough time for the family, Alex is grateful to his friend and Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace, who sent support to Phillip and the family while he was unwell.
He said: “Gregg did a lovely message for my dad when he was in hospital. It was really nice and meant a lot.
“[Masterchef] is like a big family really.”
After spending time catering private events on his own and with other finalists from the show, Alex is currently running a pop-up residency at the InterContinental Hotel at Number One Park Lane, London.
The pop-up, which opened on 3 May, will run until 28 July and will celebrate all things British in the form of food and drink.
In tribute to Phillip, Alex’s menu will include a dish, Dad’s Bread and Whipped Butter, that will raise money for a cancer charity, the Roy Castle Cancer Foundation.
Alex said: “I wanted to have something dedicated to [Dad].
“I’m not much of a runner so I thought the best thing [to raise money] was to have a dish for him.”
