Judi Love on 'Brit-Jam' cooking, her MasterChef win and why food and laughter always go together

“I’m not a chef, but I will definitely cook up the place”

For Judi, cooking wasn’t a hobby, it was a necessity. As a single mum studying for a master’s degree in social work, she had to make meals stretch, keep her kids healthy and stay on budget.

“You know, it was one of those ones where everything was on a budget. And it was like, what's good for the kids, what's healthy for the kids – but what can we afford?”

From stir-fries to one-pot stews and pasta dishes, Judi found joy and pride in creating flavourful, family-friendly meals with whatever she had to hand. “I’m not a chef, but I will definitely cook up the place,” she laughs.

That humble start evolved into a genuine love of cooking, which eventually led her to Celebrity MasterChef – and to victory. “You know what? I love cooking. I do have moments where it’s just, oh, I can’t wait to get home and cook for my family.”

“Brit-Jam is what I call it. It’s jamming, babes”

Judi’s cooking is deeply rooted in her Jamaican heritage and Hackney upbringing, where Sundays meant roast chicken, rice and peas, and Guinness punch shared with family. But she’s just as excited by a British roast or a shepherd’s pie.

“I call it Brit-Jam because it’s British and Jamaican. We might put a little jerk chicken on the side with a Yorkshire pudding. Yes!”

It’s not about fusion for the sake of it, it’s about celebrating traditions and blending them in ways that reflect her identity. “Food should be a memory, a moment, a vibe,” she says. “There’s so much we can learn from each other’s cultures.”

Judi’s latest foodie venture – her own pie with Higgidy – is a delicious example. The Braised Beef and Butter Bean Pie with Scotch Bonnet Gravy takes traditional British comfort food and spices it up with Caribbean flavour.

“I came up with the recipe, and then chef Jordan cooked the batch and we tested it. I said, ‘It needs a bit more of this,’ and once it was right, it was like, yes, this is it. It’s deep in flavour. It’s really rich.”

And for those nervous about Scotch bonnet? Judi’s quick to reassure: “It’s not about heat, it’s about flavour. There’s a little warmth, but it’s lovely.”

“Latitude was such a defining moment for me”

While many know Judi for her TV appearances or stand-up, her Latitude Festival performance was a pivotal moment that brought her worlds together. Not only did she cook for over 500 people – serving dishes like curry goat, rice and peas, escovitch fish and Jamaican rum cake – she also got to watch people from all backgrounds enjoying the food that shaped her.

“We had a little party in that tent. Everyone was eating and dancing to reggae. It was just beautiful.”

Reflecting on it still brings emotion: “I stood there like, I’ve just cooked with a team, yes – but I’m head chef today. Seeing all those people eat the food, I was emotional. I felt a real sense of accomplishment.”

That moment of feeding others, while bringing them joy, felt full-circle. “Food and laughter are the two things that always followed moments in my life, good or bad. If something happened, we ate and we laughed. That’s how we got through.”

Despite her culinary success, Judi is adamant she’s not chasing a Michelin star. “I would not want to disrespect chefs. Their creativity, their dedication… they make it look easy, but it’s not.”

Still, she’s proud of the skills she’s honed and the stories her food tells. Whether she’s experimenting with dishes at home or sharing traditional flavours with new audiences, Judi's cooking is about connection, care and cultural celebration.