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Alan Johnson & Alex Green & Alex Evans

Leeds Paralympian Kadeena Cox crowned Celebrity MasterChef 2021 winner

Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox revealed she is "absolutely buzzing" after being crowned the winner of this year's Celebrity MasterChef.

The 30-year old pipped former Eastenders actor Joe Swash and reality TV star Megan McKenna to the trophy.

Cox, who has represented Great Britain in both sprinting and cycling, impressed judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace in a final that saw the three remaining contestants attempt to cook a "flawless" three-course meal in two hours.

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After being announced as the winner, Cox, who has multiple sclerosis, said: "I gave everything I could today. I am absolutely buzzing. This smile is not disappearing from my face for a while.

"I am just proud of myself for doing it. I didn’t change who I was, I learnt along the way, but I was still Kadeena right to the end.

"It has just been a great journey and one that I am never going to forget."

"I am just proud of myself for doing it. I didn’t change who I was, I learnt along the way, but I was still Kadeena right to the end.

"It has just been a great journey and one that I am never going to forget."

Cox finished with a Choux au Craquelin, a type of pastry filled with mascarpone whipped cream, with hazelnut praline crumb and tempered chocolate.

Judge and co-host Torode said: "So many times during this year’s competition I forgot Kadeena had multiple sclerosis and was not only battling for the trophy but had her own personal battle going on.

Great Britain's Kadeena Cox celebrates winning Gold in the Women's C4-5 500m Time Trial at Izu Velodrome during day three of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan. (PA Media)

"She just never let up, she didn’t stop! For me she is a true inspiration. Her food is special, not just because it is technically brilliant but also because it has heart, it’s got soul and it’s got love.

Wallace added: "What a lovely, lovely final. Today from Kadeena we got very special dishes. It’s not just the quality of Kadeena’s cooking, it’s the originality of the ideas.

"There is a reason she has a bedroom full of medals – she is a serious competitor."

Friday's final followed four weeks of heats, one week of semi-finals and a final week that saw the contestants produce a pie at Holborn Dining Room’s Pie Room with chef Calum Franklin.

Later, the contestants returned to the MasterChef kitchen to create a dish inspired by the flavours of the sweet shop, before facing the judges’ table of Michelin-starred chefs including Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr and Lisa Goodwin-Allen.

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