Who Is Exose Grant? The Chef Turning Heads On Great British Menu
The new series of Great British Menu has just kicked off on BBC Two, and one contestant in the North West heat is already capturing attention — not just for his cooking, but for the story behind the chef. Manchester-based chef Exose Grant has a resume that reads like the most modern of chef origin arcs.
After first stepping into the spotlight as a finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2019 and competing on Bake Off: The Professionals, he’s now head chef at Australasia Manchester and founder of his private dining venture, Exose at Home, but it seems like he’s hungry for more.
Who Is Exose Grant?
What sets Exose apart isn’t just his career arc, but the shape of it. With a strong social media presence and representation by IMG Models, he blends the worlds of food and cultural influence in a way few chefs may be capable of. A chef and a face on the feed? In 2026, this duality feels like exactly the kind of personality the culinary scene is thirsty for.
Born in London and raised in Manchester, Exose cut his teeth working under pastry and fine dining disciplines before launching his own businesses. His approach to cooking draws on big flavours inspired by family traditions and a versatility that loops between savoury plates and refined pastry work — a creative elasticity viewers have already seen praised from MasterChef judges in the past.
Why Is He Trending?
In Great British Menu 2026, Exose enters one of the most competitive heats, up against chefs with Michelin pedigrees and regional reputations. But his combination of serious technique, entrepreneurial grit and media-friendly charisma positions him as one to watch, a chef who could transition from TV favourite to London dining room mainstay. To us here in The Handbook newsroom, we’re predicting one of the UK’s next best young chefs.
If you’re tuning in this season, don’t just watch the dishes, watch him.
