Brin Pirathapan: What the Chelmsford-raised MasterChef winner is doing now
Brin Pirathapan went from growing up in Chelmsford and working as a veterinary surgeon to becoming MasterChef champion. Two years after winning the BBC competition, his new career in food is gathering serious momentum – including the release of his first cookbook.
Brin Pirathapan became a household name when he was crowned MasterChef UK champion in 2024, impressing the judges with inventive dishes combining bold international flavours with influences from his Tamil Sri Lankan heritage.
Born in Ilford and raised in Chelmsford, Brin initially pursued a very different career and trained as a veterinary surgeon.
But winning MasterChef changed the direction of his life.
Since lifting the trophy in May 2024, Brin has moved into food full-time, building a career encompassing recipe development, food content, supper clubs, private dining and collaborations with major brands.
Now he has reached another major milestone with the publication of his debut cookbook, Elevate: Everyday Ingredients, Incredible Flavours.
Brin Pirathapan releases first cookbook
Elevate was officially released on 8 September 2026, just over two years after Brin's MasterChef victory.
The book is based around a straightforward idea: taking ordinary, affordable ingredients and transforming them into dishes packed with flavour.
Rather than requiring expensive or difficult-to-find ingredients, recipes begin with familiar foods such as pork mince or a tin of tuna before Brin applies his distinctive approach to them.
His Tamil Sri Lankan heritage runs throughout the book alongside influences from cuisines around the world.
Recipes include Udon Carbonara, Duck Pancakes, Marmite Tofu and a Piña Colada Sundae.
The philosophy behind the book also has roots in Brin's own experience.
As a university student, he would look through supermarket reduced sections for affordable ingredients that he could transform into satisfying meals.
He has said he wants good food to be accessible regardless of how much somebody can afford to spend on ingredients.
Chelmsford childhood influences his cooking
Despite now living in Bristol, Brin's upbringing in Essex continues to influence his food.
He has spoken about the Tamil Sri Lankan dishes and flavours introduced to him by his parents while growing up.
Some of those family influences have now made their way into Elevate, alongside ideas inspired by his travels and other cuisines.
The result combines everyday British cooking with flavours and techniques Brin has encountered throughout his life.
One example is his Kottu Panzanella, which combines elements of the Italian bread-and-tomato salad with the flavours and chopped roti associated with Sri Lankan kottu.
What has Brin Pirathapan done since winning MasterChef?
Winning MasterChef allowed Brin to leave veterinary medicine behind and concentrate on food professionally.
He has established Brin's Kitchen, through which his work now includes food content creation, private dining and public supper clubs.
Brin has also worked with a growing list of major food and kitchen brands.
These have included Fortnum & Mason, Tefal, Thermomix, Clarence Court Eggs and Kahlúa.
His private dining work has included five-course tasting menus, while his growing profile has also resulted in appearances, talks and collaborations at food events.
Among those he has cooked for is former Sri Lankan international cricket star Mahela Jayawardene.
More than 200,000 Instagram followers
Brin's audience has also expanded considerably since MasterChef.
His quick and accessible recipe videos have helped his Instagram following grow to more than 200,000.
Social media has become an important part of his post-MasterChef career, allowing him to share recipes and cooking ideas directly with a much larger audience.
He has also appeared on the BBC Good Food podcast and at food and lifestyle events.
In September 2026, Brin appeared at Ideas Fest, taking part in a live discussion about turning a public profile into a sustainable business.
From veterinary surgeon to full-time food career
Perhaps the biggest change since Brin appeared on MasterChef is that cooking is no longer something he has to fit around another profession.
Before entering the competition, he was working as a veterinary surgeon.
His success on MasterChef gave him the opportunity to make food his full-time career.
That career now spans several different areas rather than following the traditional route of simply becoming a restaurant chef.
Recipe development, digital content, private dining, supper clubs, brand partnerships, public appearances and now publishing have all become part of Brin's work.
What is Brin Pirathapan's cookbook Elevate about?
Elevate: Everyday Ingredients, Incredible Flavours is intended primarily for home cooks.
Its recipes begin with accessible ingredients before showing how additional flavours and techniques can turn them into something more exciting.
Brin's publisher describes the recipes as being designed to deliver plenty of flavour without requiring a large budget.
The cookbook also reflects the mixture of influences that became familiar to viewers during his MasterChef journey, particularly his Tamil Sri Lankan heritage.
Elevate was published by Pavilion Books on 8 September 2026 in hardback.
Where is Brin Pirathapan now?
Brin is now based in Bristol, where he continues to develop his food career.
However, his connection with Chelmsford remains an important part of his story.
From growing up in Essex and studying for a career in veterinary medicine to winning one of Britain's best-known cooking competitions, Brin's path has changed dramatically in just a few years.
With his first cookbook now published, a substantial online following and Brin's Kitchen continuing to develop, the former Chelmsford resident's MasterChef victory increasingly looks like it was the beginning rather than the culmination of his food career.
For Chelmsford viewers who watched one of their own lift the MasterChef trophy in 2024, there is now plenty more to follow.