Emily Ludolf

Emily Ludolf (born 1990 in Lyne, Surrey, England) was the youngest-ever finalist when she appeared in the 2008 series of BBC TV show MasterChef, a reality tv show for amateur cook. In the finals Ludolf competed against Jonny Stevenson and James Nathan, the latter eventually winning the competition. Ludolf drew media attention after the show was broadcast after having confounded the judges, Gregg Wallace and John Torode, with her own strange culinary inventions, which have later been published in various newspaper and magazine articles.

Ludolf was educated at Gordon's School in Woking, Surrey, and in October 2007 began reading English at Wadham College, Oxford University. Since the competition she also has written articles on cooking for Delicious Magazine and the Sunday Telegraph, writes a regular restaurant review column for the Oxford University magazine, and writes a cooking blog.

In 2011 Ludolf obtained work at London jelly-makers Bompas and Parr. Her job involved creating unusual foods, including dishes for a neon dessert table and for a rabbit cafe.