Big Has: 'Half English and half Cypriot - food is a celebration for me and my family'

The chef, YouTuber and author now has another title to add to his list of accomplishments: Young MasterChef judge.

The BBC competition series Young MasterChef, where judges search for a new generation of cooking talent, is back for a second series. This time Big Has, whose real name is Hasan Semay, is joining Michelin-trained online cooking sensation Poppy O'Toole.

"I secretly watched cooking shows my entire childhood," he says.

Born and raised in Edmonton, north London, Big Has remembers experiencing a mix of cultures growing up. And this was displayed in the food he and his family prepared.

British traditions like Sunday roasts, for example, became barbecued Sunday roasts, taking inspiration from his Cypriot family's traditions of marinating and grilling.

"I very much grew up around food," he says. "Half English and half Cypriot, food is a celebration for me and my family."

Getting into the food industry

Despite so many childhood memories about food, a culinary career was never guaranteed for Big Has.

"I was doing security at the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank. I used to stand there and tell people, 'don't touch this piece of art' or 'please don't take pictures'," he says. "It was all very boring and mundane. I just felt like I needed to do more."

So when he was 21, he applied to a programme run by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, designed to fast track young people into the food industry. 

Big Has secured an interview, got through and after graduating from the scheme in 2011, he went on to spend a decade cooking in high-end kitchens across London - until the pandemic hit.

As restaurants temporarily - and in many cases permanently - shut down, he launched a YouTube channel called Sunday Sessions, where he helped viewers cook recipes from across the world. The channel now has nearly 43,000 subscribers.

Joining Young MasterChef

Inviting people into food culture has been a running theme throughout Big Has' career.

"There's an assumption that you have to be of a certain calibre or from a certain background to mess around with expensive ingredients and look at different cultures," he says. 

But he's never been a fan of that approach to food. Just like Jamie did for him, he wants to open doors for young talent, he says. 

And things are improving, according to George McIvor, chairman of the Master Chefs of Great Britain.

"In the past, the kitchen has been seen as not a great work environment, especially for women, as it was such a macho place," he argues, "but in recent times, this has changed for the better."

However, working hours are still a problem, he says, with some chefs working 14-to-16-hour shifts, which "is not sustainable".

For Big Has, BBC Three's Young MasterChef is a perfect celebration of diversity in kitchens.

"With the younger generation, there's just more of an eagerness to show off the heritage, culture and background that they enjoy."

Advice for budding food influencers

For many foodies, the internet opened an entirely new path to build a career in the food industry. 

So does Big Has have any advice?

"The only reason my channel did well was [because] there's no premise," he says. "I wasn't pushing a narrative.

"And I've spent loads of time in kitchens, learning my craft and honing my skills."

And he makes it clear that you should not copy what other people are doing. 

"Yes, there's the opportunity to be inspired. But don't ever take anyone's sauce and try to make it your own pasta."

You can watch Young MasterChef series two on Monday 8 January at 8pm on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.