Masterchef UK Season 20 is yet to be announced by BBC One

After an arduous seven-week journey, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax with the MasterChef final. The three finalists have to stretch themselves to their absolute limits and lay everything on the table one last time before John Torode and Gregg Wallace make the ultimate decision. The cooks' task is to produce the best three dishes of their lives, push their culinary boundaries in order to impress the judges. It's now or never for these exceptionally talented cooks, as only one of them can lift the trophy and become the 18th MasterChef champion.

In the penultimate episode, the four remaining contenders face a single cooking task to earn a place in the final three and an opportunity to take part in a challenge of a lifetime. They are asked to prepare their interpretation of a classic dish that will showcase their growing cooking talent to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. It's their last chance to bring together everything they have learned, to let their creativity fly and to prove they are worthy finalists. This high-pressure cook-off will be the end of the journey for one of the four finalists.

For the three that remain, there is the dream chance to work with one of the world's greatest chefs in the toughest and most daunting challenge of the competition, the Chef's Table. This year, it's hosted at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, by Gordon Ramsay himself. It's a special anniversary for the restaurant as it celebrates 21 years of holding an incredible three Michelin stars. The three finalists must work harder than ever to deliver food of an exceptional standard and impress some of the best chefs in the country. Dining are members of Gordon Ramsay's original brigade who have gone on to achieve culinary fame themselves, including Clare Smyth and Paul Ainsworth, as well as his old mentor, former three-star Michelin legend Pierre Koffman. Gordon, along with his head chef Matt Abé, put the finalists through their paces as they try to master Restaurant Gordon Ramsay's classic dishes. Can these amateur cooks hold their nerve, or is the pressure to deliver too intense?

Over centuries, chefs have created dishes in honour of great people that have inspired them, from the peach Melba to the beef Wellington. This year's five finalists must each create a dish inspired by a public figure or an artwork, film, song, TV series or book. This plate of food must tell a story, and the contestants must strive to make it as extraordinary as the inspiration behind it. At the end of this challenge, one of them will be eliminated from the competition.

The second challenge takes the remaining four cooks to the Emerald Isle. Situated in the south west of Ireland, Ballymaloe House and Cookery School is where chefs from all over the world come to learn the philosophy put forth by the late, great patron of Irish cuisine, Myrtle Allen. Led by the school's renowned founders, Darina Allen and Rory O'Connell, the contestants get an incredible whirlwind education in local Irish produce and the ethos of ‘farm to table'. Then they must use everything they have learned to prepare a celebratory dinner for some of Ireland's finest food producers and food historians, and for relatives of Myrtle, all of whom are continuing her legacy.

The last semi-final challenge is a celebration of MasterChef's surprise musical fame. Ten years after MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace were sampled on the hit single Buttery Biscuit Bass, this episode marks this momentous achievement by returning the favour. The final six contestants must prepare a dish that is inspired by that song and one of over 20 different food references within it. Savoury or sweet, it's up to the contestants to interpret the brief, and the dish must impress the judges enough to secure a place in finals week. At the end of this challenge, one contestant's MasterChef dreams will be dashed, while the other five move closer to becoming MasterChef champion.

The best eight remain semi-finalists take on a daunting Invention Test in which they must create a dish inspired by the chicken or the egg. The MasterChef market is open, and with a larder full of ingredients to choose from, they must create a dish worthy of being put through to the next round. Two contestants will be eliminated at the end of this task.

The six survivors then travel to Middle Temple in central London, where a very special centenary event is taking place. The Royal British Legion is celebrating 100 years since the nation's collective remembrance traditions were first bought together and the organisation began its important work supporting serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. The poppy appeal, the two-minute silence, Armistice Day, the service for the unknown warrior and the march past at the Cenotaph are traditions that millions participate in every year. Under the supervision of Glynn Purnell, head chef of Michelin-starred Purnell's restaurant in Birmingham, the contestants are split into teams of two to deliver a three-course menu for a prestigious lunch celebrating over 20 war veterans and crucial fundraisers - all of whom have bravely served their country - so expectations are high.

To kick off semi-finals week, the ten remaining hopefuls are given their first taste of what it's like to work in a restaurant setting. MasterChef turns into a professional kitchen for the day, with judge John Torode running the pass. Tables are laid in the dining room and filled with 20 past MasterChef quarter-finalists, semi-finalists and finalists – all of whom have gone on to have full-time careers in the food industry since taking part in the competition.

The semi-finalists must create a three-course menu that they would be proud to serve in their own restaurant or put in a cookbook. Split into three groups, three contestants must each cook their starter, four must each cook their main and the remaining three their dessert. With John running a tight ship, it's up to the teams to bring all their orders to the pass upon call of service. It's feedback from the dining room, however, that lays bare how the contestants cope with a service environment. They hope to receive rave reviews, but instead could fall behind the pack.

At the end of this mammoth task, two contestants will be saying goodbye to their dream of becoming MasterChef champion, while the remaining eight continue to the next round.

In the last of the quarter-finals, this week's four most talented cooks face just one intense challenge. They must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also three former MasterChef champions: Steven Wallis, Kenny Tutt and Thomasina Miers.

With just two semi-final places up for grabs, they need to show real flair and ambition to edge closer to the MasterChef 2022 trophy.

This week's seven best home cooks return to test their culinary wits and try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be MasterChef champion 2022.

Tonight's challenges are designed to gauge their creativity and culinary repertoire. The first is the Market Challenge, where they must invent a dish on the spot for judges John and Gregg from a market full of ingredients including Bavette steak, plaice and oysters. The pressure is on to impress because at the end of this test one contestant will be sent home.

The remaining six then take on their most demanding assignment so far - cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, William Sitwell. William has asked them to cook a dish inspired by a favourite ready-bought food item - sweet or savoury. The four who produce the best dishes will go through to this week's quarter-final. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to progress further in the competition?

It's the fifth and final week of heats, and the last nine home cooks arrive to face the Audition Round. They must cook their signature dish that will show judges John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they could become.

John and Gregg don't witness them cook in the MasterChef kitchen. Instead, they taste each dish in the new Tasting Room. Just like diners in a restaurant, they judge each contestant's food solely on the plate that is put in front of them. After tasting all nine plates, John and Gregg pick their three favourite dishes, awarding those cooks a MasterChef apron and immunity from cooking in the next round.

The remaining six contestants get another chance to impress the judges and win themselves a coveted apron. If they delivered a savoury dish in the first round, they must now cook a sweet dish, or vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked in the next round. For the other two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

This week's four most talented cooks return for the fourth quarter-final, with two places in the semi-finals up for grabs. They face just one intense challenge: they must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also three former MasterChef champions - Thomas Frake, Dhruv Baker and Saliha Mahmood Ahmed.

The seven best home cooks from this week's first round return to test their culinary wits and try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be MasterChef champion 2022.

Tonight, the contestants face two challenges that are designed to gauge both their creativity and culinary repertoire. The first is the Market Challenge, where the seven must invent a dish on the spot for judges John and Gregg from a market full of ingredients including chicken thighs, rack of venison and whole John Dory. The pressure is on to impress because at the end of this test one contestant will be sent home.

The remaining six then take on their most demanding assignment so far: cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Jay Rayner. Jay has asked them to cook a dish with one of the most versatile ingredients in the world, rice. Whether it be used in a savoury or sweet dish, it must be the star ingredient, not just an accompaniment.

Just two places are up for grabs in this week's quarter-final, so the dishes must be flawless.

It's the fourth week of heats, and nine talented home cooks arrive with both their dreams and ingredients ready for their first test, the Audition Round. Each must prepare a signature dish that shows judges John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they could become.

John and Gregg don't witness them cook in the MasterChef kitchen. Instead, they taste each dish in the new Tasting Room. Just like diners in a restaurant, they judge each contestant's food solely on the plate that is put in front of them. After tasting all nine plates, John and Gregg pick their three favourite dishes, awarding those cooks a MasterChef apron and immunity from cooking in the next round.

The remaining six contestants then get another chance to impress the judges and win themselves a coveted apron. If they delivered a savoury dish in the first round, they must now prepare a sweet, or vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked in the next round of challenges. For the other two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

It's the third quarter-final, and this week's four most talented cooks return to fight for a place in the semi-finals. Tonight, they face just one intense challenge: to cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also MasterChef champions Simon Wood (2015), Ping Coombes (2014) and Shelina Permalloo (2012).

With just two semi-final places up for grabs, the contenders need to show real flair and ambition to edge closer to the MasterChef 2022 trophy.

This week's seven remaining home cooks return to try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be MasterChef champion 2022.

Tonight, the contestants face two more challenges that are designed to gauge both their creativity and culinary repertoire. The first is the Market Challenge, where the seven must invent a dish on the spot for judges John and Gregg from a market full of ingredients including poussin, clams and whole bream. At the end of this test, one contestant is sent home.

The remaining six take on their most demanding assignment so far - cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Jimi Famurewa. Jimi has asked them to cook a dish with an interactive, playful or theatrical element to surprise and delight him and the judges.

At the end of this episode, only four contestants can go through to this week's quarter-final. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to progress further in the competition?

It's the third week of heats, and nine home cooks arrive with both their dreams and ingredients ready for their first test, the Audition Round. This year's auditionees come from all over the UK and must start by cooking a signature dish that shows John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they could become.

John and Gregg don't witness them cook in the MasterChef kitchen. Instead, they taste each dish in the new Tasting Room. Just like diners in a restaurant, they judge each contestant's food solely on the plate that is put in front of them. After tasting all nine plates, John and Gregg pick their three favourite dishes, awarding those cooks a MasterChef apron and immunity from cooking in the next round.

For the remaining six contestants, there is another chance to impress the judges and win themselves a coveted apron. If they cooked a savoury dish in the first round, they must deliver a sweet dish now, or vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked in the next round of challenges. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

It's the second quarter-final, and this week's most talented four cooks return to fight for two places in the semi-finals. To get there, they face just one intense challenge - cooking two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but the three finalists from 2021, Alexina Anatole, Mike Tomkins and champion Tom Rhodes.

This week's seven best home cooks from the first round return to test their culinary wits and show judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be MasterChef champion 2022.

Tonight's first task is the Market Challenge, with the seven having to invent a dish on the spot using a marketful of ingredients, including whole mackerel, squid and pork tenderloin.

The pressure is on to impress because at the end of this test one contestant will be sent home. The remaining six then face their most demanding assignment so far - cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Grace Dent. Grace has asked them to cook a dish centred around one of her favourite ingredients, the humble potato.

In a competition where only the food matters, and with just four places up for grabs, these amateurs will need to be good to make it through to the quarter-finals.

Nine home cooks arrive for the second week of heats.

Their first test is the Audition Round. Each must cook a signature dish, which John and Gregg judge solely on taste. Their three favourite dishes earn a MasterChef apron and immunity from having to cook in the next round.

The remaining six contestants then get another chance to impress the judges and win themselves a coveted apron. If they cooked a savoury dish in the first round, they must deliver a sweet one now, and vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked to the next round. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

In the first quarter-final, this week's four most talented cooks return to fight for a place in the semi-finals. They must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also three previous MasterChef champions - Irini Tzortzoglou from 2019, Jane Devonshire from 2016 and Tim Anderson from 2011.

With just two semi-final places up for grabs, the contenders need to show real flair and ambition to edge closer to the MasterChef 2022 trophy.

The seven home cooks who made it through the first episode return to face two more challenges designed to gauge both their creativity and culinary repertoire. The first is the Market Challenge, in which each of the seven is tasked with inventing a dish on the spot from a market full of ingredients, including monkfish, quail and lamb. The pressure is on because at the end of this test one contestant will be sent home.

The remaining six then face their most difficult assignment so far - cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Tom Parker Bowles. Tom tries to get their creative juices flowing by asking them to cook a dish inspired by their favourite holiday destinations.

Only four cooks can go through to the quarter-final. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to move another step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion?

This year the judges are mixing it up – introducing a whole new set of challenges the passionate amateurs must complete in order to progress in the competition.

Each week for five weeks, nine home cooks cook for the judges. This year their first test is the Audition Round, in which they must cook their signature dish - one that tells John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they could become. John and Gregg don't watch the chefs in the kitchen. Instead, they taste each dish in the new MasterChef Tasting Room. After they have tasted all nine dishes, the best three dishes will be awarded a coveted MasterChef apron, securing their place in the competition.

The remaining six contestants then get another chance to impress the judges and win themselves an apron. If they cooked a sweet dish in the first round, they must prepare a savoury dish now, or vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked in the next round of challenges. For the other two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

Five former champions return to the kitchen to compete for the ultimate prize. They are set a challenge by singer and Table Manners podcast host Jessie Ware.

It's the MasterChef final. After an arduous six-week journey, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The finalists have to push themselves to the limit one last time before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace crown one of the three talented cooks the MasterChef champion 2021.

Tonight, they must produce the best three dishes of their lives, push their culinary boundaries and produce jaw-droppingly impressive food for the judges.

It's now or never for these exceptional amateur cooks, as only one of them can lift the trophy and become the 17th MasterChef champion.

The final four amateur cooks interpret a classic dish of their choice before the best three face a Chef's Table challenge at Michel Roux Jr's acclaimed restaurant Le Gavroche.

For the first challenge of finals week, the five finalists cook a five-course lunch at the resplendent Plaisterers Hall in the City of London.

It's the last challenge of the semi-finals, and the six remaining amateurs must cook-off in front of three esteemed food critics to win a coveted place in the finals.

The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time. With guest judge Marcus Wareing.

Just ten chefs remain. Split into two groups of five, they now face the pressures of cooking in a professional kitchen for the first time. With guest judge Anna Haugh.

In the last of this year's quarter-final, four talented heat winners return to fight for a semi-final place in the Critic's Test. The challenge is to cook a dish inspired by global street food, and it will be judged by one of the country's toughest food critics, Grace Dent.

In the last of this year's heats, five contestants cook for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and two previous MasterChef champions.

In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

It's the third quarter-final and the four talented heat winners return to fight for a place in the semi-final.

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the second heat of the second week, they cook for former champion Steven Wallis and 2006 finalist Dean Edwards.

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the first heat of the second week, they cook for former champions Shelina Permalloo and Mat Follas.

The week's four heat winners return for the quarter-final, chasing a place in knockout week. They face a Critic's Test set by one of the country's toughest food critics, William Sitwell.

In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the first heat of the second week, they cook for former champions Irini Tzortzoglou and Jane Devonshire.

The four winners from the first week of heats return to compete in the first quarter-final. They are challenged by food critic Grace Dent to prepare a great British pudding.

Five amateur cooks compete in the second heat. To win a quarter-final place, they must impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace along with former champions Saliha Mahmood Ahmed and Kenny Tutt.

In the first heat, five amateur cooks compete for two quarter-final places. This year's competition features a new round in which each cook must showcase their favourite ingredient.

It's the MasterChef final. After an arduous eight-week journey, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax.

The four finalists face a challenge set by the world's greatest pastry chef, Albert Adria.

It's finals week, and only four chefs remain. Tonight, they embark on a culinary adventure of a lifetime on the island of Mauritius.

The remaining five chefs tackle the last challenge of the semi-finals, cooking for four of the country's most feared restaurant critics.

The remaining seven contestants are surprised by a very special guest. Joining them in the MasterChef kitchen is one of the country's best chefs, Tom Kitchin.

The MasterChef semi-finals begin with a spectacular challenge as the contestants head to the Royal Navy base in Portsmouth.

On the final day of Knockout Week, the best ten amateur chefs remain - all of them desperate to reach the semi-finals.

Knockout Week continues with the second group of eight amateur chefs put to the test.

After five weeks of fiercely competitive heats, 16 amateur cooks remain to battle it out in Knockout Week.

It's the last quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week.

The last group of contestants get their chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the fifth and final week of heats, with six more hopefuls getting their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the fourth quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week.

The fourth week of heats continues with six more contestants vying to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the fourth week of heats, with six more hopefuls getting their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the third quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week.

The third week of heats continues with six more contestants vying to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the third week of heats, with six more hopefuls getting their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the second quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week.

The second week of heats continue with six more contestants vying to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

It's the second week of heats, with six more hopefuls getting their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish.

The first quarter-final sees the six talented heat winners return to fight for a place in Knockout Week. Facing the Critic's Test, the week's best-performing amateurs take on an intimidating task, cooking to a brief set by top food critic Jay Rayner, who asks them to produce an exceptional dish incorporating stuffing.

The next six amateurs try to prove themselves and impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, presenting them with a dish of their own design. John and Gregg will pick their two favourites, and those cooks earn themselves a place in the next round. The four remaining contestants are now challenged to cook off in a new test - The Three Ingredients Challenge - conjuring up a dish using squid, courgette and chilli.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace return with the cookery competition, as a new batch of contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges to test not just their skills, but also their knowledge of food and ability to cope in a professional kitchen. This year they will have to cook not only for their place in the competition but also the right to wear a coveted MasterChef apron, with six contestants in each heat and only four aprons up for grabs, beginning by preparing their signature dish.

The search for the show's 15th champion reaches its climax, as the remaining three amateur cooks produce the three courses they hope will secure them the title.

Raymond Blanc and his executive chef Gary Jones demonstrate one of the dishes on the menu of their Oxfordshire restaurant, which the contestants must then recreate.

The final four amateur cooks embark on a culinary adventure in Hong Kong where they will face three challenges, including recreating dim sum dishes at the Lung King Heen restaurant.

The final five head to the Royal Society in London. They have the immense task of cooking a five-course tasting menu to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Transglobe expedition.

The MasterChef semi-finals continue with the remaining eight contestants challenged to create a dish inspired by someone they admire. After this challenge, one more cook will be leaving the competition while the others move on to a daunting challenge of cooking a three-course lunch at Grocers Hall, home to one of the oldest companies in the City of London. Then its back to the MasterChef kitchen for the last challenge of the semi-finals: to cook an outstanding dish to win over five of the country's most feared restaurant critics.

The nine remaining cooks battle it out in the semi-finals at Glyndebourne opera house in Sussex.

Last week, five contestants were guaranteed a semi-finals place. Now, the other five remaining cooks are going head-to-head to fight for their place alongside them in the semi-finals.

Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace are joined by renowned chef Alexis Gauthier, whose London restaurant now offers a completely plant-based menu. The five contestants are set a brief by Alexis to prep and cook one outstanding plant-based dish in just 90 minutes.

It's the end of knockout week and the competition has now been whittled down to ten extremely talented amateur cooks.

Knockout week continues with 12 remaining chefs vying to become semi-finalists at the end of the week.

Knockout week continues as the 16 remaining chefs continue their high-pressure cook-off.

Knockout week continues as the 16 remaining chefs continue their high-pressure cook-off.

After four weeks of heats, the amateur cooks have been whittled down to just 16. Now they come together for the first time to cook against each other across two shows.

Six talented heat winners compete in the last quarter-final. Amol Rajan challenges them to prepare their version of a classic British afternoon tea.

In the final heat, the last group of seven amateur cooks try to impress the judges.

It's the last week of heats and even cooks compete for a place in the quarter-finals.

It is the quarter-final and the six heat winners continue to fight for their place.

Seven more amateurs try to prove that they have what it takes in the hope of being put through to the quarter-final.

Seven more hopefuls pull out all the stops to prove to the judges they have what it takes as the third week of heats gets under way.

It's the quarter-final, and the six talented heat winners face a daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Grace Dent.

The four remaining cooks must prepare an impressive menu before John and Gregg decide who has what it takes to go through to the quarter-final.

It's the second week of heats and seven more hopefuls need to pull out all the stops to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have potential.

In this first quarter-final of the series, the six winners of the heats must impress food critic William Sitwell to keep their place in the competition.

Seven more amateur cooks try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2019 MasterChef Champion.

In this first episode, the first seven hopefuls need to pull out all the stops to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to rise above the rest to become MasterChef 2019 Champion.

It is the MasterChef final. After an arduous seven-week journey, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The finalists have to push themselves to the limit for one last time before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace crown one of the three talented cooks the champion. This is their final chance to pull out all the stops and show everything they have learned along the way, and in three hours demonstrate the kind of cook they have become. They must produce the best three dishes of their lives, push their culinary boundaries and produce jaw-droppingly good food for the judges. It's now or never for these exceptional amateur cooks as only one of them can lift the trophy and become the fourteenth MasterChef champion.

It is the penultimate show, and the final four amateur cooks face the challenge of a lifetime cooking alongside internationally renowned chef Ashley Palmer-Watts. Regarded as a leading culinary innovator, Ashley has worked alongside one of Britain's most famous chefs, Heston Blumenthal for the last 18 years. As head chef at the three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck in Bray, Ashley helped create some of the world's most revered dishes before working with Heston to open London restaurant Dinner in 2011. Within months of opening, Dinner won a Michelin star and was awarded its second a year later. Each amateur cook has five hours to recreate an iconic dish from Ashley's menu at Dinner. Once the four finalists have prepared their complex dishes, they must serve them to Ashley and to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. Finally the four amateurs are tasked with creating one dish for John and Gregg that showcases their growing cooking talent. Only three can make it through to the final.

Finals Week continues, and just four cooks remain. Now they travel to Lima, capital of Peru, where they face three challenges. The first takes place in Lima's major fish market Chorillos, where, in teams of two, they must recreate four popular Peruvian dishes to serve to a group of local fishermen. To help the finalists make sense of this unfamiliar cuisine, they are mentored by one of Peru's most prolific and celebrated chefs, Gaston Acurio. Next, the amateurs work with chef Virgilio Martinez at his world-renowned restaurant Central. The four contestants work during a busy lunch service and are given three hours to each cook a dish from Virgilio's 17-course tasting menu. Finally, the finalists must create a special dinner at the Lima Country Club Hotel for Gaston, Virgilio and three other leading industry figures from the Peruvian food scene. The amateur cooks must draw on their experiences of Lima to create their own Peruvian-inspired dish and impress their guests.

It is Finals Week, and just five cooks remain. They travel to Carlton Towers in rural North Yorkshire, where they must cook a lunch for some of Yorkshire's finest local producers and farmers. The special lunch is overseen by one of the UK's most impressive young chefs, Tommy Banks. Tommy has devised an exceptional five-course tasting menu for the guests at Carlton Towers using the best local produce, and with just four hours to recreate his complex and beautiful dishes, the finalists face their biggest challenge yet. The finalists then return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must create one dish inspired by a place they love, and they have two hours to showcase all they have learned. Their one dish needs to demonstrate to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have what it takes to go the distance. Will their flair, creativity and palate be enough to save them from being sent home? Who can make it through to the final four and keep their dream alive?

The pressure is on for the remaining six amateurs as they are tasked with cooking a dish for three of the country's most-feared restaurant critics - Tracey MacLeod, Tom Parker Bowles and Fay Maschler, in order to secure a place in MasterChef final. At the end, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace face the difficult decision of sending one of the contestants home.

The remaining semi-finalists are tasked with the challenge of cooking a three-course fish lunch to celebrate 100 years of women's right to vote. John Torode oversees the kitchen as the amateurs face a high-pressured lunchtime service. The VIP diners include Dr Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst - leader of the suffragette movement, Baroness Hale, president of the Supreme Court, former BBC chief news correspondent Kate Adie, broadcaster Dame Jenni Murray, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and journalist Kirsty Wark, as well as leading female chefs and restaurateurs. Once service is complete they return to the MasterChef kitchen, where all seven cooks are challenged with creating one plate of food inspired by someone they admire. With two hours to perfect their dishes, the chefs must go all out to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, before one of them is sent home.

The eight remaining cooks head to RAF Halton in Aylesbury to celebrate 100 years of the RAF's formation. They are split into two teams of four and face the challenge of running their own kitchens to create two main courses and a dessert to feed 120 veterans, serving airmen and new recruits for a special lunch that celebrates the centenary. With less than four hours to deliver, organisation and teamwork are essential for success. After judging their food, John and Gregg pick the weakest team to return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they cook-off against each other in a special Invention Test, using leftover produce from the previous challenge.

With three contestants already through to the semi-finals, the best six remaining cooks go head to head to fight for their place alongside them. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace are joined by renowned chef Theo Randall, who sets the competitors a brief to create one outstanding dish inspired by Italian cuisine, with just 90 minutes to prep and cook it. Only five of the cooks will keep their place and join the other three semi-finalists.

It is the end of Knockout Week and there are just nine amateur cooks remaining. At MasterChef HQ, they have only one challenge - cook one dish to win over the judges and secure a semi-final place. They have 90 minutes to create their masterpiece. The best three cooks become semi-finalists, while the other six will have to fight it out again to earn their place.

The second group of amateurs get their first taste of professional cooking. They are heading to Sartoria in London's Mayfair, run by renowned Italian chef patron Francesco Mazzei. The six contestants are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu to paying customers during a packed lunch service. Then it is back to MasterChef HQ for an invention test for John and Gregg. In a last-chance bid to stay in the competition, each cook has to show they have learned from their experience and can create a unique and outstanding dish worthy of gracing the table of a restaurant. Guest judge two Michelin-starred Nathan Outlaw returns to help John and Gregg evaluate the six amateur cooks' dishes After this challenge, one of the contestants is sent home.

Over the next two nights the remaining twelve contestants are split into two groups and get their first taste of a professional kitchen when they have to run an entire lunchtime service. In this episode the first group head to Eneko in Covent Garden, London. This is Spanish chef Eneko Atxa's second restaurant and specialises in Basque cuisine. During a busy lunch service, the six amateur cooks are entirely responsible for serving the restaurant's menu to paying customers. Then it is back to MasterChef HQ for an invention test for John and Gregg. The contestants also discover that they must also impress renowned fish chef and two Michelin-starred Nathan Outlaw, who has picked his favourite ingredients which the contestants must cook with. After this challenge, one of them is sent home. Only the best five make it through to Friday's challenge - the gateway to the semi-finals.

Knockout Week continues, as the best 16 amateur chefs continue to battle it out in a high-pressured cook-off. With the blue group having already cooked, it is now the turn of the red group to face the same daunting challenge set by John and Gregg. Their brief is to create one dish inspired by a personal or family-favourite recipe. In one hour and 30 mins, they must hold their nerve to deliver a dish that stands out from the crowd and prove to the judges that they have a future in the competition. John and Gregg must then make a difficult decision as they choose who has what it takes to continue in the competition and whose MasterChef journey is about to end. Who will crumble under the pressure and who will prove they have what it takes to take another precious step towards being crowned MasterChef champion 2018?

After four weeks of fierce competition in the heats, 56 amateur cooks have been whittled down to just 16. Now these talented cooks come together to cook off against each other across two shows. In this episode the amateurs are split into two groups - the blue group and the red group - with eight cooks in each. Both groups face a cook-off based on a brief given by John and Gregg. Their challenge is to create one dish inspired by a personal or family-favourite recipe. After cooking, John and Gregg decide who is good enough to continue in the competition. The blue group are the first to cook. In one hour and 30 minutes they must hold their nerve to deliver a dish that stands out from the crowd and prove to the judges that they have a future in the competition. However, they won't find out their fate just yet, as they have to wait until the red group have cooked before John and Gregg choose who stays and who goes.

It's the last quarter-final and the six talented heat winners have no time to rest on their laurels as they continue to fight for their place in the competition. In the Critic's Test, the week's best amateurs will be put through the mill with a seriously daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. Tonight's brief has been set by Amol Rajan. His challenge for the amateur cooks is to make their own interpretation of the British classic, a full English breakfast. After cooking their dish based on this brief, the contestants stand before Amol and judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace to hear, face-to-face, what they think of their dish and whether they have managed to rise to the challenge and fulfil the expectations. At the end of this quarter-final, the best cooks will go through to Knockout Week, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2018.

In this heat, the last group of seven amateur cooks try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2018 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the return of the MasterChef Market, stocked full of the best quality produce from across the world including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses, grains and dairy. The featured ingredients include lamb lion, chicken thighs, scallops, salmon fillets and prawns. The stakes are high in this round and it is important to choose wisely because after tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg will decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three cooks will be sent straight home. The four remaining cooks now have to cook an impressive menu for MasterChef champion Ping Coombes and 2011 finalists, Tom Whittaker and Jackie Kearney. John and Gregg then decide who has what it takes to go through to Friday's quarter-final.

It's the last week of heats and seven more hopefuls need to pull out all the stops to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to rise above the rest to become MasterChef 2018 Champion. Their first challenge is to invent and then cook one dish using anything from the market. This time, the featured ingredients include quail, chorizo, bone marrow, cod and squid. After tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg decide which four cooks are good enough to stay. The four remaining cooks now have one more challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists, who return to judge the food of this year's new contenders to the throne. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to Friday's quarter-final.

It's the quarter-final and the six heat winners continue to fight for their place in the competition. In the Critic's Test, the week's best amateurs will be put through the mill with a seriously daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. Tonight's brief has been set by Grace Dent. Her challenge for the amateur cooks is to make their best comfort food dish - something Grace would want to eat on her day off. After cooking their dish based on this brief, the contestants stand before Grace Dent and judges John and Gregg, to hear, face-to-face, what they think of their dish and whether they've managed to rise to the challenge and fulfil the expectations. At the end of this quarter-final, the best cooks will go through to Knockout Week.

In this episode, seven more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2018 MasterChef Champion. This time, the featured ingredients in the MasterChef market include poussin, beef cheeks, pork mince, mackerel and tiger prawns. They have an hour and 10 minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. The stakes are high and it's important to choose wisely because after tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg will decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three cooks will be sent straight home.

It's the third week of heats and seven more hopefuls need to pull out all the stops to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to rise above the rest. This year sees the return of the MasterChef Market, full of quality produce from across the world including meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses, grains and dairy. The challenge is to invent and cook one dish using anything from the Market. This time, the featured ingredients include chicken thighs, chorizo, crab, sea trout and prawns. They have an hour and 10 minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay. The stakes are high and it's important to choose wisely because after tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg will decide which four cooks will stay, while three cooks will be sent home. The four remaining cooks will have one more challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place.

It is the quarter-final, and the six contestants face the Critic's Test. This episode's brief has been set by Jay Rayner. His challenge for the amateur cooks is to make an exceptional pie - it can be any pie they like, sweet or savoury, but they must make their own pastry. After cooking their dish based on this brief, the contestants stand before Jay and judges John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and whether they've managed to rise to the challenge and fulfil the expectations. At the end of this quarter-final the best cooks go through to Knockout Week.

Seven more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. This year sees the return of the MasterChef Market, stocked full of the best-quality produce from across the world. The challenge is to invent and then cook one dish using anything from the market. The featured ingredients include lamb rump, pork chops, pigeon, sea bass, turbot and langoustine, and the contestants have an hour and ten minutes to dazzle the judges. After tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three are sent home. The four remaining cooks must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also the MasterChef champions from 2005, Thomasina Miers, and 2006, Steven Wallis, and finalist from 2006 Daksha Mistry. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to Friday's quarter-final.

It's the second week of heats, and seven more hopefuls need to pull out all the stops to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. This year sees the return of the MasterChef Market, stocked full of the best-quality produce from across the world. The challenge is to invent and then cook one dish using anything from the market. The featured ingredients include venison, chicken, parma ham, sea bream and pollock, and the contestants have an hour and ten minutes to dazzle the judges. After tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three are sent home. The four remaining cooks must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also some very special guests - 2015's MasterChef finalists Tony Rodd and Emma Spitzer and champion Simon Wood. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to Friday's quarter-final.

It is the first quarter-final of the series, and the six heat winners continue to fight for their place in the competition. In the Critic's Test, the contestants are put through the mill with a seriously daunting test set by critic William Sitwell. His challenge for the amateur cooks is to create a dessert showcasing either alcohol or spices. After cooking their dish based on this brief, the contestants stand before William and judges John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and whether they have managed to rise to the challenge and meet the expectations. At the end of this quarter-final, the best cooks go through to Knockout Week.

Seven more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2018 MasterChef Champion. In this episode the MasterChef Market featured ingredients include lamb neck, lamb mince, chicken breast, clams and brown shrimp. The contestants have an hour and ten minutes to cook, after which John and Gregg decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three are sent straight home. The four remaining cooks now have one more challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They must cook an impressive menu that will excite not just John and Gregg but also some very special guests. In this heat, the contestants must attempt to impress the MasterChef finalists from 2010 - Alex Rushmer, Tim Kinnaird and champion Dhruv Baker. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide who has what it takes to go through to Friday's quarter-final.

In this first episode, the first seven hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. This year sees the return of the MasterChef Market. The challenge is to invent and then cook one dish using anything from the market. This time the featured ingredients include beef mince, duck breasts, pancetta, cod and mussels. The cooks have an hour and ten minutes to prepare their food, and after tasting all seven dishes, John and Gregg decide which four cooks are good enough to stay, while three are sent home. The four remaining contestants must then cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also some very special guests - MasterChef 2017 finalists Steve Kielty and Giovanna Ryan and 2017 champion Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three contestants go through to Friday's quarter-final.

After a formidable seven-week competition, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The finalists have to push themselves to the limit for one last time before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace crown one of the three highly-talented amateur cooks the champion. In three hours, they must produce three exceptional courses, push the culinary boundaries and give the judges an awe-inspiring tasting like never before. It is a night packed with culinary highlights as one of the three amateur cooks lifts the trophy and becomes the 13th MasterChef champion.

In the penultimate show, the final three amateur cooks face the most terrifying challenge yet, The Chef's Table, mentored by chef Sat Bains. To fight for their place at The Chef's Table, John Torode and Gregg Wallace challenge the amateurs to cook a classic dish with their stamp on it. The final contestants then face the ultimate challenge. Sat has designed an exquisite three-course menu for lunch and each contestant will be responsible for one of his signature dishes. The dishes require complex techniques, precision cooking and an impeccable palate. To add to the pressure, the guests are a table of the country's finest chefs and the amateur's mentors throughout the competition. Emotions run high as no one wants to let Sat or the table of esteemed chefs down. For the final three, it's their last chance before the final to prove they have what it takes to lift the MasterChef trophy.

The final four amateur cooks embark on a culinary adventure to South Africa, where they face three extraordinary challenges, guided by two of South Africa's acclaimed chefs. Their first task is to cook a traditional South African 'braai' using ingredients and cooking methods alien to them in the sizzling 40-degree heat. They are mentored by chef Reuben Riffel, who also devises with the menu. Next, the amateurs have the honour of working with British-born chef Luke Dale Roberts. The four contestants take over lunch service his restaurant, The Test Kitchen. There is no room for error as Luke';s expectations are sky high. Their third challenge sees the finalists creating an exceptional dinner at the Beau Constantia Winery, inspired by their South African culinary adventure and showcasing the skills they have developed. The dishes must be exceptional for them to stand out and prove they have what it takes to be crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

It is the final week of MasterChef 2017, and the remaining five amateur cooks travel to Winfield House, the official residence of the American ambassador to the United Kingdom. They have the immense task of cooking for him and his five guests, who include author and journalist Rachel Johnson, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Jeremy King, creator of iconic restaurants The Ivy and The Wolseley. The dinner is overseen by Paul Ainsworth. He has designed a five-course menu for the guests with an American theme, and with just four hours to replicate his complex dishes, the amateurs are challenged like never before. Back at the MasterChef kitchen, the finalists are then challenged to demonstrate everything they've learnt and create a dish inspired by something personal in their lives that shows imagination, flair and creativity. Who can make it through to the final four and keep their dream alive of winning MasterChef 2017?

It is the last of semi-finals, and the remaining six amateurs attempt to win a place in the MasterChef finals. To win their place in the final five they must cook an outstanding dish for four of the country's most feared restaurant critics - Amol Rajan, Tracey MacLeod, Jay Rayner and William Sitwell. At the end, John Torode and Gregg Wallace decide who to take through to finals week.

The contestants are tasked with cooking a three-course fish lunch for some of the country's biggest fish experts. Starting at 4am at Billingsgate Fish Market, they must first source their ingredients before moving on to Fishmongers' Hall, the prestigious headquarters of the Fishmongers' Company, where they take full control of the kitchens. John Torode oversees the kitchen as the amateurs face a high-pressure lunchtime service. The contestants must each serve one dish of their own creation on the specially designed menu, and the two chefs who cook the most popular dishes will be exempt from the next cook-off. Back at the MasterChef kitchen, the MasterChef market reopens as the five chefs cook against each other in a bid to stay in the competition, and this time there is no meat or fish. They have one hour and fifteen minutes to create one dish to keep themselves in the competition.

The semi-finals continue as the eight remaining cooks head to the BBC studios at Elstree, home to TV drama Holby City. The contestants are split into two teams of four and face the challenge of running their own kitchens in two specially constructed catering tents. Each team must create two main courses and a dessert to feed 120 members of the cast and crew. With less than four hours to deliver the food, organisation and teamwork is essential for success. It is vital the two teams perform at their absolute best and produce a lunch worthy of the occasion, because after judging their food, John and Gregg pick the weakest team to return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must cook off against each other in a special invention test. The contestants must create a stunning dish from the leftover produce from the previous challenge, which includes duck carcasses, halibut scraps, vegetables, fruit, and cheeses. One more contestant is then sent home.

It is the first semi-final, and the nine remaining contestants must cook a dish which showcases their favourite ingredient. Afterwards, one will be going home.

The ten remaining amateur cooks only face one challenge in this episode. They must cook one dish to completely wow the judges and secure their semi-final place. They have one and a half hours to create their masterpiece, and nine of them will make it through.

The second group of contestants get their first taste of professional cooking. They are heading to Roux at Parliament Square, Michel Roux Jr's second restaurant, run by 2009 MasterChef: The Professionals champion Steve Groves. The contestants are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu for a busy lunch service. It is then back to the MasterChef kitchen for an invention test to show John and Gregg what they have learnt. Each contestant must demonstrate they can invent a dish from scratch that looks and tastes exceptional and is worthy of gracing the table of a restaurant. Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin returns to help John and Gregg assess the six cooks. After this, one of them is sent home.

The remaining 12 contestants are split into two groups and get their first taste of professional cooking when they have to run an entire lunchtime service on their own. In this episode the first group head to Ormer Mayfair, a London restaurant headed up by award-winning chef Shaun Rankin. During a busy service, the six amateurs are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu to paying customers. It is then back to MasterChef HQ for an invention test to show John and Gregg what they have learnt. Each contestant has to show they can invent an exceptional dish that is worthy of gracing the table of a professional restaurant. As well as presenting their food to John and Gregg, the contestants must also impress a guest judge, renowned Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin. After this, one of the cooks is sent home.

The 14 remaining cooks continue to compete against one another. With the blue group having finished cooking, it is now the turn of the red group to face the same daunting challenge set by John and Gregg. Their brief is to create one dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. In one hour and thirty minutes they must deliver one dish that stands out from the crowd and proves to the judges that they have a future in the competition. John and Gregg must then make a difficult decision as they choose who has what it takes to continue in the competition and whose MasterChef journey is about to end.

There are now 14 cooks remaining, and they come together for the first time to cook off against each other across two shows. The contestants are split into two groups - the red group and the blue group - with seven cooks in each. Each set faces a daunting cook-off based on a brief given by John and Gregg. Their challenge is to create one dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. Once both groups have finished cooking, John and Gregg decide who is good enough to continue in the competition. The blue group are the first to cook. In one hour and thirty minutes, they must deliver one dish that stands out from the crowd and proves to the judges that they have a future in the competition. However, they won't find out their fate just yet, as they have to wait until the other group have cooked before John and Gregg choose who stays and who goes.

It is the last quarter-final, and the six cooks continue to fight for their place in the competition as they face a test set by restaurant critic Jay Rayner.

Eight more hopefuls try to prove themselves. On offer in the MasterChef market are venison, lamb mince, kidneys, scallops and langoustines.

A new set of contestants face the MasterChef challenges and must impress previous champions Peter Bayless, James Nathan and Mat Follas.

It is the quarter-final, and the six cooks continue to fight for their place in the competition as they face a test set by restaurant critic Tracey Macleod. Her challenge is to make an exceptional dish, choosing from one of two briefs she has given them. The contestants must either cook a savoury dish that showcases rice or a dessert with almonds. After cooking their dish, they hear what the judges think of their food and how well they have kept to the brief.

Eight more hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. On offer in this episode's MasterChef market are chicken wings, quail, pancetta, brown shrimp, salmon and haddock. The cooks have one hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. Three cooks are sent home, and the five remaining ones now have one challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They have to cook two courses for John and Gregg, as well as 2013 finalists Saira Hamilton and Larkin Cen and champion Natalie Coleman. After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three will go through to the quarter-final.

Eight more hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. On offer in this episode's MasterChef market are chicken legs, quail and lamb rump, as well as prawns, salmon and mackerel. The cooks have one hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. Three cooks are sent home, and the five remaining ones now have one challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They have to cook two courses for John and Gregg, as well as 2011 MasterChef finalists Sara Danesin and Jackie Kearney and champion Tim Anderson. After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three will go through to the quarter-final.

In the second quarter-final of the series, the six cooks face a daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. The brief has been set by food critic William Sitwell, and the contestants must cook either a savoury dish that has no meat or fish, or a tart dessert. After cooking their dish, the contestants must stand before William, John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and how well they have kept to the brief. At the end of the quarter-final, the best cooks are put through to Knockout Week, taking them another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

Eight more amateurs hope to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and book a place in the quarter-finals. Their first challenge is to invent and cook a dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market, after which John and Gregg decide which five cooks are good enough to stay. The remaining cooks then prepare two courses for not only John and Gregg, but also 2006 finalist Dean Edwards, 2014 champion Ping Coombes and 2005 champion Thomasina Miers.

In the second week of the heats, eight more hopefuls hope to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. The first challenge for the eight contestants is to invent and cook one dish using what is available to them in the MasterChef market, after which John and Gregg decide which five of the eight cooks are good enough to stay. With the aim of reaching the quarter-final, the five remaining cooks then prepare two courses for John, Gregg and three special guests, 2010 MasterChef finalists Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird, and champion Dhruv Baker.

It is the first quarter-final of the series, and the six cooks face a seriously daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. This episode's brief has been set by journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, and the contestants must cook either a savoury dish using Indian spices or a chocolate dessert with a playful twist. After cooking their dish, the contestants must stand before Amol Rajan, John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and how well they have kept to the brief. At the end of the quarter-final, the best cooks are put through to Knockout Week, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

Eight more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion.

Out of the hundreds that auditioned, 64 amateur cooks are through to battle it out over four weeks of heats, producing some of the most inspiring, exceptional and unusual food ever seen on the series. The first eight hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the introduction of the all new MasterChef market, which is stocked full of amazing produce. The first challenge is to invent and cook one dish using what's available in the market. They have an hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. After tasting all eight dishes, John and Gregg decide which five cooks are good enough to stay. The five remaining contestants must then cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also last year's MasterChef finalists. John and Gregg then decide which three contestants deserve to go through to the quarter-final.

It's the MasterChef final. After a formidable seven-week competition, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The finalists must push themselves to the limit one last time before John Torode and Gregg Wallace crowns one of the three highly talented cooks as the champion. In this final challenge, the finalists must pull out all the stops, show everything they have learned, and demonstrate what sort of cook they have become. They have three hours to produce three exceptional courses, push the culinary boundaries and give the judges an awe-inspiring tasting like never before. At the end of the challenge, one of the finalists will lift the trophy and become the 12th MasterChef champion.

The final amateur cooks face their most iconic and terrifying challenge yet - The Chef's Table. The contestants must cook a three-course menu designed by culinary talent Daniel Humm, which they will serve to a table of the country's finest chefs. Only three of the remaining four amateurs will be able to take part, and the contestants are challenged to cook a classic dish with their stamp on it to win their place. Failure to impress means being sent home, and for the remaining cooks, a mammoth task lies ahead. With the final just around the corner, it's their last chance to prove they have what it takes to lift the MasterChef trophy.

Finals week continues as the final four talented amateur cooks embark on a culinary odyssey to Mexico, where they face three extraordinary challenges. The finalists are tasked with setting up a food stall in the heart of the market in Mexico City, using ingredients, cooking methods and equipment that are totally alien to them. Next, the amateurs have the honour of taking over lunch service at Pujol, a restaurant renowned for being the best in the country. Finally, the amateurs have the daunting challenge of creating an exceptional dinner at the British Embassy for some of the leading figures in Mexico's cultural and food communities. Inspired by their Mexican culinary adventure, and showcasing the skills they've developed through their entire MasterChef journey, the final four's dishes must be truly exceptional for them to stand out and prove they have what it takes to be crowned MasterChef champion.

It's the final week of MasterChef 2016, and the five remaining amateur cooks have an immense task ahead of them. In their first task, they have just four hours to cook a complex five-course dinner devised by trailblazing chef Michael O'Hare, which will then be served to five leading actresses of the stage and screen. Back at the MasterChef kitchen, the finalists are challenged to demonstrate everything they have learnt and create a dish inspired by something personal in their lives, showing imagination, flair and creativity. As the final five becomes the final four, the amateurs must push themselves to the limit to impress judges John and Greg.

It's the last of the semi-finals and it's do or die for the best six amateurs. The contestants have just one challenge to win a place in the final five; to cook an outstanding dish to win-over four of the country's most feared restaurant critics - Charles Campion, Tracey MacLeod, Jay Rayner and William Sitwell. Serving food to these masters of the dining room is a daunting task for the most adept chefs, and these talented home cooks now have to put their skills and palates on the line.

As the semi-finals continue, seven remain in the competition, all fighting for a place in Finals Week. In this programme they have to pull out all the stops as they are tasked with the daunting challenge of cooking for some of the world's most celebrated restaurateurs. Travelling to London's fashionable Chelsea, the amateur chefs are thrown into service at the culinary landmark Bluebird where they take full control of its kitchens. The diners are all restaurateurs who are at the forefront of dining trends and have paved the way for culinary excellence, so their expectations are sky high. The contestants must each serve one dish of their own creation on the specially designed menu. The two chefs who cook the most popular dishes will be exempt from the next cook-off.

The eight remaining best cooks in the competition head to the biggest naval base in Western Europe to embark on a special mission to serve lunch to members of the Royal Navy on board one of its longest serving ships, anti-submarine frigate HMS Northumberland. The semi-finalists face the enormous challenge of running their own kitchens in two specially constructed catering tents. Split into two teams of four, each team have to create two main courses and a dessert to feed 110 members of the ships company. After judging their food, John and Gregg pick the weakest team to return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must cook-off against each other in a special Invention Test. One contestant goes home at the end.

Forty amateur cooks have been whittled down to the most promising eight. It's the first of the semi-finals, and the eight best cooks come together to battle in a team challenge, the Relay Invention Test. Split into two teams of four, both groups must create two dishes between them; a main course based on lamb, and a dessert using pear as the main ingredient. Each team member has just 20 minutes to make their contribution to the dish, and they must do so without communicating with one another. It's vital the team leaves clues for each other, as each cook needs to decipher what the dish is supposed to be through the hints left behind.

Just nine amateur cooks remain as Knockout Week comes to a close, all of whom are desperate to reach the semi-finals. In this episode they have only one challenge: to cook one superb showstopper dish to wow the judges and secure their semi-final place. They have one and a half hours to create their masterpieces, and failure is not an option. Only the eight best amateurs will become semi-finalists, inching closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2016. For one more hopeful, the MasterChef dream will be over.

Knockout Week continues, as the second group of amateurs get their first taste of professional cooking. They head to an award-winning modern Italian restaurant run by head chef Antonio Favuzzi. The contestants are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu for a busy lunch service. Afterwards, it's back to the MasterChef kitchen for an Invention Test to show John and Gregg just what they have learnt. In a last chance bid to stay in this year's competition, each amateur chef must demonstrate they can invent a dish from scratch that looks and tastes exceptional and is worthy of gracing the table of a professional restaurant. In an unexpected twist, the formidable Professional MasterChef judge, two Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing returns to help John and Gregg assess the six amateurs. After this, one of them will be going home. Who will crumble under the pressure and who will make it through to Friday's challenge - the gateway to this year's semi-finals?

Knockout Week continues, with the eleven remaining contestants facing a baptism of fire as they are split into two groups and tasked with running a professional lunchtime service on their own. In this episode, the first group heads to a London restaurant headed up by award-winning chef Stevie Parle. During a busy service, the five amateurs are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu to paying customers. Then it's back to MasterChef HQ for an Invention Test to show John and Gregg just what they have learnt. In a last-chance bid to stay in this year's competition, each contestant has to show they can invent an exceptional dish that is worthy of gracing the table of a professional restaurant. In an unexpected twist, the contestants discover that they not only have to present their food to John and Gregg, but also a guest judge who will be helping John and Gregg evaluate the five amateurs - the formidable Professional MasterChef judge, two Michelin-starred Marcus Wareing.

Knockout Week continues, as the 14 best amateur chefs continue to battle it out in a high pressured cook-off. With the red team already having cooked, it is now the turn of the blue team to face the same daunting challenge set by John and Gregg. Their brief is to create one dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. In one hour and 30 mins, they must deliver just one dish that stands out from the crowd, and proves to the judges that they have a future in the competition. John and Gregg must now make a difficult decision as they choose who has what it takes to continue in the competition and whose MasterChef journey is about to end. Who will crumble under the pressure and who will prove they have what it takes to take another precious step towards being crowned MasterChef Champion 2016?

After four weeks of fierce competition only the 14 best cooks remain, and the battle is on as they come together for the first time and cook off against each other across two shows. The amateurs are split into two groups - the red team and the blue team - with seven cooks in each. Each set of contestants faces a daunting cook-off based on a brief given by John and Gregg. Their challenge is to create one dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. Once both groups have finished cooking, John and Gregg decide who is good enough to continue in the competition. The red team are the first to cook. In one hour and 30 mins, they must deliver just one dish that stands out from the crowd and proves to the judges that they have a future in the competition. However, they won't find out their fate just yet, as they'll have to wait until the blue team have cooked before John and Gregg will choose who stays and who goes.

It's the last quarter-final of the heats and the six talented heat winners have no time to rest on their laurels as they continue to fight for their place in the competition - and a place in knockout week. The week's best amateurs will be put through the mill with a seriously daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. Tonight's brief has been set by Jay Rayner. His challenge is for the amateur cooks to make an exceptional dish centered on one ingredient - duck breast. After cooking their dish based on this brief, the contestants must stand before Jay Rayner and John and Gregg, and hear what they think of their dish and how well they have kept to the brief. At the end of tonight's quarter-final, the best cooks will go through to knockout week, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2016.

It's the last week of the heats and the final group of amateurs battle for a place in the quarter final. Firstly they are asked to cook their Calling Card, a dish that represents who they are as a cook. John and Gregg each pick their favourite dish and two lucky cooks will go through to the second test. The remaining three contestants must decide whether to create a savoury dish using lamb rump as the main ingredient or a sweet dish using mango as the central ingredient. They have one hour to create a dish that will earn them a place in the next round. One chef will be sent home. The four remaining cooks now have to cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists, who return to judge the food of this year's new contenders. John and Gregg will then decide which three contestants deserve to go through to Friday's quarter final.

It's the last week of the heats and the final group of amateurs battle for a place in the quarter final. Firstly they are asked to cook their Calling Card, a dish that represents who they are as a cook. John and Gregg each pick their favourite dish and two lucky cooks will go through to the second test. The remaining three contestants must decide whether to create a savoury dish using trout as the main ingredient or a sweet dish using blackberries as the central ingredient. They have one hour to create a dish that will earn them a place in the next round. One chef will be sent home. The four remaining cooks now have to cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists, who return to judge the food of this year's new contenders. John and Gregg will then decide which three contestants deserve to go through to Friday's quarter final.