MasterChef

The semi-finals continue, with the brief for the remaining six cooks set by none other than pioneer of molecular gastronomy Heston Blumenthal.

It's semi-finals time, and the challenges include catering for members of the Jane Austen Society, not to mention a descendant of the famous author!

Knockout week comes to a head with just ten cooks remaining in the competition. Success could mean a place in the semi-finals, but it will take every ounce of effort to get there.

Knockout week continues as the second group of eight hopefuls return to take on the competition. Those who show they mean business will earn the right to work in their first professional kitchen.

Knockout week has arrived. Sixteen amateurs compete for the final ten places and the opportunity to tackle their first professional kitchen service.

It’s the last quarter-final, and the best cooks from the week’s heats are back with one thing in their sights: a place in knockout week.

It's the final heat, as the last group of food-obsessed competitors go all out to try to nab one of the last three quarter-final places in this year’s competition.

It’s the fifth and final week of the heats, and another group of home cooks take the first step towards making their culinary dreams a reality.

Jay Rayner sets the brief for the week's quarter-final. He would like the cooks to make a wrap. They can fill it with their choice of ingredients, but the wrap will need to be made from scratch.

The second heat of the week launches with new contenders ready for their first taste of cooking in the MasterChef kitchen. Those who win aprons could earn a place in this week’s quarter-final.

It’s the fourth week of heats, and a fresh batch of ambitious cooks, including a fishmonger and data scientist, are ready to kick-start their MasterChef competition.

Esteemed food critic and writer Jimi Famurewa sets the brief for the week's quarter-final – to create a modern American classic that will make him feel like he's back in the USA.

It’s the second heat of the week, and the newest cohort of brave cooks are each hoping to win one of the four MasterChef aprons on offer – their ticket to the rest of the competition.

It's week 3 of the heats, and the latest home cooks are ready to bring their A-game to the kitchen. If they reach the standards expected of them, they could claim a MasterChef apron.

Grace Dent sets the brief for the quarter-finalists. They must create the perfect picnic, which has to include two savoury items and one sweet.

This week’s second heat welcomes new hopefuls to take on the cooking competition. The contenders will need to jump straight into action as they cook off for one of the MasterChef aprons.

The next group of home cooks are ready for a culinary battle in the second week of heats. The contestants will need to hit the ground running if they are to win an exclusive MasterChef apron.

It's the first quarter-final, with six chefs competing for a place in knockout week. The challenge is to produce a stunning dish combining sweet and savoury ingredients.

It's the second heat of the week, where the final challenge is to cook a two-course meal for three past champions to win a place in the quarter-finals.

It's the start of the 2025 competition, bringing together the UK's best amateur cooks, but only one can win the coveted MasterChef trophy

As the semi-finals continue, it’s down to the remaining six amateurs to stave off the competition with a dish that turns on the theatrics.

It’s semi-finals time on MasterChef, and for the remaining eight, a new set of adventures await. Everything is on the line, as those who come out on top will be rewarded with a place in Finals Week.

Knockout Week draws to a close as the week’s best cooks return to compete for a place in this year’s semi-finals.

Knockout Week continues, and the second group of eight remaining amateurs return to MasterChef for the opportunity of a lifetime - the chance to cook in their first professional kitchen.

The first group of eight head into battle and are hit with an Invention Test. The larder has been stocked with some of the finest foods, so the only limitation will be the contestants’ imaginations.

It’s all to play for as this week’s six best comeback contestants return for the last quarter-final and the chance to push on into Knockout Week.

Five more comeback contestants return to the competition to try their luck again. A quarter-final place awaits those who outperform the others across two tough challenges.

MasterChef 2024 has reached the final week of heats, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary, ten familiar faces have been invited back to battle for the title for the second time in Comeback Week.

It’s quarter-final time, as this week’s six best cooks don their well-earned MasterChef aprons ready to bring their A-game. A place in Knockout Week is now within touching distance.

It's the last chance for MasterChef novices to enter the arena, as six new amateurs give their all to win the right to wear a gleaming apron.

Week four of the heats has arrived, and 12 fresh-faced contenders are pinning their hopes on winning a MasterChef apron - their ticket to progress in the competition.

The third quarter-final gets underway, and this week’s most exceptional cooks must push themselves further to hold on to their place in the competition.

Six more brave souls take on the MasterChef challenge, but they will need to win an apron for the adventure to take off.

Television’s biggest cooking competition continues with a third week of culinary heats. Twelve more of the country’s best amateur cooks must go all out for the chance to reach the quarter-final.

It’s the second quarter-final, and this week’s most talented amateurs return to test their mettle with their sights set on a place in Knockout Week. But getting there won’t be easy.

Six more amateur cooks kick-start their MasterChef adventure as they go all out to get their hands on their very own MasterChef apron, before battling for a place in this week’s quarter-final.

Six more amateurs set out to prove their worth as they battle for the right to wear just four coveted aprons and take one step closer to this week’s quarter-final.

In the first quarter-final, the six contestants must impress food critic William Sitwell with dishes based on classic school dinners.

John and Gregg task the six competitors with elevating an everyday ingredient and thinking on their feet when given a trout to fillet, cook and serve in the best way possible.

Six contestants face a brand-new challenge, and an invention test where they must create a dish celebrating one of Gregg's favourite foods.

The seven remaining amateurs have to cook a dish that is 'so wrong that it's right'. Five will progress to create a five-course lunch to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the discovery of DNA.

The semi-finals kick off at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire, where the contestants must cook in teams to produce a fine dining experience for 120 emergency responders.

Ten become eight as the places in the semi-finals are decided. The challenge to get there is to create a dish the judges can eat with their hands.

Knockout Week continues, with seven more home cooks battling to reach the semi-finals. At the end of this week, only the best ten cooks will remain in the competition.

It's the start of Knockout Week, with just 14 amateur cooks left in the competition.

It’s the last quarter-final, with this week’s most talented four cooks returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week.

Seven home cooks from the first rounds return to test their culinary wits and convince John and Gregg that they have what it takes to be MasterChef Champion 2023.

It’s the fifth and final week of the heats, and once more the judges have a set of challenges the passionate amateurs must complete in order to progress in the competition.

It’s the fourth quarter-final, and this week’s most talented four cooks return to fight for a place in Knockout Week. They must cook for some of MasterChef’s most inspiring winners and contestants.

The seven remaining cooks face a challenge set by food critic Jimi Famurewa, in which they must create a dish using leftovers or waste.

Nine home cooks aim to progress to the next round of the competition, but they must recreate their Family Favourite dish and face the invention test. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

It's the third quarter-final, and this week’s four most talented cooks must test their mettle by creating two courses for a host of former champions and contestants for a place in Knockout Week.

The seven remaining cooks face a challenge set by food critic Leyla Kazim, in which they must create a dish that showcases sourness or bitterness.

Nine home cooks aim to progress to the next round of the competition, but they must recreate their Family Favourite dish and face the invention test. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

It's the second quarter-final, and this week’s four most talented cooks must test their mettle by creating two courses for a host of former champions for a place in Knockout Week.

The seven remaining cooks face a challenge set by food critic Jay Rayner, in which they must create a dish using dough or batter.

Nine home cooks aim to progress to the next round of the competition, but they must recreate their Family Favourite dish and face the invention test. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.

The week's four best cooks compete in the first quarter-final, aiming to secure a place in Knockout Week. Their dishes must impress last year's MasterChef finalists.

This week’s seven remaining home cooks return to face a challenge set by food critic William Sitwell. Only four can progress to the first quarter-final.

Nine cooks face an audition test in which they must cook a Family Favourite dish, and an invention test. Seven will progress to the next round, and two will be eliminated.

The remaining seven of this week's home cooks return to face two challenges, one of them set by food critic Tom Parker Bowles. Only four can proceed to the quarter-final.

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. 

The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.

Just 10 chef's remain. Split into two groups of five, they now face the pressure of cooking in a professional kitchen for the first time.

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.

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 six qualifiers from the first two heats return for the first quarter-final, hoping to win a place in Knockout Week.

Six more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2020 MasterChef champion.

Out of the thousands who applied, 60 amateur cooks have made it through to compete over five weeks of heats in the MasterChef kitchen.

The eight remaining semi-finallists are challenged to cook a three-course lunch at Grocers Hall, home to one of the oldest companies in the City of London.

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 fight for their place alongside them.

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

The second group of contestants get their first taste of professional cooking at Ella Canta in Mayfair, where they will be responsible for preparing a full lunch service.

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.

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 seven 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 contestants compete as finalists from 2015 return to help John Torode and Gregg Wallace with the judging.

A new series of the cookery competition begins as John Torode and Gregg Wallace return to the judging table on the hunt for the next MasterChef champion.

It's the last of semi-finals and it's do-or-die for the best six amateurs as they cook-off to win a coveted place in the prestigious MasterChef finals. The contestants have just one challenge to win a place in the final five; to cook an outstanding dish to win-over three of the country's most-feared restaurant critics -Tracey MacLeod, Tom Parker Bowles and Fay Maschler. 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. Any mistake could cost them the competition, so with the pressure firmly on, it is a tense and thrilling battle. At the end, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace face a difficult decision - who to take through to the MasterChef finals week?

The remaining semi-finalists must pull out all the stops when they are tasked with the daunting 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; journalist Kirsty Wark; and leading female chefs and restaurateurs who are at the forefront of dining trends and have paved the way for culinary excellence.

The MasterChef semi-finals continue as the eight remaining cooks in the competition head to RAF Halton in Aylesbury to celebrate 100 years of the RAF's formation. The semi-finalists are split into two teams of four and face the enormous 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 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.

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. Previously awarded a Michelin star when he was head chef at the River Cafe, Theo is now the proprietor of Theo Randall at The Intercontinental. The six amateur cooks are set a brief by Theo to create one outstanding dish inspired by Italian cuisine, and they have just 90 minutes to prep and cook it. At this stage in the competition, the judge's expectations are sky high, and only the five best cooks will keep their place and join the other three semi-finalists. This is the cooks' final chance to prove they've got what it takes to stay in the competition and take a step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion 2018.

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 heat intensifies as 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. Spanish chef Eneko Atxa's second restaurant, Eneko, specialises in Basque cuisine and is led by head chef Javi Blanco, who helped launch it in 2016. During a busy lunch service, the six amateur cooks are entirely responsible for serving the restaurant's menu to paying customers.

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.

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.

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.

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 challenge is to invent and then cook one dish using anything from the Market.

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. 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 2018 Champion.

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 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.

It is the first of the semi-finals, and the nine remaining cooks face just one test to keep them in the competition. They have 90 minutes to cook a dish which showcases their favourite ingredient, with choices ranging from lamb to cauliflower and seaweed. For one of the contestants, the dream will be over.

The end of the Knockout Week sees the contenders whittled down to 10 amateur cooks - all of whom are desperate to reach the semi-final stage. In this edition they have just one challenge - to secure their place by winning over judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace with a showstopper dish prepared in just 90 minutes. Only nine will become semi-finalists, inching closer to being crowned the series champion of 2017. For one therefore, the MasterChef dream will be over

The second group of six hopefuls try their hand at professional service, preparing lunch at Roux in Parliament Square, Michel Roux Jr's second restaurant, run by 2009 MasterChef: The Professionals winner Steve Groves. The amateurs then have the chance to show what they have learnt by rustling up a dish in an invention test, but adding to the pressure, they also present their food to chef Tom Wareing. Who will make it through to tomorrow's final?

Six of the contestants get their first taste of working in a professional kitchen during a lunch service with chef Shaun Rankin, at the Ormer Mayfair in London. The contenders then head back to the MasterChef kitchen as they aim to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace in the Invention Test, and Michelin-star chef Tom Kitchin joins the judges to decide who will make it through to the semi-finals

With the reds already having cooked earlier tonight, the seven members of the red team get their chance to create a dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace then consider the merits of all 14 contestants before choosing which 12 have what it takes to continue in the competition and which two will leave

After four weeks of 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. They are split into two groups, with the seven members of the blue team first to cook as they are given 90 minutes to create a dish inspired by family favourites or food from their childhoods

Broadcaster and restaurant critic Jay Rayner sets the brief for the fourth quarter-final, challenging the contenders to cook a savoury dish that showcases aubergine or a dessert with honey as the star. After preparing their dish, the candidates must stand before Jay and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace and hear what they think of their offering and how well they have adhered to the brief

The last group of eight amateurs are given just 80 minutes to devise one dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market. On offer are venison, lamb mince, kidneys, scallops and langoustines. After three are sent home, the others cook two courses to impress not just John Torode and Gregg Wallace, but also the 2012 champion Shelina Permaloo as well as former finalists Daksha Mistry (2006) and Juanita Hennessey (2016)

The final eight amateur cooks battle for a place in the quarter-final, first creating a dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market, including oxtail, poussin and beef mince, after which three of the contestants will be sent home. For the second challenge, the five remaining cooks have to create a two-course meal to impress judges John Torode, Gregg Wallace and previous MasterChef finalists, with the best three contenders going through to the quarter-final

Restaurant critic Tracey Macleod sets the brief for the third quarter-final, challenging them to cook a savoury dish that showcases rice or a dessert with almonds as the star. After preparing their dish, the candidates must stand before Tracey and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace and hear what they think of their offering and how well they have adhered to the brief

The third week of heats continue with the amateurs given just 80 minutes to devise one dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market. On offer are chicken wings, quail, pancetta, brown shrimp, salmon and haddock. After three are sent home, the others cook two courses to impress not just John Torode and Gregg Wallace, but also the 2013 finalists - Saira Hamilton, Larkin Cen and champion Natalie Coleman

Eight more hopefuls enter the MasterChef kitchen, challenged to create a dish using ingredients taken from the MasterChef Market, including chicken legs, quail, salmon and lamb rump. The cooks have an hour and 20 minutes to come up a dish to impress the judges, before three of the contestants are sent home. For the second challenge, the remaining five competitors are asked to create an exciting two-course menu, with previous MasterChef winners and finalists joining John and Gregg as they decide who will make it to the following stage of the competition

It is the 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. Today's 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 Sitwell, 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.

Today, eight more amateurs 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 produce from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge for the eight contestants is to invent and cook one dish using what's available to them in the market. On offer today are duck legs, ox tail, lamb mince, langoustine, cod and scallops.

It is the second week of heats and eight more 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 with produce from all around the world, as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge for the eight contestants is to invent and cook one dish using what's available to them in the market.

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. This year sees the introduction of the all new MasterChef market, which is stocked full of amazing produce from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge is to invent and cook one dish using what is available in the market. On offer today are poussin, lamb rack and duck breast as well as mussels, prawns and crab.

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 from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge is to invent and cook one dish using what's available in the market.

It's the last of the semi-finals and it's do or die for the best six amateurs as they cook-off to win a coveted place in the prestigious MasterChef Finals. 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. Any mistake could cost them the competition, so with the pressure firmly on, it is a tense and thrilling battle. At the end judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace face a difficult decision - who to take through to MasterChef Finals week?

The MasterChef semi-finals continue. Forty amateur cooks have been whittled down and now only the most promising 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. John Torode oversees the kitchen, as the amateurs face a high pressured lunchtime service

he MasterChef semi-finals continue with a spectacular challenge, as 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.

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.

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.

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. Who will falter as they cook in a completely unfamiliar and demanding environment?

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.

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 are put through the mill with a daunting test set by one of Britain's toughest food critics, Jay Rayner. He challenges the amateur cooks to make an exceptional dish centred on one ingredient, duck breast. After cooking their dish based on the 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. Five more hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2016 MasterChef Champion. Firstly they are asked to cook their Calling Card, a dish that represents who they are as a cook. After tasting all five dishes, John and Gregg each pick their favourite dish. If they both choose the same dish, then they will select their second preference.