Masterchef Goes Large

- Season 16

(2020)

Out of the 1,000s who applied, 60 amateur cooks will compete over five weeks of heats in the MasterChef kitchen. There are 6 contestants in each heat and only 4 places in the next round up for grabs.

6 more amateur chefs try to prove to the judges that they deserve a place in the next round. Two will proceed from the signature dish challenge, two from the 3 ingredients task and two will go home.

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

6 more hopefuls compete for a Masterchef apron and a place in the next round as the second week of heats gets underway.

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

The six heat winners take part in the second quarter-final, competing for a place in Knockout Week. For today's Critic's Test Grace Dent challenges the amateur chefs to produce a party sharing plate.

The 3rd week of heats sees 6 more contestants try to impress with their signature dish. The 4 remaining cooks then face the Three Ingredients Challenge - which today features crab, sweetcorn and spring onion.

The 3rd week of heats continues with 6 more contestants cooking their signature dish. Two contestants will proceed from the signature dish challenge and two from the three ingredients task, with two going home.

Six heat winners return for the third quarter-final. Food critic William Sitwell sets them the challenge of creating a plant-based dish for him.

The 4th week of heats sees 6 more hopefuls try to impress with their signature dish. The remaining four contestants then face a Three Ingredients Challenge featuring chocolate, cherries and coconut.

The fourth week of heats continues. 6 more amateur chefs will prepare their signature dish. Two contestants will proceed from the signature dish challenge and two from the three ingredients task, with two going home.

It is the fourth quarter-final and the six heat winners return to face the Critic's Test - which today is set by Tom Parker-Bowles and asks for a dish featuring chilli.

It is the fifth and final week of heats and six more hopefuls prepare their signature dish, cook off in the Three Ingredients Challenge - which today features lemon sole, peppers and Swiss chard.

The last group of contestants get their chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish and completing the three ingredients task.

It's the last quarter-final, with 6 heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week. Food critic Jimi Famurewa asks for a dish inspired by flavours of the sweet shop.

After 5 weeks of heats, 16 amateur cooks remain to battle it out in Knockout Week. The first group of 8 cook a dish for John and Gregg and only five will go on to cook in a London restaurant.

Knockout Week continues with the second group of eight amateur chefs put to the test. Only 5 of them will go to work in the kitchen of a Manchester restaurant.

On the final day of Knockout Week, the ten remaining amateur chefs are asked to create canapes - 9 identical sweet or savoury dishes in miniature.

The semi-finals begin with a spectacular challenge as the contestants head to the Royal Navy base in Portsmouth. The 9 contestants have to cook a meal for the annual Trafalgar Night celebration dinner aboard a warship.

The remaining 7 contestants are surprised by a very special guest. This top chef challenges them to recreate one of his complex and delicious signature recipes. They are then asked to make a dish inspired by someone they love or admire.

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

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

The four finalists face a challenge set by the world's greatest pastry chef, Albert Adria. Each has to meticulously recreate two of Albert's creations for a table of world-class pastry experts.

It is the MasterChef final. After an 8-week journey, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The final 3 have to push themselves to the limit one last time before one is crowned champion.