The next group of six amateur cooks try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the tenth MasterChef champion. For their first test, the contestants are asked to cook their calling card, a practiced dish that represents who they are as a cook and showcases their talent. They have just one hour to dazzle the judges with one plate of food that shows just what they can do.
They then face the infamous invention test, for the first time choosing between two sealed boxes of ingredients - one sweet and one savoury - without looking inside beforehand. Chef John Torode takes on this challenge himself, showing the viewers at home just what is possible with the few ingredients. The sweet ingredients are popped rice, coffee granules, eggs, pastry, dark chocolate, walnuts, thyme and beetroot, while the savoury box contains pork tenderloin, steak, parma ham, butternut squash, figs, a lettuce, calvados apple brandy and black-eyed beans.
The amateurs have just one hour to cook a dish good enough to keep them in the competition. The stakes are high because, after this test, two of them will go home.
The four remaining cooks face one more challenge to obtain a place in the quarter-final. Replicating the conditions of service, they have to cook an impressive menu for some very special guests. For the tenth anniversary of MasterChef, some of the competition's most inspiring winners and finalists are returning to judge the food of these new pretenders to the throne.
In this episode the 2011 MasterChef champion, Tim Anderson, joins 2013 champion Natalie Coleman and 2010 finalist Tim Kinnaird as they give their verdict. There is also the chance to find out what triumphs and challenges they have faced since their own MasterChef journeys.
After the four contestants have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which two will take the next step in the competition and go through to the first quarter-final.
In a competition where only the food matters, these amateurs will need to be good to survive - taking their first step towards being crowned MasterChef champion 2014. Show less