Season pulse
Episodes
24 episodesEpisode 1
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.
Episode 2
Seven more contestants compete as finalists from 2015 return to help John Torode and Gregg Wallace with the judging.
Episode 3
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.
Episode 4
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.
Episode 5
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.
Episode 6
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.
Episode 7
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.
Episode 8
Seven more amateurs try to prove that they have what it takes in the hope of being put through to the quarter-final.
Episode 9
It is the quarter-final and the six heat winners continue to fight for their place.
Episode 10
It’s the last week of heats and even cooks compete for a place in the quarter-finals.
Episode 11
In the final heat, the last group of seven amateur cooks try to impress the judges.
Episode 12
Six talented heat winners compete in the last quarter-final. Amol Rajan challenges them to prepare their version of a classic British afternoon tea.
Episode 13
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.
Episode 14
Knockout week continues as the 16 remaining chefs continue their high-pressure cook-off.
Episode 15
Knockout week continues with 12 remaining chefs vying to become semi-finalists at the end of the week.
Episode 16
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.
Episode 17
It’s the end of knockout week and the competition has now been whittled down to ten extremely talented amateur cooks.
Episode 18
Last week, five contestants were guaranteed a semi-finals place. Now, the other five remaining cooks fight for their place alongside them.
Episode 19
The nine remaining cooks battle it out in the semi-finals at Glyndebourne opera house in Sussex.
Episode 20
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.
Episode 21
The final five are heading to the Royal Society in London, where they have the immense task of cooking a five-course tasting menu.
Episode 22
The final four amateur cooks embark on a culinary adventure of a lifetime in Hong Kong, where they will face three extraordinary challenges.
Episode 23
The final four amateur cooks face an incredible challenge, cooking alongside an internationally renowned two-Michelin-starred chef.
Episode 24
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.