The semi-finals continue with just eight stand-out chefs remaining in the running to win the coveted MasterChef title. Four chefs will come together tonight to face two challenges in the hope of making it to finals week, while the remaining four will compete in tomorrow night's episode.
The four chefs are taken out of their comfort zone when they are given a world-class demonstration by Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam. His Birmingham-based restaurant, Opheem, has become renowned for pushing boundaries with its innovative Indian cuisine. First Aktar performs two demos, showcasing dishes based on two key elements, potato and pork. The chefs then choose from a larder of ingredients to create dishes inspired by Aktar's teachings.
They have one hour and 30 minutes to produce two dishes and present them to Aktar and the three judges, who cast their verdict. They will judge whether the chefs have taken the lessons on board and created dishes packed with flavour and reflecting the essence of what they have been taught. The highest achieving chef of the day will be rewarded by going straight through to finals week.
Then the three remaining chefs cook-off in the hope that they can impress the judges enough to join the finals week line-up. They have 90 minutes to create a two-course signature menu, and the judges are expecting to see show-stopping food. The smallest details matter now, and any minor slips could cost them their place in the competition. Once the challenge is over Marcus, Monica and Gregg taste their efforts. For one chef it will be the end of the road, while the other two will join the finals week line-up.
