Advertisement

'MasterChef' is back - when it's on, who the contestants are and what they're cooking

Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Tuesday 15/03/2022 - Picture shows: John Torode, Gregg Wallace **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON TUESDAY 15TH MARCH 2022**
John Torode and Gregg Wallace are back with a new series of MasterChef. (BBC)

MasterChef returns to our screens tonight with a new group of amateur cooks hoping they've got the recipe for success.

Contestants include a beer bike tour guide, a marine pilot and a dentist, all looking to change their lives through their love of food.

Read more: Vigil gets a second series with Suranne Jones

Here's all you need to know about the return of the series and what will happen in episode one.

When is MasterChef on TV?

The new series of MasterChef starts tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm on BBC One.

It then returns on Friday night for a longer episode, also at 8pm.

Who are the episode one contestants?

Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Wednesday 09/03/2022 - Picture shows: Rachel **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON WEDNESDAY 9TH MARCH 2022**
Rachel is hoping to swap beer bike tour guiding for cooking. (BBC)

Nine cooks will be donning their MasterChef aprons tonight as they become the first contestants of the series to enter the kitchen.

Read more: Emma Willis makes Matt Lucas blush with Celebrity Bake Off biscuits

They include beer bike tour guide Rachel, 22, dentist Rishi, 26, who wants to show off his vegetarian cooking skills, and 29-year-old events manager Haylee who has Finnish and Jamaican roots that influence her cooking.

Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Wednesday 09/03/2022 - Picture shows: Clive **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON WEDNESDAY 9TH MARCH 2022**
Clive will show off his Caribbean cooking skills. (BBC)

Joining them are marine pilot Eddie, 30, 50-year-old school facilities manager Clive who loves Caribbean cooking, and politics student Laura, 32, who wants to do something for herself as a single mum by pursuing her love of Sri Lankan food.

Week one is completed by cleaning business owner Lisa, 39, who loves cooking Scottish produce, 53-year-old ex-police officer and builder Paul, and beauty salon owner Pookie, 45, who grew up in Thailand.

What are the challenges this week?

Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Tuesday 15/03/2022 - Picture shows: Eddie **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON TUESDAY 15TH MARCH 2022**
Eddie in the MasterChef kitchen. (BBC)

Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace are shaking things up a bit for this new series of MasterChef, which will see three cooks knocked out in the first episode.

The audition round challenges contestants to bring along their own ingredients and cook a signature dish, although Torode and Wallace won't be watching in the kitchen - they'll be waiting in the tasting room to try the finished plate.

Read more: Here's who's playing in Soccer Aid this summer

Anyone who doesn't get through will then go under the eagle eyes of the judges who will head back into the kitchen with them to watch them take on another challenge.

Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Tuesday 15/03/2022 - Picture shows: Rishi **STRICTLY EMBARGOED NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01 HRS ON TUESDAY 15TH MARCH 2022**
Vegetarian Rishi takes on a challenge. (BBC)

The remaining six contestants will cook again on Friday for the market challenge, where they must choose ingredients from a mocked-up market stall and make something up on the spot.

Cooks who sail through that task will then be set another one by critic Tom Parker Bowles, with four eventually being chosen to return later in the series for the quarter-finals - as a new batch of contestants enters next week for another audition.

MasterChef begins tonight (Wednesday) at 8pm on BBC One.

Watch: Bez struggles to pronounce anchovies on Celebrity MasterChef