Season 12 - Episode Guide

Gregg Wallace hosts the first week of the culinary contest, which sees the first six professional chefs competing for a place in this week's quarter final. Half of the competitors are challenged by Marcus Wareing to prepare poached guinea fowl breast with a Sauce Robert, while Monica Galetti sets the rest the challenge of making hand-cut tagliatelle with a lamb ragu. Finally, they must prepare a signature dish to decide who will stay on and who will be eliminated.

Tonight, three chefs take on the terrifying prospect of tackling Marcus's crab omelette arnold bennett - they have 20 minutes to either hold their nerve or find themselves in a terrible scramble.

In the first quarter-final, the six strongest chefs from the first two heats are challenged to an invention test centred around a staple from every kitchen around the world - rice.

Monica challenges the first three chefs to employ some deft knife skills and spatchcock a quail before cooking it to produce quail with a rocket pesto in just 15 minutes.

In the second heat of the week, three contestants are given 15 minutes by Marcus to prep and cook his calves' liver with a bordelaise sauce.

This quarter-final sees the six most talented chefs from the week's heats face an invention test focusing on the onion.

In the first heat of the week, six professional chefs from across the UK put their reputations on the line. Each professional's journey begins with the infamous skills test.

In the second heat of the week, six more chefs head into the MasterChef kitchen to show the judges they have what it takes to be this year's champion.

Tonight's quarter-final sees the six most talented chefs from this week's heats set out to impress Monica Galetti and Marcus Waring in two high-stakes challenges.

In the final week of the heats, six more chefs head into the MasterChef kitchen. Monica's skills test sees the chefs cooking up a braised artichoke with saffron aquafaba mayonnaise.

The last three chefs step into Marcus' test and are asked to create drop scones and a suzette sauce - a perfect batter mix and a sauce that goes up in flames.

The week's remaining professionals are given a larder with a wide range of pumpkins, squash and other sweet and savoury ingredients to choose from in their invention test.

12 chefs remain from the initial 48. They face the most intense invention test of the competition in a kitchen stripped of all the modern gadgets.

Only ten chefs remain in the competition. In a new event, the chefs must show off their versatility and style, creating and serving a dish that will win over the judges and specially invited guests.

As knockout week continues, the second group of five chefs face two intense challenges set by Monica and Marcus in a bid to become semi-finalists.

The remaining eight chefs brace themselves to cook up a storm as they face a double beast of a challenge in the MasterChef kitchen.

The first three semi-finalists battle it out for a place in the finals. They are given the opportunity to work alongside one of the UK's most exciting chefs.

It is the last semi-final and the second group of chefs is in close competition for a place in the finals.

Only the four most talented chefs out of the original 48 remain. The first challenge they face is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cook at the chef's table.

The four finalists are challenged to create a single exceptional and evocative dish inspired by a place that is special to them.

Just one life-changing cook-off remains before one of the chefs takes the crown.

Over the last seven weeks, 48 of the most talented and tenacious chefs in the UK have battled each other for the coveted title. Now, just three chefs remain. This is the last time they cook in the competition and the evening will end with one of them receiving the ultimate prize.

Tonight, the final three outstanding professionals, who have continued to stretch their abilities and surprise and dazzle the MasterChef judges with incredible plates of food, face one last challenge - to cook the best three courses of their lives.

For the second year running, judges Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing hit the road to catch up with five of the competition's most successful past contestants, whose careers have been transformed since competing, before inviting them back to the MasterChef kitchen for one last battle to impress.