大象传媒

Only four exceptional amateur cooks remain in the culinary battle to become this year's MasterChef. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace ask them to overcome their greatest weakness, pastry, and set them three different pastry challenges.

First off it's a masterclass with the King of patisserie, the legendary Michel Roux, in the art of making one of the most challenging cakes of all time: the croquembouche, a perfect tower of choux pastry buns filled with creme patissiere. With a lesson in hand, the four have just three and a half hours to rise to the challenge and make their first ever croquembouche for Michel Roux to taste. Will they stand tall or will they fall flat for the maestro?

Next, they're off to the historic birthplace of afternoon tea, Woburn Abbey, where they will have to produce their own pastry masterpieces for the Duke, Duchess, and Dowager Duchess of Bedford. In such grand surroundings the contestants are desperate to deliver their own food with delicacy, panache, and some wow factor but with a few novel ideas in the mix, it's not all plain tasting.

Finally, the four face the nation's greatest heroes as they prepare afternoon tea for 16 Second World War veterans including three of the 'Few' surviving fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. With only three hours to produce a beautiful tea including cakes, tarts, biscuits, scones, and sandwiches, the amateurs are seriously up against it. Emotions run high as they endeavour to serve these war heroes on time and give them the respect they're due.

Only one of these amateurs will lift the trophy and become this year's MasterChef champion.