Series 17

1. Episode 1

March 1, 2021 · 1h

In the first heat, five amateur cooks compete for two quarter-final places. This year's competition features a new round in which each cook must showcase their favourite ingredient.

2. Episode 2

March 3, 2021 · 1h

Five amateur cooks compete in the second heat. To win a quarter-final place, they must impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace along with former champions Saliha Mahmood Ahmed and Kenny Tutt.

3. Episode 3

March 4, 2021 · 30m

The four winners from the first week of heats return to compete in the first quarter-final. They are challenged by food critic Grace Dent to prepare a great British pudding.

4. Episode 4

March 8, 2021 · 1h

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the first heat of the second week, they cook for former champions Irini Tzortzoglou and Jane Devonshire.

5. Episode 5

March 10, 2021 · 1h

In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.

6. Episode 6

March 11, 2021 · 30m

The week's four heat winners return for the quarter-final, chasing a place in knockout week. They face a Critic's Test set by one of the country’s toughest food critics, William Sitwell.

7. Episode 7

March 15, 2021 · 1h

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the first heat of the second week, they cook for former champions Shelina Permalloo and Mat Follas.

8. Episode 8

March 17, 2021 · 1h

Five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals. In the second heat of the second week, they cook for former champion Steven Wallis and 2006 finalist Dean Edwards.

9. Episode 9

March 18, 2021 · 30m

It’s the third quarter-final and the four talented heat winners return to fight for a place in the semi-final.

10. Episode 10

March 22, 2021 · 1h

In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

11. Episode 11

March 24, 2021 · 1h

In the last of this year's heats, five contestants cook for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and two previous MasterChef champions.

12. Episode 12

March 25, 2021 · 30m

In the last of this year's quarter-final, four talented heat winners return to fight for a semi-final place in the Critic's Test. The challenge is to cook a dish inspired by global street food, and it will be judged by one of the country's toughest food critics, Grace Dent.

13. Episode 13

March 29, 2021 · 1h

Just 10 chef's remain. Split into two groups of five, they now face the pressure of cooking in a professional kitchen for the first time.

14. Episode 14

April 1, 2021 · 1h

The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.

15. Episode 15

April 2, 2021 · 30m

It's the last challenge of the semi-finals, and the six remaining amateurs must cook-off in front of three esteemed food critics to win a coveted place in the finals.

16. Episode 16

April 5, 2021 · 1h

For the first challenge of finals week, the five finalists cook a five-course lunch at the resplendent Plaisterers Hall in the City of London.

17. Episode 17

April 8, 2021 · 1h

The final four amateur cooks interpret a classic dish of their choice before the best three face a Chef's Table challenge at Michel Roux Jr's acclaimed restaurant Le Gavroche.

18. Episode 18

April 14, 2021 · 1h

The final three chefs must produce the best three dishes of their lives to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef champion 2021.