- 1
First Group of 5 Home Cooks
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
Second Group of 5 Home Cooks
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
First Quarter Final Heat
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
Third Group of 5 Home Cooks
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
Fourth Group of 5 Home Cooks
In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.
- 6
Second Quarter Final Heat
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
Fifth Group of 5 Home Cooks
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
Sixth Group of 5 Home Cooks
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
Third Quarter Final Heat
It’s the third quarter-final and the four talented heat winners return to fight for a place in the semi-final.
- 10
Seventh Group of 5 Home Cooks
In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
- 11
Eighth Group of 5 Home Cooks
In the last of this year's heats, five contestants cook for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and two previous MasterChef champions.
- 12
Last Quarter Final Heat
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
Personal Cookbook + Pro Restaurant Challenge Part One
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
Personal Cookbook + Pro Restaurant Challenge Part Two
The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.
- 15
Feeding the Food Critics
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
Off-Site Food Heroes Catering Challenge + Finals Cook-Off
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
Classic Cook-Off + The Chefs' Table
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
Grand Finale 2021
The final three chefs must produce the best three dishes of their lives to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef champion 2021.