Out of the hundreds that auditioned, 64 amateur cooks are through to battle it out over four weeks of heats, producing some of the most inspiring, exceptional and unusual food ever seen on the series. The first eight hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the introduction of the all new MasterChef market, which is stocked full of amazing produce from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge is to invent and cook one dish using what's available in the market. On offer are pork mince, chicken breast and pancetta as well as halibut and mussels. They have an hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. The stakes are high in this round and it's important to choose wisely as, after tasting all eight dishes, John and Gregg decide which five cooks are good enough to stay, while three will be sent home. The five remaining contestants now have one challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They must cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg but also some very special guests. Some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists return to judge the food of this year's new contenders. In this heat the contestants must attempt to impress last year's MasterChef finalists - Billy Wright, Jack Layer and champion Jane Devonshire. After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step and go through to the quarter-final.

Eight more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the introduction of the all new MasterChef market, which is stocked full of amazing produce from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge is to invent and cook one dish using what is available in the market. On offer today are poussin, lamb rack and duck breast as well as mussels, prawns and crab. They have one hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. The stakes are high in this round and it's important to choose wisely as, after tasting all eight dishes, John and Gregg must decide which five cooks are good enough to stay, while three of the cooks will be sent home. The five remaining cooks now have one more challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They have to cook an impressive menu that will excite not just John and Gregg but also some very special guests. Some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists return to judge the food of this year's new contenders. In this heat the contestants must attempt to impress the finalists from 2015 - Emma Spitzer, Tony Rodd and champion Simon Wood. After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg will choose which contestants have what it takes to go through to the quarter-final.

It is the first quarter-final of the series, and the six cooks face a seriously daunting test set by one of the country's toughest food critics. This episode's brief has been set by journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan, and the contestants must cook either a savoury dish using Indian spices or a chocolate dessert with a playful twist. After cooking their dish, the contestants must stand before Amol Rajan, John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and how well they have kept to the brief. At the end of the quarter-final, the best cooks are put through to Knockout Week, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

It is the second week of heats and eight more hopefuls try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the introduction of the all-new MasterChef market - which is stocked with produce from all around the world, as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge for the eight contestants is to invent and cook one dish using what's available to them in the market. On offer are pork chops, beef mince, kidneys, bone marrow and clams. They have one hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. The stakes are high in this round and it's important to choose wisely because after tasting all eight dishes, John and Gregg decide which five cooks are good enough to stay, while three of the cooks will be sent home. The five remaining cooks now have one challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They have to cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also some very special guests. Some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists return to judge the food of this year's new contenders to the throne. In this heat, the contestants must attempt to impress 2010 MasterChef finalists Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird as well as champion Dhruv Baker. After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to Friday's quarter-final. In a competition where only the food matters, these amateurs will need to be good to survive - taking their first step towards being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

Today, eight more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2017 MasterChef Champion. This year sees the introduction of the all-new MasterChef market - which is stocked full of produce from all around the world as well as a selection of meat and fish. The first challenge for the eight contestants is to invent and cook one dish using what's available to them in the market. On offer today are duck legs, ox tail, lamb mince, langoustine, cod and scallops. They have one hour and twenty minutes to dazzle the judges and prove they are good enough to stay in the competition. The stakes are high in this round and it's important to choose wisely because after tasting all eight dishes John and Gregg decide which five cooks are good enough to stay, while three of the cooks will be sent home. The five remaining cooks now have one more challenge standing between them and a quarter-final place. They have to cook two courses that will excite not just John and Gregg, but also some very special guests. Some of MasterChef's most inspiring winners and finalists return to judge the food of this year's new contenders to the throne. In tonight's heat, the contestants must attempt to impress 2006 Finalist Dean Edwards as well as Champions Ping Coombes (2014) and Thomasina Miers (2005). After the five hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg will decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to Friday's quarter-final. In a competition where only the food matters, these amateurs will need to be good to survive - taking their first step towards being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

It is the quarter-final, and the six talented heat winners have no time to rest on their laurels as they continue to fight for their place in the competition. Today's brief has been set by food critic William Sitwell, and the contestants must cook either a savoury dish that has no meat or fish, or a tart dessert. After cooking their dish, the contestants must stand before William Sitwell, John and Gregg to hear what they think of their dish and how well they have kept to the brief. At the end of the quarter-final, the best cooks are put through to Knockout Week, taking them another step closer to being crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

Eight more hopefuls enter the MasterChef kitchen, challenged to create a dish using ingredients taken from the MasterChef Market, including chicken legs, quail, salmon and lamb rump. The cooks have an hour and 20 minutes to come up a dish to impress the judges, before three of the contestants are sent home. For the second challenge, the remaining five competitors are asked to create an exciting two-course menu, with previous MasterChef winners and finalists joining John and Gregg as they decide who will make it to the following stage of the competition

The third week of heats continue with the amateurs given just 80 minutes to devise one dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market. On offer are chicken wings, quail, pancetta, brown shrimp, salmon and haddock. After three are sent home, the others cook two courses to impress not just John Torode and Gregg Wallace, but also the 2013 finalists - Saira Hamilton, Larkin Cen and champion Natalie Coleman

Restaurant critic Tracey Macleod sets the brief for the third quarter-final, challenging them to cook a savoury dish that showcases rice or a dessert with almonds as the star. After preparing their dish, the candidates must stand before Tracey and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace and hear what they think of their offering and how well they have adhered to the brief

The final eight amateur cooks battle for a place in the quarter-final, first creating a dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market, including oxtail, poussin and beef mince, after which three of the contestants will be sent home. For the second challenge, the five remaining cooks have to create a two-course meal to impress judges John Torode, Gregg Wallace and previous MasterChef finalists, with the best three contenders going through to the quarter-final

The last group of eight amateurs are given just 80 minutes to devise one dish using ingredients from the MasterChef market. On offer are venison, lamb mince, kidneys, scallops and langoustines. After three are sent home, the others cook two courses to impress not just John Torode and Gregg Wallace, but also the 2012 champion Shelina Permaloo as well as former finalists Daksha Mistry (2006) and Juanita Hennessey (2016)

Broadcaster and restaurant critic Jay Rayner sets the brief for the fourth quarter-final, challenging the contenders to cook a savoury dish that showcases aubergine or a dessert with honey as the star. After preparing their dish, the candidates must stand before Jay and presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace and hear what they think of their offering and how well they have adhered to the brief

After four weeks of competition, only the 14 best cooks remain, and the battle is on as they come together for the first time and cook off against each other across two shows. They are split into two groups, with the seven members of the blue team first to cook as they are given 90 minutes to create a dish inspired by family favourites or food from their childhoods

With the reds already having cooked earlier tonight, the seven members of the red team get their chance to create a dish inspired by a family favourite or food from their childhood. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace then consider the merits of all 14 contestants before choosing which 12 have what it takes to continue in the competition and which two will leave

Six of the contestants get their first taste of working in a professional kitchen during a lunch service with chef Shaun Rankin, at the Ormer Mayfair in London. The contenders then head back to the MasterChef kitchen as they aim to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace in the Invention Test, and Michelin-star chef Tom Kitchin joins the judges to decide who will make it through to the semi-finals

The second group of six hopefuls try their hand at professional service, preparing lunch at Roux in Parliament Square, Michel Roux Jr's second restaurant, run by 2009 MasterChef: The Professionals winner Steve Groves. The amateurs then have the chance to show what they have learnt by rustling up a dish in an invention test, but adding to the pressure, they also present their food to chef Tom Wareing. Who will make it through to tomorrow's final?

The end of the Knockout Week sees the contenders whittled down to 10 amateur cooks - all of whom are desperate to reach the semi-final stage. In this edition they have just one challenge - to secure their place by winning over judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace with a showstopper dish prepared in just 90 minutes. Only nine will become semi-finalists, inching closer to being crowned the series champion of 2017. For one therefore, the MasterChef dream will be over

It is the first of the semi-finals, and the nine remaining cooks face just one test to keep them in the competition. They have 90 minutes to cook a dish which showcases their favourite ingredient, with choices ranging from lamb to cauliflower and seaweed. For one of the contestants, the dream will be over.

The semi-finals continue as the eight remaining cooks head to the BBC studios at Elstree, home to TV drama Holby City. The contestants are split into two teams of four and face the challenge of running their own kitchens in two specially constructed catering tents. Each team must create two main courses and a dessert to feed 120 members of the cast and crew. With less than four hours to deliver the food, organisation and teamwork is essential for success. It is vital the two teams perform at their absolute best and produce a lunch worthy of the occasion, because after judging their food, John and Gregg pick the weakest team to return to the MasterChef kitchen, where they must cook off against each other in a special invention test. The contestants must create a stunning dish from the leftover produce from the previous challenge, which includes duck carcasses, halibut scraps, vegetables, fruit, and cheeses. One more contestant is then sent home.

The contestants are tasked with cooking a three-course fish lunch for some of the country's biggest fish experts. Starting at 4am at Billingsgate Fish Market, they must first source their ingredients before moving on to Fishmongers' Hall, the prestigious headquarters of the Fishmongers' Company, where they take full control of the kitchens. John Torode oversees the kitchen as the amateurs face a high-pressure lunchtime service. The contestants must each serve one dish of their own creation on the specially designed menu, and the two chefs who cook the most popular dishes will be exempt from the next cook-off. Back at the MasterChef kitchen, the MasterChef market reopens as the five chefs cook against each other in a bid to stay in the competition, and this time there is no meat or fish. They have one hour and fifteen minutes to create one dish to keep themselves in the competition.

It is the last of semi-finals, and the remaining six amateurs attempt to win a place in the MasterChef finals. To win their place in the final five they must cook an outstanding dish for four of the country's most feared restaurant critics - Amol Rajan, Tracey MacLeod, Jay Rayner and William Sitwell. At the end, John Torode and Gregg Wallace decide who to take through to finals week.

It is the final week of MasterChef 2017, and the remaining five amateur cooks travel to Winfield House, the official residence of the American ambassador to the United Kingdom. They have the immense task of cooking for him and his five guests, who include author and journalist Rachel Johnson, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Jeremy King, creator of iconic restaurants The Ivy and The Wolseley. The dinner is overseen by Paul Ainsworth. He has designed a five-course menu for the guests with an American theme, and with just four hours to replicate his complex dishes, the amateurs are challenged like never before. Back at the MasterChef kitchen, the finalists are then challenged to demonstrate everything they've learnt and create a dish inspired by something personal in their lives that shows imagination, flair and creativity. Who can make it through to the final four and keep their dream alive of winning MasterChef 2017?

The final four amateur cooks embark on a culinary adventure to South Africa, where they face three extraordinary challenges, guided by two of South Africa's acclaimed chefs. Their first task is to cook a traditional South African 'braai' using ingredients and cooking methods alien to them in the sizzling 40-degree heat. They are mentored by chef Reuben Riffel, who also devises with the menu. Next, the amateurs have the honour of working with British-born chef Luke Dale Roberts. The four contestants take over lunch service his restaurant, The Test Kitchen. There is no room for error as Luke's expectations are sky high. Their third challenge sees the finalists creating an exceptional dinner at the Beau Constantia Winery for some leading figures in Cape Town's cultural and food community. Inspired by their South African culinary adventure and showcasing the skills they have developed, the dishes must be exceptional for them to stand out and prove they have what it takes to be crowned MasterChef Champion 2017.

The final three amateur cooks face the most terrifying challenge yet, The Chef's Table, mentored by chef Sat Bains. To fight for their place at The Chef's Table, John Torode and Gregg Wallace challenge the amateurs to cook a classic dish with their stamp on it. The final contestants then face the ultimate challenge. Sat has designed an exquisite three-course menu for lunch and each contestant will be responsible for one of his signature dishes. The dishes require complex techniques, precision cooking and an impeccable palate. To add to the pressure, the guests are a table of the country's finest chefs and the amateur's mentors throughout the competition. Shaun Rankin, Steve Groves, Tom Kitchin, Paul Ainsworth, Ashley Palmer-Watts and Clare Smyth are a set of diners to strike fear into the heart of any professional chef, let alone the three amateurs. Emotions run high as no one wants to let Sat or the table of esteemed chefs down. For the final three, it's their last chance before the final to prove they have what it takes to lift the MasterChef trophy.

After a formidable seven-week competition, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. The finalists have to push themselves to the limit for one last time before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace crown one of the three highly-talented amateur cooks the champion. In three hours, they must produce three exceptional courses, push the culinary boundaries and give the judges an awe-inspiring tasting like never before. It is a night packed with culinary highlights as one of the three amateur cooks lifts the trophy and becomes the 13th MasterChef champion.