Series 5

1. Episode 1

John Torode and Gregg Wallace search for the country's next star chef. In this heat, six contestants will face three high-pressure tests. First, they will be asked to invent a dish from scratch and survive the heat of a professional kitchen. Finally, they will have to impress the judges with a two-course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef.

2009-01-05 • 30 min

2. Episode 2

This time, the contestants are cooking at Asia De Cuba at St Martins Lane Hotel. Can they keep their cool and stand the pace of this frantic kitchen? Next, they will have to impress the judges with a two-course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef. Only one of them will get through to the quarter-final and come one step closer to becoming MasterChef.

2009-01-06 • 30 min

3. Episode 3

This time, the contestants are cooking at Wahaca. Can they keep their cool and stand the pace of this frantic kitchen? Later, they will have to impress the judges with a two-course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef. Only one of them will go through to the quarter-final and one step closer to becoming MasterChef.

2009-01-07 • 30 min

4. Episode 4

In this double-length episode comprising a heat and a quarter-final, contestants will face three high-pressure tests. They have to design an exceptional meal that will impress the judges, but before that, they must prove their food knowledge. The previous heats have produced four exceptional cooks, but only one of them will make it through to become a semi-finalist.

2009-01-08 • 30 min

5. Episode 5

Six contestants, picked from thousands of hopeful amateurs, will face three high-pressure tests. First they have to invent a dish from scratch in 50 minutes, using only the ingredients they've been given. Next, the three contestants who've shown the most potential will have to survive the heat of the professional kitchen at the restaurant Prism. Finally, they will have to impress the judges with a two course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef. Only one of them will get through to the quarter-final.

2009-01-12 • 30 min

6. Episode 6

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. Six contestants, picked from thousands of hopeful amateurs, will face three high-pressure tests. First they have to invent a dish from scratch in 50 minutes, using only the ingredients they've been given. Next, the three contestants who've shown the most potential will have to survive the heat of the professional kitchen at The Pacific Oriental. Finally, they will have to impress the judges with a two course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef. Only one of them will get through to the quarter-final.

2009-01-13 • 30 min

7. Episode 7

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. Six contestants, picked from thousands of hopeful amateurs, will face three high-pressure tests. First they have to invent a dish from scratch in 50 minutes, using only the ingredients they've been given. Next, the three contestants who've shown the most potential will have to survive the heat of the professional kitchen at Delfina. Finally, they will have to impress the judges with a two course meal that shows they have flair, skill and the potential to make it as a great chef. Only one of them will get through to the quarter-final.

2009-01-14 • 30 min

8. Episode 8

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this double-length episode comprising a heat and quarter-final, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking at Las Iguanas and creating a two course meal to impress the judges. Those who make it through to the quarter-final must prove their knowledge and passion for food. The heats have produced four exceptional cooks, but only one of them will make it through today to become a semi-finalist.

2009-01-15 • 30 min

9. Episode 9

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen of Suka at the Sanderson Hotel and creating a two course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef.

2009-01-19 • 30 min

10. Episode 10

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen of the Charlotte Street Hotel and creating a two course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef.

2009-01-20 • 30 min

11. Episode 11

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen at Sartoria and creating a two course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef Champion.

2009-01-21 • 30 min

12. Episode 12

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this double-length episode comprising a heat and quarter-final, contestants face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking at Bank Westminster and creating a two course meal to impress the judges. Those who make it through to the quarter-final must prove their knowledge of and passion for food. The heats have produced four exceptional cooks, but only one will make it through to become a semi-finalist.

2009-01-22 • 30 min

13. Episode 13

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen of Mango Tree and creating a two-course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef Champion.

2009-01-26 • 30 min

14. Episode 14

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen of wagamama and creating a two-course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef Champion.

2009-01-27 • 30 min

15. Episode 15

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, contestants will face three high-pressure tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking in the fast-paced professional kitchen of Bordeaux and creating a two-course meal to impress the judges. Only one of them will get through to the forthcoming quarter-final and one step closer to becoming Masterchef Champion.

2009-01-28 • 30 min

16. Episode 16

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this double-length episode comprising a heat and quarter-final, contestants face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking at Zilli Fish and creating a two-course meal to impress the judges. Those who make it through to the quarter-final must prove their knowledge of- and passion for food. The heats have produced four exceptional cooks, but only one will make it through to become a semi-finalist.

2009-01-29 • 30 min

17. Episode 17

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat six contestants will face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch in just 50 minutes, cooking at The Zetter restaurant and making a two-course meal for the judges. Only one of them will make it through to become a quarter-finalist.

2009-02-02 • 30 min

18. Episode 18

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, six contestants face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch in just 50 minutes, cooking at the La Porte Des Indes restaurant and making a two-course meal for the judges. Only one of them will make it through to become a quarter-finalist.

2009-02-03 • 30 min

19. Episode 19

ohn Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this heat, six contestants face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch in just 50 minutes, cooking at L'Autre Pied and making a two-course meal for the judges. Only one of them will make it through to become a quarter-finalist.

2009-02-04 • 30 min

20. Episode 20

John Torode and Gregg Wallace are looking for the country's next star chef. In this double-length episode comprising a heat and quarter-final, contestants face three tests: inventing a dish from scratch, cooking at Stanza and creating a two-course meal to impress the judges. Those who make it through to the quarter-final must prove their knowledge of and passion for food. The heats have produced four exceptional cooks, but only one will make it through to become a semi-finalist.

2009-02-05 • 30 min

21. Episode 21

Three contestants from the 2008 series are back to have another shot at the MasterChef title. But as they have been here before, things get tougher; this time they have to survive an 18-hour shift in professional kitchens. First they are off to Brunello restaurant at the Baglioni Hotel for breakfast service and then it is straight to Kensington Place for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter-final.

2009-02-09 • 30 min

22. Episode 22

Three contestants from the 2008 series are back to have another shot at the MasterChef title. But as they have been here before, things get tougher; this time they have to survive an 18-hour shift in professional kitchens. First they are off to Bistro One Ninety at the Gore Hotel for breakfast service and then it is straight to The Park Restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for evening service. Who has the endurance to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter-final.

2009-02-10 • 30 min

23. Episode 23

Three contestants from the 2008 series are back to have another shot at the MasterChef title. But as they have been here before, things get tougher; this time they have to survive an 18-hour shift in professional kitchens. First they are off to Spicers in the Crowne Plaza Hotel for breakfast service and then it is straight to Villandry for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter-final.

2009-02-11 • 30 min

24. Episode 24

Three contestants from the 2008 series are back to have another shot at the MasterChef title. But as they have been here before, things get tougher; this time they have to survive an 18-hour shift in professional kitchens. First they are off to Galvin at Windows at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel for breakfast service, and then it is straight to the Oxo Tower Restaurant for evening service. Only the best will go through to the quarter-final, where the four comeback contestants battle it out for the last remaining place in the semi-finals.

2009-02-12 • 30 min

25. Episode 25

It is the first semi-final and all six hopefuls are back. They only have one shot at staying in the competition because at the end of this show two of them will be sent home. The challenge is to cook one perfect, memorable, well-executed dish from the same raw ingredient - a chicken.

2009-02-16 • 30 min

26. Episode 26

Things are about to get a lot tougher for the four remaining semi-finalists as they face their first real test in the professional world. They are sent to the Port Talbot Steel Works in South Wales where they have to cater for over 600 hungry steel workers. Working in teams to create and produce the most popular menus, who will get their food out on time and who will sell the most?

2009-02-17 • 30 min

27. Episode 27

The four semi-finalists' fine-dining skills are put to the test when they have to create a four-course menu and cater for an exclusive dinner party hosted at the Institute of Directors.

2009-02-18 • 30 min

28. Episode 28

The four semi-finalists are sent to four different restaurants to fine-tune their skills. Then they have to cook a two-course meal for three of the country's harshest restaurant critics. There is everything to play for because at the end of the show one contestant is sent home.

2009-02-19 • 30 min

29. Episode 29

It's the final week of MasterChef. Three of the best amateur cooks in the country remain - by the end of the week one of them will be crowned MasterChef Champion 2009. The three remaining contestants have to cater for the British Army under some of the harsh field conditions. First they are flown to the Highlands of Scotland where they have to cook lunch, over a fire-pit and oil-drum oven, for 30 soldiers from the Black Watch. They then return to army HQ to cater a three course dinner for the regiment's top brass at Fort George.

2009-02-23 • 30 min

30. Episode 30

It's the final week of Masterchef and the three finalists face their most daunting task to date - catering for the 450 strong Royal Household at Buckingham Palace during the busiest period of the palace's calendar - the summer exhibition of the State rooms. Will they be able to handle the pressure of catering at this most famous of Royal Palaces?

2009-02-24 • 30 min

31. Episode 31

It is the penultimate test for the three Masterchef finalists. The contestants face two daunting challenges - cooking a 60,000 pounds three-course dinner for 200 specially invited guests at the opening night of the world famous Burghley Horse Trials. Then they have to cook for eight of the world's best chefs who hold 16 Michelin stars between them. Guests include the GB Olympic team and World Eventing Champion Zara Phillips.

2009-02-25 • 30 min

32. Episode 32

It is the final and everything the three contestants have learnt over the past few weeks will now be put to the test. For the final baptism of fire, they travel to three of Europe's finest Michelin-starred restaurants in France, Copenhagen and San Sebastian to cook a busy lunch service at the highest level. After this, they return to Masterchef HQ to cook John and Gregg their final, sublime three-course meal. By the end one of them will walk away Masterchef Champion 2009.

2009-02-26 • 30 min