MasterChef returns for its eighth series, with more fantastically talented amateur cooks who want to test their kitchen skills and take a shot at lifting the coveted MasterChef Champion title. Thousands of applications were scoured, and a short-list of the country's most talented amateur cooks were invited to cook for John Torode and Gregg Wallace. Each created a spectacular dish, which John and Gregg tasted in the isolation of the MasterChef dining room without watching the cooks themselves, their processes, techniques or skills.

It is the second of the heats, as the next eight hopefuls pick up their knives and show off their culinary skills. Who will prove that they have what it takes to line up with the successful contestants who have already made it through? First they must overcome the notorious Invention Test and prove that, in only an hour and 15 minutes, they can deliver an amazing plate of food with no planning.

It is the final heat, and the last eight hopefuls fight for the remaining coveted aprons and a place in the next round. Who will prove that they have what it takes to line up with the other contestants who have already made it through? First, they have to show off their skills in the Invention Test. With only one hour and 15 minutes to create a dish from scratch, it will mean the end of the road for two of the contestants.

MasterChef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace set a truly daunting challenge for the contestants as they continue their search for this year's best amateur cook. The remaining 12 amateur cooks have a baptism of fire as they face each other in the MasterChef kitchen for the first time. Not only do they have to be at the top of their game to ensure good food on time, but their guests for this pressure cooker of a challenge are a group of people who know exactly how high the MasterChef standards are - a selection of previous MasterChef winners and some of last year's finalists.

Only 10 contestants remain in the cookery competition, and now they must face the Great British public for the first time. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace set the exceptionally tough task of creating fantastic food in a field. Divided into two teams of five, the contestants have their work cut out for them as they prepare an elegant lunch for 100 patrons of the Jane Austen Festival on The Royal Crescent in Bath.

MasterChef continues its eighth series, as more fantastically talented amateur cooks put their culinary skills to the test and take a shot at lifting the coveted MasterChef Champion title. The contestants have been battling to stay in the MasterChef competition, and now only the best nine remain. In this episode, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace apply the pressure by giving last week's losing team a chance to redeem themselves. The team must once again survive the world of mass catering, and this time the five contestants have to prepare lunch for a massive 350 hungry factory workers.

Over the last few weeks the contestants have been battling to keep their place in the MasterChef kitchen, and now only the best eight remain. In this episode, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace ask the remaining cooks to take on three cornerstones of European cuisine; they must each master the art of Italian, Spanish or French cooking. Each group begins by being given a master class by a top chef in their chosen style, a chef who has developed their reputation by being the leading advocate of that country's cuisine: Italian Francesco Mazzei of L'Anima; Ben Tish from The Salt Yard, who specialise in Spanish tapas; and Bruno Loubet, chef in his self-titled French restaurant, Bistrot Bruno Loubet.

Over the last few weeks the contestants have been battling to keep their place in the MasterChef kitchen, and now only the best seven remain. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace encourage the remaining cooks to celebrate the produce of the British Isles. The contestants are faced with a larder packed full of ingredients: locally sourced vegetables and fruits, and produce with a Scottish emphasis, including Scottish lobster and spider crab, North Sea razor clams, North Atlantic red mullet, oysters and langoustines, and Highland beef. To judge their efforts John and Gregg are joined by Michelin-starred Edinburgh chef Tom Kitchin.

John Torode and Gregg Wallace lead the contestants in their first foray into fine dining in large numbers. They have to prepare a delectable three-course meal for over 200 guests at Middle Temple, one of the historical Inns of Court at the heart of the British legal system. Guests at the dinner include some of the most high-ranking legal figures in the land. Working under the head chef, the contestants must cook in pairs, with each team delivering one course. Then, the contestants return to the MasterChef kitchen for one more fine-dining challenge. They have 90 minutes to create two elegant courses that can proudly sit on any fine-dining menu, and this time their food will be tasted by two-Michelin-starred chef and legend Michel Roux Jr. With hearts pounding the contestants must endure their most feared and respected critic's view of their dishes before the judges decide their fate.

The pressure is mounting as the country's best five amateurs enter the seventh week of the cooking competition of their lives. John Torode and Gregg Wallace set the contestants the challenge of cooking for three leading restaurant critics. The five have to pull out all the stops as they make their own finest three courses and try to impress the hyper-critically honed palates of their guests: Charles Campion, Tracey MacLeod and Jay Rayner. With one contestant due to leave at the end of the show, the pressure is intense in the MasterChef kitchen as timings go awry, emotions take over, and dishes either explode with flavour or crash and burn.

The pressure is mounting as the country's best four amateurs continue in the seventh week of their incredible, culinary, competitive journey. The heat is on in more ways than one as judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace take the contestants to Thailand for the masterclass of a lifetime. The four are pushed to the limit as they are set an incredible series of challenges, beginning in the country's gastronomic capital, Chang Mai, amidst the bustling street food markets. The cooks are thrown in at the deep end for their first challenge - each is given a market stall to run and a popular dish to prepare, incorporating traditional Thai cooking techniques, which they must then sell to the hungry locals.

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 tackle one of the hardest culinary disciplines - pastry.

John and Gregg send the cooks to test their skills at the finest restaurants in Europe.

The cooks face their penultimate and most terrifying challenge - The Chef's Table.

It is the MasterChef final. One cook will be crowned as the MasterChef Champion 2012.