About this season
Into the kitchen and under the spotlight. Amateur cooks duel it out for the right to be called the MasterChef UK Champion. Initially named Masterchef Goes Large, the series changed its name to Masterchef in 2008.
Episodes (18)
1. Episode 1
Aired 1 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 3 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 4 March 2021 • 30 min
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
Aired 8 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 10 March 2021 • 60 min
In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.
6. Episode 6
Aired 11 March 2021 • 30 min
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
Aired 15 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 17 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 18 March 2021 • 30 min
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
Aired 22 March 2021 • 60 min
In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
11. Episode 11
Aired 24 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 25 March 2021 • 30 min
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
Aired 29 March 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 1 April 2021 • 60 min
The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.
15. Episode 15
Aired 2 April 2021 • 30 min
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
Aired 5 April 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 8 April 2021 • 60 min
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
Aired 14 April 2021 • 60 min
The final three chefs must produce the best three dishes of their lives to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef champion 2021.