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 (32)
1. Episode 1
Aired 7 January 2008 • 30 min
Restaurateur John Torode and fruit and veg man Gregg Wallace look for the country's next masterchef. The contestants have been picked from hundreds of applicants and will face three tests. First, they will invent a dish from scratch in 40 minutes using only the ingredients they've been given. Next, they will help in Luciano's restaurant over a lunchtime service. And finally, they will create a two course meal for the judges.
2. Episode 2
Aired 8 January 2008 • 30 min
Restaurateur John Torode and fruit and veg man Gregg Wallace look for the country's next masterchef. The contestants will face three tests. First, they will invent a dish from scratch in forty minutes using only the ingredients they've been given. Next, they will help in the Mocoto restaurant over a lunchtime service. And finally, they will create a two course meal for the judges.
3. Episode 3
Aired 9 January 2008 • 30 min
Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges
4. Episode 4
Aired 10 January 2008 • 60 min
Six more contestants will face heats and one will go through to the quarter-finals.
5. Episode 5
Aired 14 January 2008 • 30 min
6. Episode 6
Aired 15 January 2008 • 30 min
Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges
7. Episode 7
Aired 16 January 2008 • 30 min
Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges
8. Episode 8
Aired 17 January 2008 • 60 min
Three contestants have to survive the heat of a professional kitchen. Today they are cooking at The Royal Automobile Club. Can they keep their cool and stand the pace of this frantic kitchen?
9. Episode 9
Aired 21 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will have to survive the heat of a professional kitchen. The three remaining contestants have to cook at the Derrion Farrell kitchen.
10. Episode 10
Aired 22 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will have to survive the heat of a professional kitchen. This time, they are cooking at the Automat in London
11. Episode 11
Aired 23 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Kazan restaurant.
12. Episode 12
Aired 24 January 2008 • 60 min
In this hour long episode, another finalist will be chosen. The week's four finalists will then compete for a place in the semi finals.
13. Episode 13
Aired 28 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Le Pont de la Tour
14. Episode 14
Aired 29 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Gilgamesh restaurant.
15. Episode 15
Aired 30 January 2008 • 30 min
The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of Mosimann's restaurant.
16. Episode 16
Aired 31 January 2008 • 60 min
In this hour long episode, another finalist will be chosen. The week's four finalists will then compete for a place in the semi finals.
17. Episode 17
Aired 4 February 2008 • 30 min
The contestants must cook at the Shish restaurant
18. Episode 18
Aired 5 February 2008 • 30 min
Contestants will cook at the Mosaico restaurant.
19. Episode 19
Aired 6 February 2008 • 30 min
The chefs cook at the Larder restaurant
20. Episode 20
Aired 7 February 2008 • 60 min
In an hour long episode, a finalist will be chosen. They will then battle the week's other three winners to create the best two course meal.
21. Episode 21
Aired 11 February 2008 • 30 min
Three previous contestants return for another shot at the title. But they've been here before, so this time things are tougher: they have to survive an 18-hour shift in a professional kitchen. First they are off to City Café for breakfast service, and then it's straight to Simpsons in the Strand for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter final.
22. Episode 22
Aired 12 February 2008 • 30 min
Three previous contestants return for another shot at the title. But they've been here before, so this time things are tougher: they have to survive an 18-hour shift in a professional kitchen. First they are off to The Goring for breakfast service and then it's straight to Artisan for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter final.
23. Episode 23
Aired 13 February 2008 • 30 min
Three previous contestants return for another shot at the title. But they've been here before, so this time things are tougher: they have to survive an 18-hour shift in a professional kitchen. First they are off to Refuel at The Soho Hotel for breakfast service, and then it's straight to Bluebird for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter final.
24. Episode 24
Aired 14 February 2008 • 60 min
Three previous contestants return for another shot at the title. But they ve been here before, so this time things are tougher: they have to survive an 18-hour shift in a professional kitchen. First they are off to Roast for breakfast service, and then it's straight to Browns for evening service. Who has the endurance and the skill to make it? Only the best will go through to the quarter final.
25. Episode 25
Aired 18 February 2008 • 30 min
It’s the first semi final and six hopefuls are back. Two will be sent home. The contestants are challenged to create a dish using chicken.
26. Episode 26
Aired 19 February 2008 • 30 min
The four finalists are sent to Luton and Dunstable Hospital canteen where they have to cater for 400 hungry doctors and nurses. Can they work as a team?
27. Episode 27
Aired 20 February 2008 • 30 min
The four finalists have to prepare a dinner party for the Man Booker Prize judges at Charles Dickens's house.
28. Episode 28
Aired 21 February 2008 • 60 min
The four finalists are sent to four different restaurants to cook a two-course meal for three of the country's toughest critics. Only three of them will survive.
29. Episode 29
Aired 25 February 2008 • 30 min
Final week. The three finalists go to Rochdale to cater for the cast and crew of the BBC's drama Waterloo Road.
30. Episode 30
Aired 26 February 2008 • 30 min
Final Week. The three finalists are flown to the Belizean jungle to cater for the British Army. They will then cater a dinner party.
31. Episode 31
Aired 27 February 2008 • 60 min
Final Week. First, the finalists cater a luxury wedding for 120 at Blenheim Palace. Next, they return to London and at the Dorchester hotel cook a three course meal for seven chefs: Michel Roux, Yannick Alleno, Marcus Wareing, Michael Caines, Andrew Fairlie, Daniel Clifford and Mark Edwards.
32. Episode 32
Aired 28 February 2008 • 60 min
The three finalists cook a meal in the studio and go to France to work in a kitchen. It's been on a gentle simmer for the past six weeks, now it reaches boiling point: 132 contestants have been reduced to three, each of whom hopes to win the title of MasterChef 2008. The shows have been as delicious as some of the dishes, although no-one will miss those dreadful shouted soundbites from John Torode and Gregg Wallace that are repeated ad nauseam in the intro. But who would ever tire of seeing them shovelling in a forkful of food, chewing thoughtfully and then asking: "Lovely, well-seasoned fish - but why did you add raspberries/kidneys/ice-cream?"