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.

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.

Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges

Six more contestants will face heats and one will go through to the quarter-finals.

Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges

Restaurateur John Torode and radio presenter Gregg Wallace host as six new contestants are put through gruelling culinary challenges

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?

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.

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

The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Kazan restaurant.

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.

The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Le Pont de la Tour

The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of the Gilgamesh restaurant.

The three contestants who have shown the most potential will be thrown into the kitchens of Mosimann's restaurant.

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.

The contestants must cook at the Shish restaurant

Contestants will cook at the Mosaico restaurant.

The chefs cook at the Larder restaurant

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

The four finalists have to prepare a dinner party for the Man Booker Prize judges at Charles Dickens's house.

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.

Final week. The three finalists go to Rochdale to cater for the cast and crew of the BBC's drama Waterloo Road.

Final Week. The three finalists are flown to the Belizean jungle to cater for the British Army. They will then cater a dinner party.

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.

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?"