Alec, Hope, Farshad, Annie and Billy cook for survival on Masterchef 2016

It is the last day of the heats on Masterchef 2016 where the last group of five amateur cooks will showcase their cooking skills for judges, Greg Wallace and John Torode, in the MasterChef kitchen.

Hoping to impress and make it through to the next round of the competition this week are Alec, Hope, Farshad, Annie and Billy.

The contestants are first given just 75 minutes to impress Gregg and John with their calling card, a practiced dish that represents who they are as a cook and showcases their talent. After tasting all five dishes, John and Gregg, without telling each other, each pick their favourite dish. If they both choose the same dish then they will select their second preference. The two lucky cooks will be safe – for now – and sail straight through to the second test.

They remaining three contestants must cook again in a ‘sweet or savoury’ invention test, at the end of which one amateur is sent home. The four remaining cooks must then create two courses to excite not only John and Gregg but also 2015 finalists Emma Spitzer and Tony Rodd and 2015 champion Simon Wood. After the four hopefuls have cooked, John and Gregg decide which three contestants deserve to take the next step in the competition and go through to the first quarter-final.