Episode 9

The strongest cooks from the week's heats return for the quarter-final. To stand any chance of staying in the competition, they will need to prove that their journey up to this point was not down to luck but due to sheer talent. A place in knockout week is at stake.

Esteemed food critic and writer Jimi Famurewa is back in the MasterChef kitchen to set the brief. He’s a huge fan of modern American cuisine and would like the amateurs to prepare a dish that shows the hugely varied food styles of this vast nation. Whether they opt for some deep south soul food, some Tex-Mex tacos or a classic key lime pie, their dish will need to set Jimi’s taste buds alight, making him feel like he’s had a fleeting visit across the Atlantic.

The three who deliver an American dream will earn themselves a place in knockout week, where they will join the best cooks from the other quarter-finals for a showdown like no other.