E1 - Episode 1

Aired: March 01, 2021

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.

E2 - Episode 2

Aired: March 03, 2021

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.

E3 - Episode 3

Aired: March 04, 2021

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.

E4 - Episode 4

Aired: March 08, 2021

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.

E5 - Episode 5

Aired: March 10, 2021

In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.

E6 - Episode 6

Aired: March 11, 2021

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.

E7 - Episode 7

Aired: March 15, 2021

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.

E8 - Episode 8

Aired: March 17, 2021

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.

E9 - Episode 9

Aired: March 18, 2021

It’s the third quarter-final and the four talented heat winners return to fight for a place in the semi-final.

E10 - Episode 10

Aired: March 22, 2021

In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

E11 - Episode 11

Aired: March 24, 2021

In the last of this year's heats, five contestants cook for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and two previous MasterChef champions.

E12 - Episode 12

Aired: March 25, 2021

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.

E13 - Episode 13

Aired: March 29, 2021

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.

E14 - Episode 14

Aired: April 01, 2021

The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.

E15 - Episode 15

Aired: April 02, 2021

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.

E16 - Episode 16

Aired: April 05, 2021

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.

E17 - Episode 17

Aired: April 08, 2021

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.

E18 - Episode 18

Aired: April 14, 2021

The final three chefs must produce the best three dishes of their lives to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef champion 2021.