MasterChef: Series 17
Season 17 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of MasterChef Season 16.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 17 Progress Shield
Episode 1
Mar 1, 2021 · 60 min
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
Episode 2
Mar 3, 2021 · 60 min
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
Episode 3
Mar 4, 2021 · 30 min
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.
Episode 4
Mar 8, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 5
Mar 10, 2021 · 60 min
In the second heat of the second week, five more amateur cooks compete for places in the quarter-finals.
Episode 6
Mar 11, 2021 · 30 min
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 Si
Episode 7
Mar 15, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 8
Mar 17, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 9
Mar 18, 2021 · 30 min
It’s the third quarter-final and the four talented heat winners return to fight for a place in the semi-final.
Episode 10
Mar 22, 2021 · 60 min
In the last week of heats, five more hopefuls try to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Episode 11
Mar 24, 2021 · 60 min
In the last of this year's heats, five contestants cook for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace and two previous MasterChef champions.
Episode 12
Mar 25, 2021 · 30 min
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
Episode 13
Mar 29, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 14
Apr 1, 2021 · 60 min
The second group of five semi-finalists experience the pressure of a professional kitchen for the first time.
Episode 15
Apr 2, 2021 · 30 min
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.
Episode 16
Apr 5, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 17
Apr 8, 2021 · 60 min
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.
Episode 18
Apr 14, 2021 · 60 min
The final three chefs must produce the best three dishes of their lives to stand a chance of being crowned MasterChef champion 2021.