Radio Times: Review by:; Jane Rackham

It’s time to plate up... There are just three amateur cooks left hoping to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace by creating a superb three-course meal. After a lukewarm reception for the last unsuccessfully re-jigged series, MasterChef has returned to searing hot form. It’s been served in digestible portions, too.

From pixie-like Aki with her mad concoctions and Phil Mitchell lookalike Eamonn, who failed to go through last year’s auditions but made it almost all the way this time, the contestants have been TV gold, covering every style of cooking and personality. And most of the food has been sublime.

But the final three will have to pull out all the stops if they’re to follow in the footsteps of previous winner Tim Anderson to become MasterChef 2012.

About this programme

15/15. After eight weeks of competition, the search for the country's best amateur cook reaches its climax. Tom, Shelina and Andrew have to push themselves to the limit one last time before judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace decide the winner. They have just three hours to produce three courses, the like of which they have never cooked before, proving they should be crowned MasterChef Champion 2012. Last in the series.