Episode 9

The week closes with the third quarter-final as the six best cooks of the week return to prove they have the nerve and skill to go even further. To get to knockout week, they need to impress across two more challenges, leaving Anna and Grace with a tough final decision. Only the best will live to fight another day and remain in the race to become MasterChef Champion 2026.

Proceedings open with a true test of the amateur’s mettle as they face their first invention test, using their imaginations to serve up their best brunch dish. This is not a time for a limp sausage bap. To help them create this brunch masterpiece, the MasterChef Market is back open for business and includes every type of meat, fish, vegetable, fruit and spice they could hope for. Whether they can think on their feet and deliver a skilful plate at speed remains to be seen, but whatever they choose needs to wow the judges. Nobody will depart after the cooks’ brunches have been dissected and digested, but a poor brunch won’t win any favours with the judges.

One more challenge will determine which cooks become quarter-finalists. Grace and Anna have invited esteemed restaurant critic Jimi Famurewa to the MasterChef HQ, who brings a challenging brief for the cooks. Jimi loves to see variety and culture in the dishes he's presented. With nuts being a key ingredient in the Nigerian culture Jimi grew up with, he would like the contestants to prepare a dish that showcases a nut or nuts of their choice. A versatile ingredient should allow the cooks free rein to go completely – you guessed it – nuts with ideas! The cooks can roast them to make brittles, pound them into flour, use them as a base for a sauce, but whatever they do needs to highlight that distinct flavour, deliver a great balanced dish and showcase spot-on technique.

With Jimi’s feedback noted, Anna and Grace must decide the best cooks of the day and send them into knockout week, where the stakes are higher then ever!