There can be only one!

After weeks of blood, sweat and tears (and that's just the viewers) the Masterchef 2012 amatuer final week is upon us.  We've watched with delight as these plucky home cooks take their dinner party skills and take on the professional kitchen, cooking for the likes of comedian Bill Oddie, Michelin Starred chef and generally scary man Tom Kitchin and of course the one and only Michel Roux jr, stared in open mouthed horror at deconstructed tarts, collapsed souffles and Gregg's capacity to eat... well pretty much anything as long as it's dipped in chocolate.

Tonight we'll watch as tiny Andrew (surely an extra from Lord of the Rings), smiley Shelina and Tom ("how the hell am I still in this competition after that tart?") begin the final battle to be crowned Masterchef.

As someone who loves the show I'm glad they ditched last year's X Factor-style audition round.  Yes it's funny to see someone set fire to a tea towel but the show ended up feeling more like a counselling session as each one stepped forward and gave a speech about how they were "ready", that they wanted to show to "change their lives" and how they'd "waited all their lives for this opportunity".  So deep was their burning desire to be a chef that they'd just spent the last 5 years training to be a brain surgeon.  Okay I'm taking it to extremes but the thought of another accountant or lawyer wanting a career change whilst mugging to the camera left me with indigestion.

The only part of last year I miss?  The "trolley of shame".  If you were successful at the audition, Gregg and John would hand you a Masterchef apron and usher you through into the next round with a cheery "well done mate".  Fail and you were left to push your trolley of ingredients back through the double doors, presumably to be flogged by Monica Galletti until you realised the error of your ways.

Getting rid of the soap opera format has got the contestants back to what they do best, actually cooking something.  Okay they still occasionally mug at the camera (remember Aki?) but essentially they remembered it was a cooking show and they damn well obliged.

What will the final challenge be?  All I know is cookery shows don't get tougher than this!

Tune in at 9pm on BBC1 to find out and don't forget you can follow the action on Twitter. 

Comments

James Brewer said…
I am SO excited! There have been some great dishes and contestants this year, probably one of the best series for me. I think my money is on Shelina, but you never know with Andrew!
I like Shelina a lot but I think Andrew may pull it out of the bag at the last minute.

Popular Posts