The seven home cooks who made it through the first episode return to face two more challenges designed to gauge both their creativity and culinary repertoire. The first is the Market Challenge, in which each of the seven is tasked with inventing a dish on the spot from a market full of ingredients, including monkfish, quail and lamb. The pressure is on because at the end of this test one contestant will be sent home.

The remaining six then face their most difficult assignment so far - cooking a dish to a brief set by one of the country's toughest food critics, Tom Parker Bowles. Tom tries to get their creative juices flowing by asking them to cook a dish inspired by their favourite holiday destinations.

Only four cooks can go through to the quarter-final. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to move another step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion?

Nine home cooks arrive for the second week of heats.

Their first test is the Audition Round. Each must cook a signature dish, which John and Gregg judge solely on taste. Their three favourite dishes earn a MasterChef apron and immunity from having to cook in the next round.

The remaining six contestants then get another chance to impress the judges and win themselves a coveted apron. If they cooked a savoury dish in the first round, they must deliver a sweet one now, and vice versa. This time, John and Gregg are in the kitchen witnessing their every move. The pressure is intense and the stakes are high as only four cooks can join the three already fast-tracked to the next round. For two, their MasterChef dream will be over.