Episode 5

Marcus and Monica are joined by special guest Alex Claridge, the chef behind The Wilderness in Birmingham, whose eclectic, unconventional style combines bold flavours, unexpected ingredients and inventive techniques. Now he’s setting the chefs the challenge of recreating a dish that demands extraordinary precision: a sashimi of Cornish gurnard, lightly cured and accompanied by delicate pear, finished with a tare, smoked sesame emulsion and a jelly veil of oxtail consomme.

This is a dish where subtlety is everything. For some of the chefs, the ingredients and techniques are entirely unfamiliar, and with no recipe to follow, they’ll need to draw on their experience, trust their seasoned palates and remain composed under pressure. With a place in the Quarter final at stake, can they rise to Alex’s exacting challenge, or will this intricate test prove a step too far?

The final test is a sweet one, and the chefs must turn their attention to dessert, where precision and timing are crucial, and there is little room for error.

Marcus and Monica are looking for more than perfectly executed patisserie. They want to see flair, imagination and a clear sense of each chef’s style, all brought together in a dessert worthy of the MasterChef kitchen. It’s a chance to finish on a high, but one mistake could undo all their hard work.

As the final plates reach the pass, who will wow the judges, and whose MasterChef journey will end here?