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The next group of home cooks are ready for a culinary battle in the second week of heats. The contestants will need to hit the ground running as they attempt to win an exclusive MasterChef apron - their ticket to the rest of the competition. The best on the day might also have the honour of calling themselves a quarter-finalist.

The debut contestants join their benches for the first time to take on the Basic to Brilliant challenge. This is their chance to shine a light on a humble, everyday ingredient and turn it into something brilliant. Their dish can include any number of items from the packed larder, but the ingredient of choice must shine. Short ribs, onions and chicken thighs all make special appearances tonight, but how will they turn out? Only the best cooks will move straight through to the next round, leaving the others to cook off for the last two aprons.

The Mystery Box awaits, giving those without an apron a second chance. They will need to prepare a delicious plate of food using at least one of the secret ingredients hidden in their box and an array of items from the larder. While it sounds simple, they need to meet the judges’ expectations by creating a flavoursome dish in only 45 minutes. The secret stash includes tinned pineapple, ham and sweetcorn. Turn these into a tasty treat, and they stand every chance of nabbing a coveted MasterChef apron.

Next, one final challenge awaits the contenders through from the first two rounds, as they will need to delight some special guests with their best two-course menu. Dining tonight are 2011 champion Tim Anderson, 2013 champion Natalie Coleman and 2013 finalist Larkin Cen. They will be expecting to see plates full of personality and ambition that also show true potential.

The three best-performing hopefuls will return for this week’s quarter-final, leaving the others to hang up their aprons and head home.