How many episodes of MasterChef are there?

FANS of MasterChef are thrilled the show is back for its 18th series.

The show puts amateur cooks to the test, who will all be hoping to impress judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

How many episodes of MasterChef are there?

MasterChef will kick off TONIGHT (March 23, 2022) at 8pm on BBC One.

The good news for fans is there are a whopping 24 episodes in the series.

The show will play out over seven weeks, and there will be three episodes a week.

For the new series, the judges are mixing it up – introducing a whole new set of challenges to kick off the competition.

The first five weeks of the show sees the contestants split into five groups of nine, and they are slowly whittled down by the end of the week.

Week six is the semi-finals round, which is followed by the finals week.

When is the MasterChef final?

The BBC is yet to reveal an exact air date for the MasterChef final.

But as the show is playing out over seven weeks the last episode should air during the middle of May 2022.

As soon as we know, we'll report back here.

How many contestants are there?

Forty-five passionate and talented hopefuls start the competition, before being whittled down to one winner.

The amateur chefs come from all walks of life including an NHS worker, theatre director, beer bike tour guide, childcare worker, bank manager and retired head teacher.

They all have one goal in mind – to cook their way to the pinnacle of the 2022 trophy and join the outstanding MasterChef alumni who have gone on to stellar careers in food.

What does the MasterChef winner get?

The winner is always awarded the coveted MasterChef trophy.

But it is the recognition, prestige and exposure that is the main appeal of winning the contest.

In the past finalists have gone to open their own restaurants or launched a culinary career.

The website says: “MasterChef sets out to find the UK’s best amateur cook.

“A cook whose talent and passion could transform their life.

“It’s a life-changing journey for many, but only one will be crowned the nation’s MasterChef.”