Episode 20

The MasterChef semi-finals continue with just seven outstanding amateurs vying for the title.

They will need to step outside their comfort zone as they take on a brand new brief – cooking a dish that is ‘so wrong that it's right'. A dish with ingredients that on paper shouldn't work, but that becomes an unlikely tasty treat. How far will they push themselves, and will their risks pay off? Those who deliver will earn the right to cook for a legendary chef. For two contestants, however, their MasterChef journey will be over.

There is no rest for the best, as five head off to the Francis Crick Institute in central London. Home to 2,000 scientists, the institute is Europe's largest biomedical laboratory. It carries out groundbreaking research with the aim of helping to treat, diagnose and prevent human disease, including cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the discovery of DNA, and the remaining five contenders are tasked with cooking a five-course celebratory lunch. They are working under the eye of acclaimed chef Jozef Youssef, who honed his craft in some of the world's greatest Michelin kitchens and who now works tirelessly with artists and scientists, devising dishes that create the ultimate multisensory experience in fine dining. The contestants embark on an experience like no other, as they are each tasked with recreating one of Josef's technically demanding recipes, pushing each of them to their limits.

There is no room for error as prestigious guests include knights of the realm and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, meaning the semi-finalists will need to be at the top of their game.