Episode 22

Finals week on MasterChef has arrived! Seven weeks of intense competition has seen some extraordinary competitors fall by the wayside, and now just four are left standing.

Their journey takes them to the glorious city of Athens, where the four amateurs are immersed in a rich and exciting food culture, thousands of years in the making. Three extraordinary challenges await, designed to broaden their culinary horizons like never before.

The first stop on this whirlwind adventure is Margi Farm, which spans ten acres and supplies produce to some of the finest restaurants in Athens. The candidates' first task is to prepare a delicious lunch for locals, including some Margi Farm employees. Working in teams in outdoor kitchens, they have three hours to get to grips with Greek cuisine and deliver a lunch to remember. If that's not enough pressure, they have to cook a selection of meze dishes chosen by one of the country's best-loved TV chefs and restaurateurs, Argiro Barbarigou, who oversees their work. These plates include some Greek classics that take precision and skill to pull off. Can the hopefuls do these dishes justice and please the locals who know exactly how this food should taste?

Margi Farm is just the beginning. Day two in Athens pushes the contestants to another level as they head to Michelin-starred restaurant Patio for their next challenge. The kitchens are run by executive chef Panagiotis Giakalis, who delivers an exciting cuisine that combines tradition with innovation. The cooks are put through their paces as they each take responsibility for making one course from Patio's extensive tasting menu. This is no walk in the park.

Having got into the swing of Greek fine dining, the contenders have one more chance to shine as they head to the stunning Vouliagmeni Bay, where they are given the keys to a local restaurant – Akti. They will be solely responsible for a dinner service of epic proportions, cooking for mentors Argiro and Panagiotis, as well as some of Athens's leading Michelin-starred chefs. Each finalist must cook one course for the VIP dinner. This is their chance to show what they are capable of, whilst drawing inspiration from their Aegean adventure.

Every step they take on this trip of a lifetime matters, because very soon the final four will become the final three!