Episode 22

It's finals week. Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace have put 45 of the UK's most passionate and talented home cooks through their paces in the ultimate test of their culinary prowess as they search for one exceptional cook, worthy of being crowned MasterChef Champion 2023.

The final four talented amateur cooks have given their all to get to this point in the competition. This week marks the last opportunity for them to prove their worth, as they are forced outside their comfort zone, requiring every last ounce of energy and skill. Only one will take the title, and for them, life will never be the same again.

The finalists embark on the culinary adventure of a lifetime as they head to Istanbul, where they face three extraordinary challenges that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Their journey starts in a community garden in the historic village of Kuzguncuk. Split into teams of two, each pair will be tasked with cooking two well-known local dishes, rooted in centuries of tradition, for local people. To help the finalists make sense of this unique multicultural cuisine, they will be mentored by one of Turkey's best-known chefs, Refika Birgül.

Next, the finalists have the honour of working with chef Fatih Tutak at Turk, the only restaurant in Istanbul to have been awarded two Michelin stars.

The four contestants work a busy lunch service and are tasked with recreating a dish from Fatih's celebrated tasting menu. These dishes represent the future of Turkish fine dining, where classic cuisine is re-imagined in spectacular fashion. Cooking at this level will require precision and a steady nerve as the final four try to impress Fatih by proving they have what it takes to hit his two-Michelin-star standard.

The final four muster up some last reserves of energy as they head off to one of the city's most exclusive addresses, Pera House – home to the British Consulate General and the political centre of Turkish-British relations for over 200 years.

Here the finalists face the daunting challenge of creating an exceptional lunch, hosted by the British Consul General himself- Kenan Poleo. The finalists will need to pull out all the stops if they are to impress the esteemed guests which include not only their Turkish mentors Fatih Tuta and Refika Birgül but also the three judges of MasterChef Istanbul.

Inspired by their culinary adventure and showcasing the skills they have developed through their entire MasterChef journey, the finalists dishes must be truly exceptional for them to stand out and prove they have what it takes to be crowned MasterChef Champion 2023.