Who Will Win MasterChef 2024? Returning Cliodhna wows judges
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MasterChef's last quarter-final of the series took place on Friday night - but there was a special twist this week.
To celebrate MasterChef's 20th anniversary, 10 familiar faces from previous series were invited back to battle for the title for a second time as part of Comeback Week.
Most of the contestants had previously made the quarter-final or semi-final, so there was plenty of experience on show in the MasterChef kitchen.
Following Heats nine and 10 earlier in the week, six stars made it into Friday's quarter-final.
Renowned restaurant critic Jimi Famurewa set the comeback cooks a challenge to create a "fusion feast", by taking two seemingly unrelated food cultures and cuisines that meant a lot to the contestants, and combining them in one "beautiful, harmonious dish".
Cliodhna, Mary and Chris progressed, but Ajay, Natasha and Matthew were sent home - and there is now a new favourite on betting sites.
Cliodhna 'Amazes' John
Cliodhna is now the Evens favourite on specials betting sites to win this year's MasterChef going into Knockout Week.
The personal trainer - who competed in last year's series - served up a Scottish-Italian fusion dish consisting of chicken breast wrapped in Parma ham and stuffed with black pudding and porcini mushroom.
John admitted he had doubted the dish's nduja, cream and whisky combination, but upon tasting it, the show judge confessed Cliodhna's cookery was "fabulous", and he was "absolutely amazed".
Gregg praised Cliodhna as "really clever" for mixing her mushrooms in with her black pudding, and Jimi admitted she had "absolutely delivered", adding about her Scottish-Italian creation: "It's opera playing the bagpipes."
Roll up, Roll Up, For Chris
Circus artist Chris was another star of the Comeback Week episode, and he has now made it further than his quarter-final place in last year's 19th series.
The cook is now 5/2 fifth favourite on new betting sites to win the 20th season.
Chris impressed with his Danish-Indian rice pudding flavoured with vanilla and cardamom, served with sweet Indian dessert gulab jamun, and accompanied by a rose water and cherry doughnut.
Gregg admitted the sweet treat was so delicious he could demolish "half a bucket", and John said the dish made him "smile so much".
Jimi loved the rich, indulgent flavours, and said Chris had hit the brief, adding: "It's fantastic."
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Mary On Familiar Ground
After Cliodhna and Chris sailed through to Knockout Week, it was left to John and Gregg to decide the third success story of the episode.
They chose Mary, and she will be on familiar ground after making it to Knockout Week in 2018.
Mary has been installed as a 4/1 chance on betting apps after her Middle Eastern-fused Sunday roast - including sumac-spiced lamb, za'atar-spiced roast potatoes, and halloumi, feta and tahini cauliflower cheese - went down well.
Jimi said the cauliflower cheese was one of the best he has ever had, and Mary was "blown away" by the comment.
However, Jimi agreed with John that Mary could have "pushed" her dish even more by putting more za'atar on the potatoes, and more heat in the gravy, but admitted it was an "absolute joy to eat".
Mary was "in disbelief" to have made it to Knockout Week, and admitted she could have been more "daring" with the flavours, but didn't want to overdo it.
One of the surprises of the night saw Ajay go home, after John had said earlier in the series that his scallop dish was one of the best scallop dishes he had ever tried in his life.
But in the quarters, Gregg said Ajay's ice cream was too sweet, and John said his coffee was "on the verge of almost being burnt", because it was quite bitter.
Furthermore, the pair agreed Natasha didn't quite hit the brief, and Gregg admitted it was tight between Matthew going and staying.
Next week, the best 16 from the Heats will fight to stay in the competition in Knockout Week.
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