I'm happy with all who made it to the finale, it's nice to see that Ellie got through but I think it will be either her or Matt that will be gone next. If she does make it through I would like her or Gary to win.

It was gorgeous, and I loved his salad challenge - I liked both chefs over the two nights, very happy with the final four, Gary for the win for me

Ditto. 👍🏻

And me

make that 4

Much better guest chefs, can you remember that horror on the last series (I think non-professional) who was just mean for no reason? Much better when they are supportive.

I think the right two chefs were eliminated.

He also looks rather unsavoury, with greasy hair and a rash on his face. I wouldn't fancy anything he dished up, I'm afraid.

I'm surprised that other chefs have allowed Michael Caines to join them at the Chef's Table after his performance on MKR UK.

He's been one of the most likeable contestants on Pro Masterchef. Doubt he'll win though. The fix is in (probably).

Why do they pronounce "Arnaud" as "Arnoux"? Don't they know how the French pronounce their names? (Same thing happened with "Candiss" Brown, when it should have been "Candeece"). At least Matt Tebbut got it right on Christmas Kitchen the other day...

(By the way, the fix says the female chef will win.)

Reminds me of Rene Arnoux!

(Bet not many of you know who he was.)

I do - in fact, that's why I spelled it that way!

What's the fix?

Well, not so much a fix, but there's a distinct feeling (certainly here) that, all things being reasonably equal, they'll award the final to the person with the "best TV" and the biggest potential.

More so with Wareing, than with MRJ, because the former is so transparent.

I want Ellie to win, I doubt she will but if not, Gary.

I love Gary and Arnaud. I really hope one of them win. They are both lovely and I think Arnauds humbleness is very endearing.

Ellie will win -- as forecast by my patented Masterchef forecasting method -- well, it has worked once in the past. Look for whoever is most enthusiastic about the guest chefs they will be working under.

Ellie worked out in the car that they were going to the Westbury where she knew Alyn Williams was the chef. Therefore, she will win (unless next week one of the others shows any interest or enthusiasm about their host chefs, in which case it is all up in the air).

Incidentally, I loved the dead-pan voice-over that Williams had trained at Petrus under "head chef, Marcus Wareing".

Rich and James seem to have tripped themselves up by overdoing the "I'm so edgy, me" thing. Rather, they gave the editors the opportunity to do that and the editors took it.

Only Ellie of the last four currently works in a restaurant kitchen. Do the later stages of the pro version tend to feature development chefs and lecturers? I've only ever watched one series for amateurs before.

I was surprised that someone teaching cooking at college is so isolated from the catering industry, I would have thought that they might have spent some time in the college holidays (or even termtime) working in the industry. I know some colleges have the college cafeteria / restaurant partly run by students but it is not quite the same.

I'm guessing/hoping he's said it's pronounced that way. I don't see Marcus and Monica both getting it that badly wrong, so they must have been told that.

I suspect Ellie could be out of her depth if creativity is called for.

Ah, noo! Perhaps Monica has been watching this in New Zealand and got mixed up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA

I've been to that restaurant, though long before the current head chef. I wasn't that impressed with what I had then but this guy's food looks amazing. I didn't realise I'd been pronouncing it wrong though, Grav-er-tye when it's actually Grave-tye.

It's pretty rare that an FE college would fund that type of professional development. His holidays won't be so generous either.
It's also rare that a college lecturer is able to compete at this level just as the development chefs often don't have experience of service at top flight restaurants.

Gary or Arnauld to win. Surprised to see Brenton go thought he was far more skilled than the other bearded one, forgotten his name.

I'm sure he's very nice but I find Arnaud's cooking to be utterly tedious. It's all very classical French, something chef's all around the UK (let alone in France) are knocking up every day. His is patently very, very good French cooking (and you can't blame him for cooking from his culture) but it has apparently almost no personality of itself at all.

If we're going to crown what is ostensibly 'the best chef in Britain' (although, y'know, not actually) I'd rather it was someone whose cooking was in some way original or memorable. Maybe not Michael O'Hare memorable but dear God, at least bring something surprising to the party.

I would have thought it might be in the interest of local restaurants and hotels to have a good relationship with local colleges doing catering courses, giving students some work experience and getting the lecturer there for a few weeks in the holidays. They might get a good opportunity to to hire the best students and also a handy source of extra staff for big events.

Is it my bad memory or is there a lack of originality compared to previous years?

Plus, there really haven't been any challenges like the leftovers one, have there?