MASTERCHEF STARTS TO SIMMER.

I've watched the BBC's 'Masterchef' for many years and even in its previous incarnation hosted by Lloyd Grossman. Grossman's programme was certainly fun, but had its day; the revamped presentation that we have today is very different and, for people of a certain age, rivetting television.

The latest series has reached its latter stages with only 7 contestants remaining, at least as far as I have been able to catch up with the viewing. Some of those who've already been eliminated are brilliant cooks and yet they've failed to make the grade; this is a measure of the heights to which this programme now aspires. Contestants are just about expected to be able to walk into a 'Michelin starred' kitchen and hold their own, albeit that they're nothing more than domestic cooks.

The last programme I've watched has such a mixture of talents, it's hard to choose between them. Annie is a great home cook with a traditional approach; Jackie is a vegetarian who produces astonishing food; Alice is a young mum with amazing passion and a wonderful talent; James is a carpenter, rough hewn, who is such an engaging character but also a great cook; Tom turns his kitchen station into a total mess but turns out terrific food; Sara is an Italian who has great passion and produces great Italian-style food; Tim is an American who, despite having some very weird ideas, has produced some dishes that have astonished all the judges. Some have had serious timing problems but who wouldn't when confronted with the challenges placed before them ? Some of their food looks amazing and, according to the judges, tastes even better.

A few years ago, and before entrants realised that 'Masterchef' really could be a passport to a highly successful career, the standards at the start could be fairly awful but, now, you have to be able to do a little bit more than cook a decent omelette to even be noticed. As the contestants go through the rounds, the expectations are higher and higher and the pressure is immense; whoever gets to the last 3 or 4 has done extraordinarily well, whoever wins is a very special person, let alone a chef.