The search for Ireland latest MasterChef continues.

From hundreds of applications from across the country, just 50 people made it through the audition stage of MasterChef Ireland.

Out of those 50, the Final 16 MasterChef contestants were chosen by Judges Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath to compete in the coveted title of MasterChef Ireland and a prize of €25,000.

Sixteen became twelve after the ‘You On A Plate’ challenge with a twist, which saw Caitriona, Dee, Dani and Cathy losing their aprons. Joe and Nick hung up their aprons in Episode 4, after failing to impress in the kitchen with their Emirates airline first class menus, leaving just ten hopefuls vying for the MasterChef Ireland title. Simon cooked for the last time in Programme 5 after restaurant service and soufflé pressure test.

In this programme, the 8 remaining MasterChef contestants stage a ‘pop-up’ restaurant experience for diners selected through listeners to MasterChef Ireland’s radio partner, 2fm and its morning show The Colm Hayes Show.

Running their pop-up from The Old Schoolhouse beside The Cake Café in Pleasants Place in Dublin 8, their ingredients have been chosen by Giles Clark, a young English chef making waves in food circles both in Ireland and the UK.

They must use their own imagination and flair to design and serve a four-course menu to a group of 35 diners.

The following day sees the contestants receive their first MasterChef Masterclass from Finnish Chef Mickael Viljanen of The Greenhouse Restaurant in Dublin – one of the country’s most exciting chefs. Mickael will show them one of his signature dishes, ‘hay-smoked pigeon with beetroot, chicory and grapes’.

They then must recreate this dish for Mickael and the MasterChef Judges.

Things are heating up and all eight know that they have to prove they are up to the challenge if they want to make it through to the next round. One person will lose their apron at the end of the show.