MasterChef Ireland

The biggest cooking competition on television comes to Irish screens tonight as the widely-anticipated MasterChef Ireland kicks off on RTÉ Two at 9:30pm.

From over 1000 applications from across Ireland, just fifty people have made it through to the audition stage of the first ever MasterChef Ireland. Out of that 50 the Final 16 MasterChef contestants will be chosen to compete for the coveted title of MasterChef Ireland and a prize of €25,000.

Tonight sees the first auditions as Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier search for the exceptional amateur cooks who will go forward to the Final 16.

Each cook will have 55 minutes to prepare and plate up a dish that will persuade Nick and Dylan to award them a coveted MasterChef Ireland apron and a place in the competition.

A 'yes' from both judges will get them through but if the judges disagree they will have to come back and cook again in the cook-off.

The pressure is on as the top amateur cooks in the country start the battle for a place in the Final 16 and a chance to becomes the first-ever MasterChef Ireland.