Out of the thousands who applied, 60 amateur cooks have made it through to compete over five weeks of heats. This year they will have to cook not only for their place in the competition but also the right to wear a coveted MasterChef apron. With six contestants in each heat and only four aprons up for grabs, the battle is fierce from the offset. The contestants get their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish – a plate that shows John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they can become. After tasting all six dishes, John and Gregg will pick their two favourites, and those cooks will earn themselves not only a MasterChef apron but also a place in the next round. The remaining four contestants remain to face a second test, the Three Ingredients Challenge.

The heats continue as six more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2020 MasterChef champion. Once again, two contestants will proceed from the signature dish challenge, and two from the three ingredients task, with two going home. The four remaining chefs will then cook for the three MasterChef 2015 finalists, Emma Spitzer, Tony Rodd and Simon Wood, whose votes will help determine who goes through to the quarter-finals.

The six qualifiers from the first two heats return for the first quarter-final, hoping to win a place in Knockout Week. They first tackle an intimidating Critic's Test, cooking to a brief set by one of the UK's top food critics. This week, Jay Rayner asks them to produce a standout dish incorporating stuffing. Who will handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to progress further in the competition, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion 2020?

It's the second week of heats, and six more hopefuls get their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish – a plate that tells John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they can become. John and Gregg's two favourite dishes will earn their cooks a MasterChef apron and a place in the next round. The remaining four contestants then have to pull out all all the stops as they cook off in the Three Ingredients Challenge. Tasked with creating one exceptional dish showcasing three specific ingredients - pork tenderloin, butternut squash and cavolo nero - the stakes are high as two more cooks will progress and two will be sent home. The four remaining cooks now compete for places in the quarter-finals. They must cook two courses that excite John, Gregg and 2016 MasterChef finalists Billy Wright, Jack Layer and Jane Devonshire.

The second week of heats continues as six more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2020 MasterChef champion. Once again, two contestants will proceed from the signature dish challenge, and two from the three ingredients task, with two going home. The four remaining chefs will then cook for the three MasterChef 2010 finalists, Alex Rushmer, Dr Tim Kinnaird and Dhruv Baker.

It's the second quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week. Facing the Critic's Test, the week's best-performing amateurs take on the intimidating task of cooking to a brief set by one of the UK's top food critics. This time, Grace Dent asks them to produce a party sharing plate. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to progress further in the competition, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion 2020?

It's the third week of heats, and six more hopefuls get their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish – a plate that tells John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they can become. John and Gregg's two favourite dishes will earn their cooks a MasterChef apron and a place in the next round. The remaining four contestants then have to pull out all all the stops as they cook off in the Three Ingredients Challenge. Tasked with creating one exceptional dish showcasing three specific ingredients - crab, sweetcorn and spring onion - the stakes are high as two more cooks will progress and two will be sent home. The four remaining cooks now compete for places in the quarter-finals. They must cook two courses that excite John, Gregg and 2011 contestant Elizabeth Haigh, 2015 finalist Robert Parks and 2005 MasterChef champion Thomasina Miers.

The third week of heats continues as six more amateurs try to prove to judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace that they have the potential to be the 2020 MasterChef champion. Once again, two contestants will proceed from the signature dish challenge, and two from the three ingredients task, with two going home. The four remaining chefs will then cook for 2016 semi-finalist Elizabeth Cottam and MasterChef champions James Nathan (2008) and Tim Anderson (2011).

It's the third quarter-final, with six heat winners returning to fight for a place in Knockout Week. Facing the Critic's Test, the week's best-performing amateurs take on the intimidating task of cooking to a brief set by one of the UK's top food critics. This time, William Sitwell asks for a plant-based dish. Who can handle the pressure and show they have what it takes to progress further in the competition, taking another step closer to being crowned MasterChef champion 2020?

It's the fourth week of heats, and six more hopefuls get their first chance to win an apron by cooking their signature dish - a plate that tells John and Gregg who they are as a cook and how good they can become. John and Gregg's two favourite dishes will earn their cooks a MasterChef apron and a place in the next round. The remaining four contestants then have to pull out all all the stops as they cook off in the Three Ingredients Challenge. Tasked with creating one exceptional dish showcasing three specific ingredients - chocolate, cherries and coconut - the stakes are high as two more cooks will progress and two will be sent home. The four remaining cooks now compete for places in the quarter-finals. They must cook two courses that excite John and Gregg as well as 2018 semi-finalist Nisha Parmar, finalist Alex Jorge and champion Kenny Tutt.