Find out where the MasterChef ex-contestants are now in a premiere special

The heat is on. A fresh group of home cooks from around the country will eagerly tackle challenges that will see one of them take home the title and $250,000.

After a record-breaking first-round cook that saw an extraordinary 20 aprons handed out, only four aprons remain. Who will have what it takes to impress the judges?

In the third and final round of the judge's auditions, six contestants are vying for the final apron, which will secure them a place in the top 24.

Top 24 Mystery Box Challenge: Elena Duggan The top 24 contestants enter the kitchen for their first mystery box challenge.

Hidden Pairs Elimination Challenge Bottom 4 cooking of in the mystery pairs elimination challenge.

The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from the invention test face off in the pressure test. To survive they must keep up with Gary Mehigan as he prepares his classic roast chicken.

The top three contestants from the invention test now compete in creating a family meal for four in half-an-hour. The winner will then take on a professional chef for a chance at immunity.

The contestants gather at Gradi, one of Melbourne's leading Italian restaurants before being split into two teams who must prepare four dishes for 250 hungry diners to avoid the elimination challenge.

The losing team from the Italian service challenge face elimination. Who will be the next to leave the competition? Plus, don't miss the first MasterClass of 2017 led by judges Gary, George and Matt.

Contestants have 75 minutes to create a dish using ingredients from the mystery box with the winner gaining the advantage in the invention test.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now face a pressure test to recreate Andy Bowdy's Rita cake to avoid elimination. Who will be the next to leave the competition?

The three best performers from the invention test are now vying for a chance at immunity. Does the amateur cook have what it takes to out-cook the professional?

The contestants are split into teams of four in a relay challenge as each member has 15 minutes to cook and only 45 seconds to hand over to the next cook in the relay.

The losing team from the relay challenge now face elimination and the contestants have 90 minutes which they can use to buy ingredients. Who will be the next to leave the competition?

Contestants have 90 minutes to create a delicious dessert from the mystery box ingredients. However, only five dishes will be tasted and only three will move on to the immunity challenge.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now face off in the pressure test elimination, and have to recreate an ice cream float with a helium-filled toffee ballon.

The three best-performing contestants from the invention test compete for immunity. Each contestant has 90 minutes to create a dessert while the professional chefs will only have 75 minutes.

Contestants will be working in teams to build an edible art installation in a specially constructed greenhouse. With just 8 hours to impress the judges which team will be safe from elimination?

The losing team from the greenhouse challenge now face elimination. The first three to fail the blindfold taste test will have 75 minutes to prepare an impressive dish to stay in the competition.

Contestants have 75 minutes to create a delicious dish from the mystery box of traditional Thai ingredients to gain advantage in the invention test.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now cook off in a three hour pressure test set by 2016's Chef of the Year. Who will impress and who has cooked their last dish in the competition?

The three best performers in the invention test battle it out for the chance to cook for an immunity pin. Will the amateur contestant have what it takes to out-cook a professional?

Each team must serve two dishes in one of four market-friendly ways at the famous South Melbourne Market. The two teams that make the least amount of money will face off in an elimination challenge.

Eight contestants now face elimination and must survive three rounds if they are to keep their food dream alive. Will one of the top contenders fail to impress the judges?

Master of Mediterranean cuisine, Yotam Ottolenghi's mystery box challenge gives contestants 75 minutes to create a delicious dish to gain an advantage going into the invention test.

The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from the invention test must cook off to avoid elimination in a pressure test set by the master of Mediterranean cuisine, Yotam Ottolenghi.

The three best performers in the invention test must first face off for a chance to cook against a professional chef for immunity. Does an amateur have what it takes to defeat a professional?

Split into two teams, each group must prepare a Yotam Ottolenghi-style vegetarian feast for a group of meat lovers. The team that serves the least impressive feast will be up for elimination.

The seven members of the losing team from the vegetarian feast challenge are facing elimination. Which favourite will be going home? Plus, a very special Yotam Ottolenghi MasterClass.

Contestants have an hour to create a delicious dish from ingredients found in the Mystery Box set by international celebrity chef Curtis Stone.

The bottom four contestants from the invention test must now cook off in the Pressure Test set by one of the world's top chocolatiers to avoid elimination. Who will be next to leave the competition?

Twelve of the previously eliminated contestants now have a chance to cook their way back into the competition. Which one of the home cooks will secure themselves a second chance?

MasterChef Australia2016 runner-up Matt Sinclair is on hand to mentor contestants in a pop-up restaurant team challenge to create a three-course menu for 100 diners.

The six members of the losing team from the pop-up restaurant challenge enter the kitchen facing elimination. Who will be the next contestant to leave the competition?

It's Heston Blumenthal week. Heston takes the top 12 contestants on a road trip through regional Victoria; the first stop is the mighty Murray River in Swan Hill.

Contestants split into pairs have 75 minutes to cook one main and one dessert that must incorporate the element of earth. The least impressive team will then need to cook off to avoid elimination.

The judges and Heston Blumenthal welcome the eight contestants to the Mildura salt pan. The contestants must cook dishes inspired by 'air' in teams of four.

Contestants have 60 minutes to cook a savoury dish inspired by fire. The two least impressive dishes must then cook off to avoid the elimination challenge.

Contestants have 75 minutes to cook a delicious dish to avoid elimination. Later, Heston Blumenthal's MasterClass shows how to cook a tasty BBQ leg of Mallee lamb.

Contestants have an hour to create a dish from the Mystery Box ingredients, with only three dishes to be tasted. The maker of the winning dish will receive an advantage in the invention test.

Unwatched The contestants have three hours and 45 minutes to recreate Paul Carmichael's Bajan fish fry from Momofuku Seiobo. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be eliminated from the competition.

The three best performers from the invention test now compete for a chance at immunity. Will our amateur cook have what it takes to out-perform one of Australia's best chefs?

Split into pairs, each team must make two plates of the same dish and they must be identical, but they will not be able to see or taste what their team mate is cooking.

The bottom four contestants from the team challenge now must cook off and produce a spectacular dish to stay alive in the competition.

This program is about to get even bigger as the competition travels to the land of the cherry blossom, Japan. Contestants must explore Tokyo to find ingredients for the mystery box challenge.

Each of the eight contestants will have to conceive, cook and deliver one course as part of an eight-course Kappo-style degustation for some of Tokyo's food elite.

The winning contestants from the invention test and the Kappo challenge now have a chance to fight it out for immunity in view of Mount Fuji at the Obuchi Tea Plantation.

The judges welcome contestants to the heart of Shinjuku, where Tokyo comes alive at night. Contestants will be cooking at a local alleyway packed with street stalls to feed hundreds of hungry diners.

The losing team from the Yokocho street stall challenge must cook off to stay in the competition. Contestants must cook a dish that celebrates where they have come from and where they are going.

Japan week concludes at Tateyama Castle for a very special MasterClass with Michelin star sushi chef who walks the contestants through the simplicity and beauty of the perfect sushi.

Contestants have an hour to create a dish from four mystery ingredients to gain advantage in the invention test. Later, contestants must recreate a classic dish and avoid facing elimination.

The three least impressive contestants from the invention test cook off in a pressure test set by MasterChef alumni, Kylie Millar. Who has cooked their last dish in the kitchen?

The three best invention test performers now face a special souffle immunity challenge. Can our amateur chef out-cook a professional and find themselves cooking in finals week?

The judges reveal that each contestant will be in charge of either an entree, main or dessert to serve 50 hungry customers. The bottom three contestants will then be up for elimination.

The three least impressive contestants from the service challenge must cook to stay in the competition and earn their place in finals week. Who will be the next to leave?

It's finals week. The top six contestants enter the kitchen to face a mystery box challenge to prove to the judges just how far they have come in the competition.

The bottom three contestants from the invention test now cook off in a pressure test to avoid elimination. Who will be the next to leave the competition?

The top five contestants must create either a sweet or savoury dish and present seven plates of food for the judges as well as four of Australia’s top chefs to avoid elimination from the competition.

The pressure is on as the top four contestants enter one of Melbourne's top restaurants, Dinner By Heston, for a service challenge. Who will be the first semifinalist?

Three contestants must create a dish worthy of a place in the semifinal. The final MasterClass of the season sees the tables turned on Gary, George and Shannon, who compete in a mystery box challenge. Later, Curtis Stone drops by to take part in an invention test relay.

The stakes are high as the three remaining contestants fight it out for the two places in the finale and the chance of winning the coveted prize.

Who will be crowned the winner of 2017? The finalists are competing for a $250,000 cash prize and a column in Australia's leading premium food magazine, Delicious.