The amateur culinary contest returns as more budding cooks try to impress judges Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier in a bid to become Ireland's next star chef. The contest begins with the first round of auditions, in which the hopefuls have less that an hour to create their own signature dish.

Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier oversee the second set of auditions, as dozens of hopefuls step up to the chopping board in an effort to fill the 10 remaining places in the final 16 line-up. Each cook has just 55 minutes to prepare a dish that aims to be impressive enough to earn them a MasterChef apron.

Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier challenge the contestants to create a dish that reflects their personalities and passion for cooking, but an unexpected twist to the task puts the hopefuls under pressure. As the judges assess the competitors' efforts, they decide on the first four to leave the group.

The 12 contestants travel to Kilkenny Castle, where they are challenged to cook for the participants of the Kilkenny Triathlon in mobile kitchens.

The final 10 contestants are put to work in some of the finest restaurants in Dublin to test their skills - cooking for real customers under the watchful eye of professional head chefs. Only five will be chosen as the best performers on the day, whilst the remaining hopefuls will face the first Pressure Test of the series. Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier present.

The nine remaining contestants face two new challenges that showcase thier creativity and competitive edge - preparing dishes inspired by the judges' favourite childhood recipes and cooking selected cuts of pork.

The eight remaining contestants prepart and serve a four-course meal to 35 diners in a pop-up restaurant in Dublin, with ingredients chosen by chef Giles Clark. The following day, they receive a masterclass from Mickael Viljanen of the Greenhouse Restaurant and have to re-create one of his signature dishes, hay-smoked pigeon with beetroot, chicory grapes, before one contestant loses their apron.

The seven remaining contestants face a demanding taste test carried out by scientist and molecular gastronomist Juan Valverde and Dublin chef Karl Whelan. Back in the kitchen, they receive a masterclass in making ice-cream and sorbet from expert Kieran Murphy, before being challenged to create their own sweet treats for judges Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier.

The final five contestants head to the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Oirr, where they meet local man Enda Conneely, who shows them how to forage on the seashore. The hopefuls then receive a fish-filleting masterclass from award-winning cook Nathan Outlaw, before being challenged to replicate one of the chef's signature dishes.

The last four contestants face a gruelling challenge if they want to win a place in the semi-final. Dylan McGrath specially designs dishes to test every hopeful's weaknesses, and they have to prepare them for a selection of Ireland's award-winning chefs, including Derry Clarke, Kevin Thornton, Ross Lewis, Oliver Dunne, Martijn Kajuite and Guillaume Lebrun.

The final three contestants are challenged to cook a lunch service at a Michelin-star restaurant in London, before each preparing a course at one of Stockholm's leading eateries. The remaining hopefuls will need to be on top form as the competition nears its conclusion. Presented by Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier.

The Final - After weeks of gruelling challenges, the finalists compete one last time in a bid to become Ireland's next MasterChef, taking the title from 2011's champion Mary Carney. The cooks take to the kitchen to prepare a three-course meal, but have to impress judges Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier, who will decide this year's winner of the prestigious contest. Last in the series.