MasterChef Australia returns with the best group of home cooks the competition has ever seen. In the first of three judges' auditions, our amateur cooks are given one hour to cook their best dish.

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?

This challenge is all about the pub lunch. The contestants are split into two teams and must cook three courses for 70 people with Marco Pierre White running the pass.

In this service challenge, the contestants are split into two teams. Each team must cook a three-course meal for 30 people replicating dishes from two celebrated Melbourne restaurants.

Today's off-site challenge will take place at George Calombaris' Hellenic Republic restaurant. Split into two teams, each team must prepare a three course feast for 120 guests to avoid elimination.

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

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 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?

Judge Jean-Christophe Novelli sets the first Pressure Test of the competition with his 1992 dessert, 'Jack in the Box'.

In the second judges' auditions our amateur cooks are given one hour to cook their best dish. To receive an apron, the contestants must receive a yes from all three judges.

With the Final Round of the Judge's Audition comes the First Pressure Test, which involves a Shannon Bennett Chocolate Bar.

The hopeful chefs suit up and show up for Marco Pierre White Week. With 75 minutes ticking away, they use the ingredients from Marco's mystery box of ingredients.

It takes 20 ovens, miles of stainless steel, an arsenal of appliances and knives that chop, cut, slice and dice, to discover the best amateur chef in Australia. Tasks include mystery boxes, celebrity chef challenges, masterclasses and off-site challenges. The usual elimination format applies. MasterChef experts are George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston.

The top three contestants from the invention test must make a filled pasta with a matching sauce. The winner will then enter a cook off for immunity against guest chef, Jake Kellie.

This mystery box challenge has been chosen by the viewers. Contestants have 75 minutes to create a dish using at least one ingredient chosen by the viewers.

The three contestants with the least impressive dishes from last nights the invention test face off in the pressure test. The contestant with the least impressive dish will be going home.

The three best performers in the invention test must create a dish using popcorn as the core ingredient. The winner will then need to out-cook the professional guest chef for immunity.

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 contestants from the losing pub lunch challenge team must correctly name an ingredient to avoid the elimination cook-off challenge, as the contestant with the least impressive dish will go home.

Today's mystery box challenge contains eight of the ugliest ingredients ever seen. The contestants must impress the judges by creating a beautiful & delicious dish in only 60 minutes.

The four members of the losing teams from the service challenge now face elimination. With so much at stake, which contestant will fail to impress the judges and be sent home from the competition?

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 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.

Guest chef Shannon Bennett returns with 10 of his favourite fridge and pantry items to create this mystery box. The two least impressive cooks will face off in the next episode's pressure test.