WILTSHIRE'S very own MasterChef contestant Elly Wentworth said she is over the moon to have reached the final four of the competition and has relished the opportunity to showcase her talent.

The 24-year-old, who works as a junior sous chef at Lucknam Park in Colerne, stunned judges and the chef's table in the first episode of the three-part final on Tuesday night with her ravioli of brill, caramelised fennel and shellfish.

Talking about her success, she said: "I am over the moon. From being part of 48 chefs to get down to the last four is an amazing achievement. I honestly did not think I was going to get this much support. To get this far is a huge achievement and the other three remaining chefs are just as good as me and they all have different backgrounds.

"The judges have believed in my cooking from day one and it's something to be proud of - but every time I've walked into the MasterChef kitchen I have known I am only as good as the plate of food I am about to cook."

During the first episode, Elly was praised for her relaxed attitude towards cooking for the illustrious chef's table and the 24-year-old said she did what she had to do.

"In the moment you know you just have to do it and it is all about the food," she said. "I did not think about the chefs at all. I just thought it was a table of 30 eating my food. At the end of the day, whether it is family, guests or chefs, they are all VIP's."

The junior sous chef, who started her career as a pot washer aged 13 in Plymouth, said she would like to see more women entering professional kitchens and has ambitions to own her own restaurant by the time she is 27.

For now though, Elly is staying focused on progressing under Hywel Jones at Lucknam Park and said that the MasterChef has grown her confidence and taught her to believe in herself.

The final resumes tonight at 8pm on BBC Two, where the chefs will battle it out for an all-important place in the final three and the chance to go on the trip of a lifetime to one of the world's most exciting Michelin restaurants.