A MASTERCHEF contestant from Bicester will tonight go up against seven chefs in the TV show semi final after making it past the first knockout phase.

Food blogger Sarah McCready was one of eight successful contestants from a total of nine who impressed judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace in last night's round.

The 24-year-old, who has a half-Polish grandmother, served up a series of Polish deserts including cherry pierogi, sour cream sorbet, cherry poppyseed cake and rose petal jam - which impressed judges so much her name was first to be called up.

Community project leader at Dorchester Living, Miss McCready will now head to Lincolnshire for a mass cooking session for The Red Arrows as she feeds 90 pilots and support crew for their 50th anniversary celebration lunch.

The Heyford Park magazine writer said: "The pressure is really emotional and the stakes are so high, you don't realise how emotionally invested you are until the judges say good or bad things."

Miss McCready will be in action at 8pm on BBC tonight.