Claire believes in power of gravy and custard!

MASTERCHEF HOPEFUL WOWED CHEFS IN FIRST ROUND OF SHOW

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE woman has sailed through to the next round in the new series of BBC MasterChef.

Claire, 46, who lives in Newark with her husband Paul and two children, Evelynne and Henry, impressed presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode from the off.

Screening of the new series was delayed due to the controversy that led to the sacking of the long-running hosts and there was even talk that it might not be aired at all after complaints of sexual misconduct upheld against Wallace, while Torode was fired for using an offensive racist term.

Claire, one of six contestants in the heat on Thursday, took peas as the everyday ingredient to elevate in the first challenge. She combined a tin of marrowfat peas with ham hock to make croquettes and frozen peas to make a custard flavoured with mint, served with lemon mayo.