Who is Alison O’Reilly? MasterChef 2017 contestant who’s out of the competition and marketing consultant
ALISON O'Reilly has been knocked out of the MasterChef competition, after failing to impress the judges in the penultimate task.
Here's everything we know about the Irish lass and keen cook...
Who is Alison O'Reilly?
Alison is a marketing consultant from Dublin, who grew up in a big foodie family - and started cooking at a very young age.
The 30-year-old's dad was a publican, while her aunt and uncle owned a fleet of restaurants.
Alison was given the Usborne First Cookbook when she was just six years old, and had soon cooked every recipe in the book - from cover to cover.
She studied at the Dublin Institute of Technology between 2004 and 2011, and has a Masters degree and Masters of Science in Creative Digital Media.
Alison has worked in Sydney, Austrlia, and moved to London in July 2013. She currently works for Rare: Training & Consultancy.
Why's everyone talking about Alison on MasterChef?
Much like Faye Dodwell, Alison sailed through the quarter finals of MasterChef, comfortably making her way all the way through to the finals.
And, up until she was unexpectedly knocked out the competition she was widely touted as the one to beat - pulling off impressive dishes and winning herself an army of fans.
When cooking for the previous finalists, Alison managed a feat most chefs quiver at the thought of - by successfully carrying three plates at once.
Her food - as well as her calm, collected approach to cooking under pressure - seriously impressed viewers.
Even on the market challenge, where contestants were put on the spot to cook restaurant quality food without pre-planning their meal, saw Alison cook a fantastic stuffed chicken dish.
Twitter user tomxweaver said: "I'm in love with Alison from Thursday night's Masterchef", and he's certainly not alone.
When is MasterChef on TV?
It's the MasterChef finals week continues daily at 8pm on BBC One.
Alison left the competition after preparing a three-course-menu designed by star chef Sat Baines.
Just three contestants remain for the final showdown tomorrow (May 12).
What does the winner of MasterChef get?
The MasterChef winner gets a shiny trophy, but the main appeal is the prestige and exposure which the show brings.
Dozens of past finalists have gone on to open their own restaurants.
Thomasina Miers, the brains behind Wahaca, was crowned champion in 2005.
While 2011 winner Tim Anderson opened his first restaurant Nanban, in Brixton, south London, in 2015.
And Larkin Cen, a 2013 finalist, has a successful Asian restaurant, called Woky Ko, in Bristol.
