TONIGHT is the final of BBC One's MasterChef - and a Dorset-based former winner and regular show judge tells us who he's been watching this series.

The finale of the cooking series was due to air last Friday, but the BBC suspended its scheduled programming to cover Prince Philip's death at 99. It was rescheduled to air tonight at 8pm.

The episode will see either Tom, Alexina or Mike take home the coveted MasterChef prize.

Former MasterChef winner, and now regular judge on the show, Mat Follas, who lives in Dorset, has opened a number of restaurants in the county since winning the competition in 2009.

On winning MasterChef, Mat said: "It completely changed my life, I was a manager for IBM repairing laptops before I went on the show. It completely changed everything, but it was a very welcome change.

"I didn't go on to MasterChef to win. I think that a lot of the winners on the show don't go on to win, they go on because of their love of cooking - and that's why they win."

Mat has been watching the most recent series and shared his thoughts on some of this year's contestants.

He said: "I do like what I've seen Alexina cooking so far in the show.

"I'll be watching it tonight."

There were a few people Mat said he was surprised to see go so early in the show, including Claire and Letitia. He said he especially liked how Claire used ingredients which were local to where she lived.

On being a regular judge on the show, Mat said: "It is fun to do, I got to do it with another winner of the show for an episode this series, Shelina [Permalloo]. She is a good mate and the show has a really nice community around it.

"When I'm judging there is a little voice in my head saying, 'who do you think you are?'

"I think I try to stay very positive when I'm judging other people's food. I have strong likes and dislikes and sometimes I don't personally like something that other people think is great. It's very subjective."

Mat is from New Zealand but has lived in Dorset for many years and now calls the county his home. However he has only recently moved to Sherborne where his new restaurant is located.

He said: "It is really nice to be in a town with ao much independent business. I think it is a lovely community who have been very supportive."

Mat opened the Bramble restaurant last December, however it was only open for three weeks before having to shut as the UK went back into lockdown.

Mat said: "When we were open the restaurant was doing really well, we were fully booked for two months.

"We are opening up again at the end of May."

Mat also hosts a wild foraging course in Sherborne which shows people how to identify edible plants and how they can be used in cooking.

Many of the dishes at Bramble are inspired by wild and seasonal produce.

He said: "Our new restaurant in Sherborne is just off the main road, it's a really nice little place and I'm looking forward to when Covid restrictions allow us to open up again.

"We are booking really well for May and the first half of June. We will be opening with a taster menu which will be serving seven to eight courses."