'A few glasses of wine inspired my MasterChef bid'

Sophie Segrue grew up watching MasterChef with her family in Basildon

A MasterChef finalist admitted she finally decided to enter the competition after "a few glasses" of wine.

Sophie Segrue, who grew up watching the show at home in Basildon, Essex, is now among the three chefs battling it out in Friday's grand final on BBC One.

The 25-year-old vegetarian was one of 60 cooks who started the process, but went on to star for her plant-based dishes.

"Cooking is like my love language, so you know you're loved by me if I cook food for you," she told BBC Essex.

Miss Segrue was inspired to apply for the show by her late father, who she used to watch it with.

"It was one of those things where I'd go 'please can I stay up and watch?' and they'd be like 'oh fine'," she said.

"They probably had no idea where it was going to lead me."

But the chef admitted her application was not just encouraged by nostalgia.

"I've always watched MasterChef sat on a sofa with a glass of wine in my armchair, shouting at my TV saying 'don't do that, do this'," she added.

"I was like, maybe I should apply - probably a few glasses deep at this point. I put an application in, and I really, really didn't expect to hear back.

"Lo and behold, I actually got on the show."

Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh were announced as the show's new hosts in September

Miss Segrue has stood out for her vegetarian dishes, having stopped eating meat almost 10 years ago.

She said it had been surreal to cook in the MasterChef kitchen after a childhood of watching it on TV.

"It feels like you're in a dream, it does not feel real," said the cook, who now lives in London.

"When you're in there, it's all systems go. You never know what can happen in the kitchen.

"One minute you can have the perfect cook, but it only takes one tiny thing to go wrong, and that can be the end of your competition."

The MasterChef final airs on BBC One at 20:00 BST on Friday.