A MARKETING manager from North Wales is aiming to 'make people smile' through his food as he prepares for the MasterChef semi-final.

The 18th series of the popular BBC show is now underway with judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace once again on a journey to discover the UK’s best amateur cook, one plate at a time.

In episode 7 - which aired on April 5 - Ioan Jones advanced to the semi-finals which are due to start on Tuesday, April 26.

Read more:

 

Ioan was born in Ruthin and grew up in the Wrexham area but now lives in Salford where he works as a Marketing Manager.

For his audition dish on the show, the 38-year-old put together a pork saltimbocca (pork fillet wrapped in parma ham with a sage and butter filling) with hasselback potatoes in goose fat, onion puree, roasted vine tomatoes, salsa verde and a parmesan leaf.

There were positive comments for Ioan's dish from judge Gregg who said it was 'well cooked' and that he 'loved the strong sage flavour'.

Ioan is now preparing for semi-finals week which begins on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

The ten semi-finalists will be tested in a live service setting, with the studio being turned into a restaurant.

Contestants will be split into three groups - with each one tasked with either starters, mains or desserts.

North Wales Pioneer:

PIC: Ioan Jones on MasterChef. Picture by Shine TV/BBC.

The top eight will then continue on to the next semi-final challenge on Thursday, April 28, 2022 - an invention test.

After two are axed, the remaining six will cook a three-course lunch for the Royal British Legion.

Speaking ahead of the semi-finals, Ioan said: " I have worked in the hospitality and drinks sector for most of my professional life. It is a sector that I am hugely passionate about and love.

"I would relish the opportunity to combine that with my love of cooking - a good pub with excellent food and drink. But most importantly, I want to make people smile through my food!

"My other passion is to inspire people to cook. I want to help them develop their knowledge, learn new techniques, introduce them to new recipes and ideas and encourage people to dive into the kitchen.

"I am inspired to cook through the great women of my life - my mother, and my two grandmothers. I always remember baking cakes with them and learning classic techniques to enable me in life to develop great tasting dishes."