MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker has spoken of his delight at winning the prestigious competition.

The 34-year-old, who was born in Mexico, was recently awarded his trophy by restaurateur John Torode and food writer and ingredients expert Gregg Wallace, after seven weeks of gruelling competition.

He said: "It was overwhelming. I was a bit stunned at first and then all that emotion I had been holding back just came out.

"I called my wife, who is an award winner herself, and told her she would have to make some space on the mantelpiece. She didn't realise at first and then she just started screaming."

Throughout the final week Dhruv, alongside other finalists Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird, had to demonstrate his creativity, skill and determination as the finalists undertook serious challenges.

These included travelling to the Rajasthan desert in India for a gruelling three-day challenge in 100-degree heat, where they cooked for a Maharajah and his family in a Palace atop the hills of Jodhpur.

They were also required to run their own restaurant for the evening for paying customers with their own food on the menu, and expected to cook for one of the world's greatest living chefs, the legendary Alain Ducasse, and five of his protégée's, who between them hold an incredible 30 Michelin stars.

The final task was to prepare a three course meal for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Dhruv, whose mother is Indian, says he has had a keen interest in cooking ever since he was a child.

He comments: "As a child I used to love food and I expressed my interest in learning to cook. Then as I got older I moved to Birmingham and lived in a student house with boys and you don't really cook that much.

But afterwards, when I got my own place, I started experimenting and that's when it really started to come out."

After MasterChef completed filming Dhruv was sworn to secrecy until the show aired, preventing him from even telling his mum that he had entered and won.

He said: "It was very difficult because I had to go back to my normal life. We talked about it at home but other than that we had to stay quiet. People wanted to know where I had been and so I had to say I was on jury service. Keeping it from my mum was the hardest."

Dhruv has left his job as a board director at Hi Tech Media, where he had worked for ten years, in pursuit of his passion. He hopes to open a pop up restaurant with finalists Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird. He will also be appearing at the MasterChef Experience at the Summer Good Food Show in Birmingham on 16th to the 20th June.

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