Alex Colman

Eamonn Hunt (far right) with the final MasterChef contestants impressed farmers with recipes based on local ingredients in last week’s episode

A joiner from Lincoln has reached the final six of BBC’s MasterChef and will be cooking for Michel Roux Jr on Wednesday’s show.

Eamonn Hunt cooked his way into the final 12 by serving Lincolnshire Red Beef, earning a coveted MasterChef apron.

After numerous telephone and physical interviews and supplying food samples, Hunt was invited to a blind taste test with the show’s presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode choosing the finalists from a group of 70.

The Lincoln man narrowly missed out on a place in the final last year but with aspirations of becoming a professional chef, he returned with fresh inspiration.

“Being 47 it is too late for me to start from scratch so I wanted MasterChef to kick start things and I’d love to work in a top restaurant and even open my own one day in Lincoln,” said Hunt.

Hunt’s love of cooking stems from time spent in the kitchen as a child alongside his mum, with the memory of watching her make a pilchard pizza when he was seven.

He said: “I love Italian food, the fresh ingredients, simple recipes, alfresco dining and the whole idea of a family orientated meal.”

Never happier than when cooking for friends and family, his food now has a wider audience thanks to MasterChef.

“It is still weird to have your hand shaken by strangers wishing good luck, especially having lived in Lincoln for 25 years without being noticed, but the support is absolutely lovely,” said Hunt.

Hunt has found seeing himself on television hard to get to grips with: “It is odd hearing your voice back but the strangest thing is seeing yourself in the moment looking stressed and emotional, it is very embarrassing.”

A group of supporters meet every week in the Tap and Spile on Hungate to watch MasterChef and Hunt has been using Twitter to interact with well wishers via @HuntEamonn.

MasterChef continues Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One, when the contestants will have to prepare a three-course meal for over 200 guests at Middle Temple – one of the historical Inns of Court at the heart of the British legal system, before cooking for two Michelin starred chef and legend Michel Roux Jr.

Lincoln College’s £7.5 million sport and leisure redevelopment will open its doors to members of the public in August.

The project is designed as a commercially operated centre with a range of membership options, bookable sports facilities, beauty and spa treatments and also a corporate offering.

Full health and fitness membership will cost £350 per year or £35 monthly, for access to the gym, aerobic classes, the spa, climbing wall and racquet sports.

Basic membership which allows for gym only, aerobic classes only or spa only costs £200 per year or £20 monthly.

A range of courts, sports halls, a dance studio, trampoline and bouldering room can also be booked along with the outdoor park and games area.

Opening hours will work around college teaching and the public and members will be able to use the centre between 5pm and 10pm during weekdays and from 8am to 8pm at weekends with early morning weekday opening sessions also a possibility.

The use of the facility will be diverse with children’s parties bookable alongside tailor made corporate days which will both make use of the college’s pre-existing catering facilities.

The Dean’s Building has a unique offering for local clubs, allowing local classes and clubs to not only bring their sessions to the centre but allows them to use it as their fixed address with a mail room service in place.

A range of classes will also be run by Dean’s Building staff and sessions will be taken onto the outdoor park and games area during the summer months.

Hair and beauty treatments will be more widely available with the college’s new rent a chair scheme which is designed to help local self employed hairdressers as well as students and subsequently making the service open to the public by appointment.

Vice Principal Corporate Resources at Lincoln College, Ian Sackree, explained how the college aims to promote a higher self worth for people in the community.

“We are part funded by taxpayer’s money so we want to open our facilities so they can sweat the rewards themselves,” said Sackree.

Some 30 new jobs will be created by the redevelopment ranging from managerial and administration roles, catering and shop staff to apprentices, instructors and personal trainers.

Below is a walk through video of what the completed building will look like:

Photo by Dominic Clark for The Lincolnite