By Charlie Harman and Georgia Woolf

A police officer has reached the final five on BBC One's MasterChef.

Delia-Maria Asser, 28, from Ashford is set to compete in the finals of the culinary show this week.

In the last episode, the amateur chefs pulled out the stops to deliver a lunchtime service to leading spice industry experts and authors.

The team then headed back to the MasterChef kitchen to compete for a place in the finals.

Delia, who works for Kent Police, secured her place in the final five after she impressed judges with a banana and sherry soufflé, malt ice cream and a malt beignet and a banana and chocolate ganache.

In the next episode, the finalists will prepare a five-course tasting menu at The Royal Society in London. It will air tomorrow at 9pm.

Kent Online reporters Charlie Harman and Georgia Woolf caught up with Delia ahead of the final...

When did you start cooking?

I started cooking when I was very young, maybe seven or eight years old. I started by baking and making cakes but then went on to making packed lunches for me and my sister and dinner for my family. It definitely wasn’t always great but my parents taught me that practice makes perfect.

Was this your first attempt to get on the show?

I applied a few years ago and got through the initial application stage but wasn’t able to continue because I had work commitments. Then last year, it just felt like the right time. I’d always said I would go on MasterChef one day and when I reapplied and found out I got on, I was over the moon.

How have you found the process?

The process has been fantastic because I have made friends for life. It’s impossible not to get on well with people that you share the same passion and love of food with. Everyone I have met has been fantastic.

Have you already filmed all of the episodes?

Yes all the episodes have been filmed – I am keeping quiet about what happens next though. You’ll have to tune in.

What would you like to say to your local supporters?

I would just like everyone to know how thankful I am for their support! I feel really humbled and just so lucky. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind. I have received continuous streams of messages from members of the public who I haven’t met or don’t know and all have been great. It’s great to know that so many people are rooting for you.

How has your experience on MasterChef shaped you and your cooking?

It’s definitely given me the confidence to cook anything even if I have never done it before. I’ve definitely found my style now. I love buying ingredients I haven’t worked with before and developing flavour combinations and new techniques. MasterChef has been the best thing I have ever done.

How supportive has Kent Police been in your MasterChef journey?

They’ve been fantastic – I couldn’t have done it without the support of my team and inspector. Everyone has been encouraging but they just wish I brought in more food for them.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford