Celebrity MasterChef 2016: Reverend Richard Coles and Neil Back through to semi-finals

The two final candidates have made it through to the Celebrity Masterchef semi-finals.

Radio 4 presenter Reverend Richard Coles and rugby player Neil Back beat off stiff competition to earn their place in the next round.

In the final part of the second heats, four candidates had their cooking skills put to the ultimate test, when they were given one last chance convinces judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode to put them through.

Cooking up a storm were alongside Rev Coles and Neil Back were EastEnders’ Laila Morse, aka Big Mo, and Sugababes singer Amelle Berrabah.

The candidates were tasked with whipping up a flawless two-course meal to impress not just the judges, but also a selection of previous Celebrity MasterChef winners – including Phil Vickery, Adrian Edmondson and Sam Nixon.

And it was the two men who managed to secure a place in the semi-finals, and are still in with a chance of earning themselves the coveted title.

Nick Back's main of seabass and strawberry shortbread dessert impressed the judges enough to secure him a place in the penultimate round of the competition, whereas Rev Richard Coles' chocolate brownie earned him praise.

But Laila was sent home after serving up overcooked liver and burnt apple crumble, while Amelle's Thai curry and mango and cardamom syllabub also failed to make the grade.

The four remaining candidates will be battling it out again next week for a place in the finals.