Derek Johnstone is Professional MasterChef Champion

25 year old Derek Johnstone from Erskine, Renfrewshire, was tonight declared the winner of the first ever series of MasterChef: the Professionals.

By the time the final two challenges were over (nothing much really, just cooking for a gaggle of internationally renowned chefs and a handful of retired Michelin inspectors, and then whipping up a gourmet three course meal for Michel Roux Jr and Gregg Wallace) it seemed to be a two-horse race between Derek and Murray, with nothing much to choose between them. It always looked unlikely that Leon was going to take the title, though stranger things have happened in TV talent contests before now.

In the final analysis Derek was judged to be the full package whereas Murray has shown slight weakness in one or two areas. It has to be said though that Derek did play it quite safe with his dishes in the final whereas Murray and Leon both showed flair and imagination in their choice of ingredients and in the presentation.

All three chefs - and indeed the other thirty-three who didn't make it as far as the final - showed great skill, dedication and an enormous amount of commitment to their craft. They should all be proud of themselves and we should be proud of them too. These are the British chefs of the not-so-distant future whose cooking could one day earn them the Michelin stars they aspire to. Very well done to all of them, but especially to Derek Johnstone, who next month starts working for Michel Roux Jr at his London restaurant Le Gavroche.

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