Elaine MaslinA children's doctor from Norfolk has made it through to the semi-finals of the BBC1's MasterChef programme. Dr Tim Kinnaird, 36, left his job working for Norfolk Community Health Care at the end of February after joining 135 other contestants picked from thousands of hopefuls in the television competition for Britain's top amateur chef.Elaine Maslin

A children's doctor from Norfolk has made it through to the semi-finals of the BBC1's MasterChef programme.

Dr Tim Kinnaird, 36, left his job working for Norfolk Community Health Care at the end of February after joining 135 other contestants picked from thousands of hopefuls in the television competition for Britain's top amateur chef.

Speaking on the show, aired on Friday, he said after 15 years as a full time paediatrician he now hopes to run a restaurant.

He cooked a pork escallop and then a piece of hake fish, beating five other contestants in his round to the place in the semi-final.

Speaking after winning the heat on the show he said: 'It is like some sort of crazy dream; I can't believe I'm standing here drinking champagne with you guys.

'I want to win MasterChef - this is just the start.'

Earlier Dr Kinnaird, who lives in Shipdham with his wife Dr Rachel Kinnaird, a GP at a surgery in Dereham, said: 'Medicine has been the last 15 years or so of my life.

'I can't be a full time paediatrician and run a restaurant, and I would like to concentrate of the idea of running a restaurant. Food is the framework of my life.'

He said he could remember the taste of pink wafers he ate at Lowestoft aged eight and Sardines in Corfu celebrating qualifying as a doctor.

Earlier in the programme he had admitted to feeling the pressure: 'It is just a silly cookery competition, I'm just getting it my all each time and it's getting hard.'

However, joint presenter, chef and restaurateur John Torode, said Dr Kinnaird's food was 'perfect'.

Of the hake, which he called a boldly flavoured dish, he said: 'I thought it was fantastic.'

The quarter finals continue on BBC1 tonight at 8pm.

Breckland Council is running a junior Masterchef competition for aspiring chefs aged 14 to 18 in a bid to encourage talented young cooks in the district.

To enter, children must submit details of a three course meal that they enjoy cooking and why. The best 25 will go through to area heats and have to cook their meal and then a final and another cook off.

The winner will win a one to one cookery lesson with Tina Pemberton, head chef at Brovey Lair restaurant in Ovington, near Watton.

For more information contact Richard Wills on 01362 656344.