Kidderminster construction worker Jim Parsons in new MasterChef series

Jim Parsons has been a huge fan of the BBC One show for years and had always imagined himself on the other side of the television screen.

So it was a dream come true when he got the call to compete in the 17th series, and found himself serving his meat and two veg-inspired culinary creations to food experts John and Gregg.

Jim Parsons said being on MasterChef was like nothing he'd done before

The 44-year-old dad-of-two said: "I've followed the show from day dot, I've always thought it's an incredible show.

"You sit on the sofa and watch people make their food and have John and Gregg taste it, I always thought it would be amazing to be in that position one day.

"With the pandemic, I had more time to think about it over the last 12 months and I've been doing more cooking at home so I thought why not? I thought I'll apply and just see what happens. It's always been a dream to get on there.

"It was one of those things - I just applied and then got on with my everyday life, I sort of forgot about it.

"When I found out I'd got on, the emotions were twofold - elation, jumping around the room and wanting to scream, and another feeling in the pit of your stomach thinking wow, I'm going to cook for John and Gregg and people are going to witness that happen!"

Hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace are back with a new series of MasterChef. Photo by BBC/PA

Describing the experience as "like nothing I've done before", Jim said: "When you cook at home, you're not set against any particular time limit, you've always got time to change or rectify something. The challenge in the MasterChef kitchen is timing, I was always very conscious of that. The time just evaporates.

"Like any hobby or pastime, you have the equipment that you know and love using, but when you go into the MasterChef kitchen, it's all totally new - new hob, new saucepan, everything. The things you're used to at home might not be there - that in itself causes apprehension.

"It's like nothing I've done before, it's elation, excitement, trepidation and sheer fear rolled into one. It was the most incredible experience."

Jim is from Kidderminster and now lives in Abberley with his wife and his son and daughter, who he says are his "two chief tasters".

"I cook for my family most nights," said Jim. "I love having people round the table and putting my food in front of them. There's a sense of comradery in having people sat and eating around the table, there's no better feeling.

"My two kids have become my chief tasters, they're very critical of my cooking and I think that prepared me for John and Gregg!"

Jim's love of cooking blossomed at university, when his housemates gave him free rein to do the weekly food shop and make the dinners.

Jim says it was always a dream of his to cook for John and Gregg. Photo by BBC/PA

"My mom always cooked when I was growing up," said Jim. "I'd come home from school and we would have a family meal round the table.

"Then I started cooking for the people I lived with at university. They would give me money to buy some ingredients and cook, so it gave me a chance to practice my skills and make a meal out of what we had.

"I've always liked cooking as far back as I can remember. I find it quite therapeutic and relaxing, being in the kitchen for a few years and having a go at a recipe."

Jim says his favourite dish to cook is "meat and two veg", but he also pays attention to the seasonality of his ingredients, often shopping in local farm shops and buying locally-sourced products.

Describing his approach going into the MasterChef kitchen, Jim said: "I wanted to try and represent me on a plate.

"I like hearty, bold flavours, so any opportunity to show that, I planned to do so.

"I'm definitely a meat and two veg kind of cook, that's always my starting point, but I also like making fish with some sort of carb, but I'll do it in a way that can be presented full of flavour."

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While unable to reveal how far he gets in the competition, Jim did say he had become a better cook from being on the show.

"I've learned a lot from it," said Jim. "There's definitely more creativity when I'm cooking for the family now.

"It was fascinating to meet like-minded individuals who share that passion for food. I tried to learn from everything I went through and I think it has made me a better cook."

See how Jim gets on in the MasterChef kitchen at 8pm on Wednesday, March 17 on BBC One.

To see some of Jim's culinary creations, follow the_big_happy_cook on Instagram.