Tensions rise in MasterChef elimination cook-off

LIVE BLOG 7.30pm (AEST): MasterChef competition heats up as last few contestants vie for place in finals week.

THE competition it heating up on MasterChef as the last few contestants vie for a place in finals week.

In tonight's episode, two of the show's most colourful personalities, Ellie Paxton-Hall and Dani Venn, face an elimination challenge after landing in the bottom two in last night's cook-off.

Paxton-Hall, 21, failed to impress the judges with a dish featuring the vegetable salsify as her core ingredient. Venn, 25, also fell short with her licorice allsort inspired dessert.

However, in the likely case that Venn uses her immunity pin tonight, Alana Lowes, 31, will be forced to take her place after coming third in last night's challenge.

Lowes broke down into tears on air after learning she might be forced into the cook-off, saying she performed well enough in the challenge to stay in the competition and didn't deserve to be there.

Kate Bracks, 32, and Michael Weldon, 25, were the first two contestants to make it through to finals week after taking first and second place respectively in last night's challenge.

The MasterChef grand final airs Sunday, August 7 on Channel 10.

Join our TV experts for a live blog during the final elimination episodes of MasterChef starting tonight at 7.30pm below.

Join us again on Monday, Thursday and for the grand final next Sunday August 7.