Herefordshire student takes on BBC Three Young MasterChef

Acting student Nathan Priday, 22, was born in Ludlow but grew up in Leintwardine, north of Leominster, where he lives with his mum.

The series, which aired on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer this month, saw 15 other young chefs battle it out.

The rival rookie cooks serve up dishes for judges Poppy O'Toole and Kerth Gumbs at the Young MasterChef kitchen.

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"I think you've got to be determined if you're coming on MasterChef, you've got to live up to the expectations," he said on the programme.

His aim was to push himself a lot, he said.

Nathan Priday, 22, is one of 15 young people taking part in the new series. Picture: BBC/Shine Ltd

In his episode he made his own take on a rhubarb crumble, which included rhubarb three ways.

It also had a crème anglaise, and a caramel sauce, topped with some sponge sugar.

His dessert was the first of the series, and judge Poppy O'Toole said he had "big boots to fill" and described it as "creative" but was sure he needed to find the "right balance".

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The programme visited him in Leintwardine, that Mr Priday described as "so rural", "an amazing place to live", and "communal".

"Everyone is just so friendly," he said.

Mr Priday spoke of the period of his childhood when he lived with his grandparents, who inspired his love of food.

Young Masterchef can be watched on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in January. Picture: BBC/Shine Ltd

Their allotment that allowed them to have satisfaction from eating their homegrown food, he said.

His acting has allowed him to appreciate the "theatre behind food", said Mr Priday.

"I love to deconstruct food, and plate them in unusual ways," he said.

"I'm very excited about being on Young MasterChef, and I want to make myself proud and of course my village."

When tasting his food judge Gumbs said the pickled rhubarb was refreshing and crisp.

He also liked his sponge sugar, but said it was overly sweet.

But judge O'Toole said she almost thought the opposite. She thought the roasted rhubarb could have had more sweetness, as well as the crème anglaise.

"I genuinely would have done more sweetness across all of the dish, but I have a very sweet tooth," she said.

Judge Gumbs joked that he had split the judges.

Priday said he was a little worried, but he couldn't change anything at that point and hoped for the best.

When the judges announced he would be leaving the programme Mr Priday said he had hoped to have gotten further.

"I think we just had a strong heat today," he said.

"You've just got to keep moving, keep your head up, and just keep working to what you want."