A life-long obsession with cooking led an Enfield man to the studios of a top cookery competition.

If you can’t stand the heat, get out the kitchen, they say. That is something the family of Joe Davis will hope they don’t hear when he appears on Masterchef this evening.

Mr Davis will appear on the show this at 8.30pm on BBC One and told the Enfield Independent of his experiences of the competition.

He said: “Competing in MasterChef was absolutely amazing - very high pressured but very exciting at the same time. I met loads of great people who share my passion for food and picked up an invaluable insight into the world of the media too.

The 34-year-old, of Broadlands Avenue, Enfield Highway, said he has been “completely obsessed” with cooking for his whole life.

He added: “I've always been completely obsessed with food and cooking since before I can remember. My mum entered me for MasterChef though, I wasn't brave enough. Before I knew it I was in the studio and the rest is history.”

The tension is palpable as contestants dash to make the perfect meals under intense pressure; often cooking for celebrities and past winners.

When asked about the pressure of the show, he said: “I was so focused during the cooking sections that I didn't have time to be nervous, but there is a definite electric buzz in the atmosphere when you're working at 100mph trying to get the dishes completed.”

Mr Davis was also facing two no-nonsense judges in John Torode and Greg Wallace. but the Enfield man said they were both “professional guys” and weren’t there to give contestants a grilling.

He said: “John and Gregg are just normal professional guys who share a passion for cooking, just like us contestants.  They really want you to do well, and I learnt lots of professional tips from John, which was great."