So. It’s tonight. The proof of the new-look Masterchef pudding, the moment we can see whether the gilded bowl holds a mighty chocolate fondant or just a garage forecourt muffin. *

Lots of you will have made your minds up last week, during the X-factor style auditions shows. Almost overwhelmingly the reaction has been negative. Even the Queen tweeted that she wasn’t impressed.**

But I’m going to go out on a limb and say I liked it. You see, there’s been an internet myth for years that John and Gregg HATE each other. So much so that the head to heads at the end of each episode were filmed separately so they didn’t have to be in the same room. I used to watch to see if I could see the join, or catch a glimpse of an expression on either one of their faces that would give the game away.

So for all its flaws – and there were many – I really enjoyed the Gregg and John show on display last week. Look, they actually like each other! Listen, Gregg went to John’s wedding! Look, they’re touchingly awkward with displaying emotion and have to resort to a handshake after putting a contestant through! Listen, they take the mickey out of each other for eating too much!

As for the actual auditions, they’ve not quite got the X-Factor knack of building up the tension. The rubbish cooks were so obviously rubbish they never stood a chance (although the deconstructed trifle flower from the first show was a work of genius).

The good cooks were so clearly going through there was no element of surprise at all. As for the will-they-won’t-theys, John and Gregg said “for me” so many times it was hard to concentrate on the real action.

(Also, producers, please note: the apron thing is a bit weak. Unless you plan to make them out of gold in future.) So. Tonight we get to see all 20 cooking in one kitchen. Half will go home. Gregg has already said he’s going to need a huge spoon (for which we love him). But so many questions remain.

We know there’s going to be a balcony for John and Greg to stand on - 50p says it’s where they’re standing when they say “cooking doesn’t come much tougher than this” with a sudden pan back to reveal the massive shiny new kitchen and all 20 wannabes - but will India the voiceover lady still be able to reduce each contestant to a two-word cliché?

Will we still get to see John cook? Will there be room for all the 90s indie music? Or will the new format have sucked the charm right out of it?

We shall see….

PS: if you want to follow along, Gregg is @puddingface on Twitter, and the hashtag is #masterchef. And we are at @bournemouthecho or @whatsfortea.

* Yes, I know this is a rubbish sentence.

** No, not the ACTUAL Queen.