Being a fussy eater as a child inspired a skill which has culminated in a Merton resident reaching the finals of MasterChef this week.

Paul Bogle, 45, has been battling it out against competitors to impress judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode with intricate cooking challenges and is hoping to be crowned the eleventh winner on Friday.

Wimbledon Times:

Mr Bogle, of Salisbury Road, Wimbledon, pictured above, said he used to prepare his own dinners from about the age of eight because he was a fussy eater and his mother refused to cook separately for him.

He used to cook his own meals alongside her instead, and a love of food was born.

Mr Bogle, a head policy and research manager at the National Federation of Builders, is under strict instructions not to reveal who won the show until the nation finds out on Friday.

Speaking about the ‘surreal’ experience of being on the programme, he said: "You don't want to let John and Gregg down once they put a degree of trust in your ability. I think my favourite challenge was the Scraps Test.

"It looked terrifying but I just thought of everything as an ingredient, rather than a cast-off. "After that, there is a real sense of freedom, creativity and immediacy."

Contestants were given off cuts of meat and scraps of vegetables and had to whip up a gourmet meal under time pressure.

He said his favourite food to cook is desserts, including soufflés and tarts, although only when with friends.

Mr Bogle said: "I love fish and shellfish at any time but my mood tends to determine what I cook. If I'm feeling adventurous, I will cook Malaysian or Thai. If I need comforting, then it will be a goat curry or something that reminds me of my mum and growing up.

"Having lived in Paris and gone back at least once a year since then, I have a soft spot for French food and that does influence everything I do in the kitchen."

A range of challenges await the chefs this week.

The last few amateur cooks, with the title finally in their reach, will cook at a celebration for one of history’s greatest heroes under the supervision of Michael Caines.

They also travel across Europe and finish off the week with the Chef’s Table, which will be presided over by Massimo Bottura, a three Michelin-starred chef.

Mr Bogle is up against four others - Simon, Tony, Emma and Pete – all hoping to be crowned MasterChef champion 2015.