The setting was a team challenge and Billie and her colleagues were tasked with preparing top end treats for a high tea – but panic set in when Billie’s pastry couldn’t be removed from the ring moulds.

The team challenge saw the final 10 competitors split into two groups, who then had three hours to come up with, prepare, bake and decorate a host of treats for 100 guests at the Windsor Hotel.

Things got off to a good start for both teams but the red group (Billie, Matthew, Jessie, Sara and Rose) were rocked when Billie’s pastry wouldn’t budge from the casing.

As she pulled at the thin chocolate crust, it began to fall apart. The only option they had to save two of their dishes was to make it into a tasty little crumble, which was not on the menu. 

“It’s the biggest disaster I’ve ever seen in the MasterChef kitchen,” Billie said. “They have not worked at all and I’m absolutely devastated.

“I feel awful for not only letting myself down but four other people down.”

Fast forward and despite serving some delicious, beautiful and textural high tea sweets, the red team’s dishes weren’t enough to get them across the line.

The following night saw the red team walk into the kitchen donning the dreaded black aprons – and facing off for elimination.

Billie decided to use her precious ‘immunity pin’ to avoid the cook-off.

“I’d love to keep the immunity pin, but I’m starting to get scared at what the challenge is,” she said.

“Everyone has been cooking well and if I didn’t use it and went home – I’d be devastated.”