British-born pastry chef Darren Purchese has won a loyal, enviable following over five years with his Sweet Studio Burch & Purchese, on Chapel Street in Melbourne.

Darren has played a prominent role on MasterChef over successive years (he was responsible for the passionflower pressure test, one of the highest rating episodes in 2015).

Together with wife Cath Claringbold, he has built a reputation for stunning feats of sugary deliciousness combining jellies, sponges, mousses, cream, crumbles and spreads.