Alex Webb has been crowned winner of this year's MasterChef: The Professionals.

The 25-year-old from Essex triumphed over fellow finalists Bart van der Lee of the Netherlands and Santosh Shah, originally from Nepal, following a final challenge which required them to cook a three-course meal of their choosing for judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and Gregg Wallace.

Alex's menu comprised a starter of scallop ceviche with artichoke and pickled pear tartare, a main of pan-seared trout with parsnip four ways and a mini fish pie, and a dessert of a white chocolate and passionfruit dome including a prosecco sorbet.

Having been named as the show's 14th champion, he said: "It is the best feeling I have ever had in my life. To walk away with the trophy is incredible. I am so proud."

"Today was Alex's finest day," noted Wareing. "We have seen a young chef come of age. He is a brilliant young chef, I love his thirst for knowledge and he has cooked beyond his years. MasterChef is about the next generation and for me as a chef I see Alex as the future."

Galetti added: "Alex's food has a cheeky sense of humour in it. There is a bit of Alex's youth which really comes through in his cooking which makes it very different and that is something I have really enjoyed."

Applications for next year's series are now open, while the main MasterChef show is expected to return for a new series on BBC One in early 2021.