A FORMER Halesowen College culinary student blew the judges away to make it through to the finals of hit show Masterchef: The Professionals.

Stuart Deeley, who works at The Wilderness in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, impressed Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti and presenter Gregg Wallace who said his culinary offerings in the semi-final were faultless.

The former student will battle it out again in the final week of the show.

Stuart, who studied at Halesowen College between 2007 to 2010, said his experience on the hit BBC show has been "amazing".

He said he turned his life around when he studied at Halesowen College after being bit of a bad lad in his younger years.

His glittering career began when he won a culinary competition while studying at Halesowen and he was talent spotted by the head chef at Jamie's Italian.

His career has then gone from strength to strength, which has seem him work at acclaimed Michelin-starred Simpsons in Birmingham and now as head chef at trendy The Wilderness.

Stuart took time out his busy schedule to inspire the next generation of budding chefs at his former college last week.

The father-of-one met with Level Two and Level Three Professional Cookery students at the Whittingham Road college to share some of his experiences and demonstrate some of the dishes he has produced in the show.

Chris Hughes, catering lecturer at Halesowen College, said staff and students would be rooting for Stuart.

He said: “We are all very proud of him and wish him the best of luck with the competition.”

The final week of Masterchef: The Professionals will be at 8pm on BBC2 on Tuesday (December 17), Wednesday (December 18) and Thursday (December 19).