A PHARMACIST said she was ‘proud’ to represent her home town on BBC One’s MasterChef competition after she progressed to the quarter-finals.

Moonira Hinglotwala, who owns two pharmacies in Blackburn, made her first appearance on the primetime cooking show on Monday at 9pm.

The 39-year-old mother, of Preston New Road, was ‘inspired’ to go on the show after her 11-year-old son Ibrahim Ismail, a child actor who goes to Westholme School, appeared on BBC One’s The A Word and Gigglebiz for CBeebies.

She describes her style as an ‘Indian fusion’ and she rustled up a recipe for MasterChef hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

She cooked a pan fried sea trout dish, which included spicy crushed potatoes, spicy tomato sauce and also attempted to one of her daughter’s favourite dishes, chapatis. John described it as ‘fabulous’ and Gregg said he ‘loved’ the flavour.

She then cooked two courses, a chicken korai and cheesecake, for former MasterChef finalists which sealed her progress.

Moonira said: “My son has been on TV and was really encouraging me to apply for MasterChef. He said 'if I’ve been on TV then you should too'.

“It’s amazing I've made it through. When I got the phone call I was like 'things like this do not happen in Blackburn'.”

Moonira, one of five siblings, developed a passion for cooking after her mother taught her traditional family recipes when she as just nine.

She went on to study pharmacy at the University of Bradford before taking over two businesses – Riaz Pharmacy, on Randal Street, and Granville Road Pharmacy – from a pharmacist who was going to retire. 

Despite her cooking talents, Moonira said her ‘strength’ was baking and her friends were surprised she didn’t go on The Great British Bake Off.

Talking about whether she thinks she can win, the pharmacist owner said: “We will have to see. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about people appreciating your food.

“Getting on the show is an achievement itself.”

Ms Hinglotwala’s quarter-final appearance will air on BBC One at 7.30pm on Friday.