Everything from ash clouds and political upheaval to ungenerous banks and continually changing regulations means the industry has more on its plate than most.

But for BBC One MasterChef contestant Emma Spitzer, who founded and is managing director of specialist luxury spa tour operator Essential Escapes and sister brand Tots Too, cooking for John Torode and Gregg Wallace redefined the meaning of pressure.

She said: “It is probably the most pressure I have ever been under.

“It was multiple sleepless nights and I became completely consumed by it. I really had to rely on my husband to help with the kids as even if I was there physically [at home], I wasn’t there mentally or emotionally.”

Spitzer said filming for the current series began in November and while there are breaks in the schedule allowing contestants to fit in their jobs, she added she had to let her own 10-strong team in the office take the strain.

“I’d like to say I was able to multi-task but the reality is my business partner and sister Deborah covered my work while everyone else also became involved,” she added.

“I had to remove myself from the day-to-day office as I couldn’t commit to both at the same time.”

Essential Escapes boss Emma Spitzer cooks in the MasterChef kitchen

Spitzer is this week competing in the semi-finals of the show where her food, which has a Middle Eastern influence thanks to her Jewish heritage and previous travels in the region, has proved popular.

“What I loved most is John and Gregg love to try new things,” she said.

“It is difficult with someone like John who has been a chef for 30 years to cook something for him that he might not have tried before.”

And while she is tight-lipped about who will win next Friday’s final - and even if she is appearing in it, Spitzer is confident that her future will feature more food.

“I want to combine the travel and food, maybe across both brands, as there is definitely a market for cooking holidays, particularly with my family brand,” she added.

“A lot of the parents at my kids’ school say how much they watch it and it inspires them.”