STUDENT Nawamin Pinpathomrat narrowly missed out on top spot in the MasterChef finals.

The student, who is studying medicine at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, was up against fellow contestants Kenny Tutt and David Crichton in last night's episode on BBC One.

But Mr Pinpathomrat, who filmed the show while trying to finish his DPhil thesis, narrowly missed out at the last hurdle and was pipped to the post by Mr Tutt.

But the 27-year-old cooking enthusiast still described reaching MasterChef's final three as "absolutely bonkers" and "the best moment of his life".

In the final episode, the Thai student was filmed walking through Oxford city centre as he spoke of his family including his two brothers. He said that because there were no girls in the family it was down to him to learn how to cook from his grandmother and mum.

Mr Pinpathomrat, moved to Oxford three years ago to research tuberculosis and find a new vaccine. However, he clearly never forgot those early cooking lessons from his family.

The student impressed judges John Torode and Greg Wallace with his original cooking, being dubbed by the pair as a "culinary showman".

Stand out dishes of the series included a coconut-flavoured swan lake dish – complete with coconut swan – with blue custard and a white chocolate, pork and peanut sauce dish.

In the final episode Mr Pinpathomrat created three courses in three hours. They included a starter of pickled lobster, salmon tartare and tempura scallops, then a main course of honey-glazed duck in a red curry sauce with saffron infused pear. The pudding was coconut and peanut dumplings, wontons and sesame seeds, with red ruby chestnuts and deep fried palm sugar ice cream.

The judges summed up the finalist as "extraordinarily talented to the nth degree".

Mr Pinpathomrat said he wanted to combine food with charity and open a restaurant that can help others.