MasterChef: The Professionals

Gregg Wallace and chefs Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti preside over the UK's most revered cooking competition.

Over six weeks, 32 professional chefs will strive to demonstrate their outstanding skills, commitment and creativity to convince the judges they are worthy of the highly-esteemed title of MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2020.

In tonight's first heat, four professional chefs from around the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen ready to put their reputations on the line and their skills to the test. Two chefs' pasta-making skills are challenged by Monica when she tasks them to prepare mushroom tortellini filled with a mushroom duxelles and served with a chosen sauce. The other two chefs take on Marcus's recipe for devilled butterflied mackerel with a herb-flavoured mayo and a cucumber and fennel salad. They only have 20 minutes to demonstrate their fish-filleting skills and their mayonnaise-making precision.

Finally, all four chefs have the chance to redeem any earlier mistakes when they cook their own signature dish for the judges. This is each chef's last chance to cement their place in the competition, before the judges choose which two chefs will be sent home and which two are through to the first quarter-final.

In tonight's second heat, four more professional chefs arrive from across the nation to compete in the renowned MasterChef kitchen. Two chefs are challenged by Marcus Wareing to prepare sweetbreads with a rustic red wine sauce in just 20 minutes, while Monica Galetti asks the other two to create a glazed sabayon fruit dessert.

Then the four chefs get the chance to impress the judges with two stand-out signature dishes. Once their time is up, the judges will decide which two are to be sent home and which two make it through to this week's quarter-final.

This year's first quarter-final sees the four strongest chefs from the first two heats return, ready to up the ante and impress Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing in two tough challenges.

First is an Invention Test, with Marcus and Monica asking the chefs to create a dish based on the set theme of spices. They will be presented with a market containing a variety of ingredients to choose from, including an eclectic range of spices. The chefs must now be resourceful, working to the best of their ability and demonstrate the know-how to incorporate and highlight spice throughout their dish.

Next, the four professionals face the challenge of cooking for two of the UK's most discerning restaurant critics, Jimi Famurewa and William Sitwell. They have one hour and 15 minutes to wow the judges with a two-course menu that's memorable for all the right reasons.

Only the three most talented chefs will go through to the semi-finals and continue their attempt to win the MasterChef: The Professionals title.

In this heat, four more professional chefs from around the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen, ready to put their skills to the test. The chefs are put through their paces, undertaking two intense challenges, with two chefs being sent home and the two strongest contestants going through to this week's quarter-final.

Each chef starts their journey by facing a skills test. Marcus Wareing challenges two chefs to butcher a chicken, debone the thighs and cook them with asparagus and a brandy, mushroom and mustard cream sauce, all in just 20 minutes. The other two chefs face a test set by Monica Galetti. They must create a fruit tart filled with a berry compote, piped pistachio chantilly and candied pistachios, and it has to be elegant.

Then the four chefs have a chance to redeem themselves of earlier pitfalls as they prepare their own two-course signature dishes. They have one hour and 30 minutes to cook up a main and a dessert that highlight their creativity and personal style. Monica, Marcus and Gregg will then decide which two chefs will be sent home and which two will make it through to the quarter-final.

In the second heat of the week, four new professional chefs arrive ready and determined to cook off against each other in the MasterChef Kitchen in the hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals. Two gruelling challenges lay ahead of them.

First up is the skills test. The first two chefs are challenged by Monica Galetti to French-trim a rack of lamb and cook a portion to serve with a mint pesto. The other two chefs take on Marcus Wareing's test where they must fillet a plaice and prepare it with a chicken butter sauce and pickled radish.

Then the four chefs return to the kitchen to cook their own two-course signature dishes. They have one hour and 30 minutes to cook up a main and a dessert that highlight their creativity, flair and personal style. Then Monica, Marcus and Gregg will send two chefs home, while two progress to the next round.

The four best chefs from this week's heats return for their quarter-final, where they face two more demanding challenges set by Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing.

First, the chefs face an invention test inspired by the seaside. They are presented with a choice of fish, shellfish and a selection of vegetables to use. They have 10 minutes to select the ingredients and 70 minutes to cook. There's a lot to prove with this dish, as the judges want to see that the chefs can produce refined food with an imaginative twist.

Then the chefs cook for two of the UK's toughest restaurant critics, Grace Dent and Tom Parker Bowles. Will the critics' taste buds be satisfied, or will the food leave them with a sour taste? Only the three most talented chefs will go through to the semi-finals and continue their pursuit of the MasterChef: The Professionals title.

In this week's first heat, two chefs face a skills test set by judge Monica Galetti. They must fillet a trout, smoke it and serve it with a celeriac remoulade. Will they get the balance of flavour and smoke just right or will it be a burn out? Meanwhile, Marcus Wareing challenges the other two chefs to prepare a classic crepe suzette. Precision is crucial to achieve a good texture in the crepe and deliver a punch of flavour in the accompanying orange sauce. Will the chefs hit the mark or flounder at the first hurdle?

Then the chefs prepare their two-course signature dishes. They have one hour and 25 minutes to cook up a main and a dessert that highlight their creativity and flair and give Monica, Marcus and Gregg a taste for their personal style. This is their chance to really cement their place in the competition and make it through to this week's quarter-final.

In this heat, four more professional chefs arrive from across the nation to compete in the renowned MasterChef kitchen. First, they face the dreaded skills test. Two chefs will try their hand at Marcus Wareing's challenge of preparing scallops with a romesco sauce and a marinated tomato salad. The other two will take on Monica's test to prepare lambs' kidneys served on toast with a madeira mustard sauce.

Then the chefs have a chance to rectify any mistakes and impress the judges with two stand-out signature dishes. This is their chance to come back fighting and show the judges what they are made of. Once time is up, the judges will decide which two are to be sent home and which two make it through to this week's quarter-final.

It's the third quarter-final, and the four best chefs from this week's heats face two more demanding challenges. First is an invention test. The dish they create must be centred around the use of citrus, and the judges will want to see that the chefs can handle variety and execute a dish spontaneously and with zest. Then the chefs will cook for two of the UK's most discerning restaurant critics, Jay Rayner and Tracy MacLeod. Only the two most talented chefs will go through to the semi-finals.

Four more professional chefs from around the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen ready to put their skills to the test. After two tough challenges, two of them will be sent home while the two strongest contestants will go through to this week's quarter-final.

Marcus Wareing sets the first skills test, challenging two chefs to prepare a brunch dish of potato rosti served with egg, bacon and tomatoes. The other two chefs face a test set by Monica Galetti. Timing is everything as they prepare tempura mussels with a smoked garlic aioli. The chefs can't take their eye off the ball or they risk overfrying the delicate muscles.

The four chefs then have a chance to redeem themselves of any earlier mishaps as they cook their own two-course signature dishes. They have one hour and 25 minutes to rustle up a main and a dessert that highlight their personal panache.

In the final heat of the competition, four professional chefs from around the country arrive at the MasterChef kitchen ready to put their reputations on the line. Once more, two tough challenges will determine which two progress to the quarter-final and which two will go home.

Monica Galetti sets tonight's first skills test, asking two chefs to fillet and cook a John Dory to be served with a vibrant green parsley sauce and a garlic cream. The other two chefs take on a test set by Marcus, to prepare poached figs with honeycomb and flavoured cream.

Then the four chefs have a chance to show the judges what they are all about, as they serve up their two-course signature dishes. They have one hour and 25 minutes to prepare a main and a dessert that highlight their personal style, and they will need to make an impression if they are to make it through to the quarter-final.

In the last of the quarter-finals, the four best chefs from this week's heats return to face a tricky invention test. Monica and Marcus want them to create a dish that captures the essence of the forest, using an array of ingredients including meat, mushrooms and berries. There is much to prove with this dish, as the judges want to see that the chefs can produce sophisticated and innovative food.

Then the chefs cook for two of the UK's toughest restaurant critics, Grace Dent and Jay Rayner. They have one hour and 15 minutes to wow the judges with a two-course menu that's memorable for all the right reasons. Only the two most impressive chefs will go through to the semi-finals and move one step closer to the MasterChef: The Professionals title.

The contest reaches the semi-final stage. After four weeks of competition, only the ten most gifted chefs remain. Tonight, for the first time, they all meet in the MasterChef kitchen, where they are set the challenge of producing a dish based around their favourite food memory.

The group of ten will be split into two groups of five for the cooking, but they will ultimately all be cooking off against each other in the biggest challenge of the competition so far. They need to wow the three judges with a knockout dish that exemplifies the way in which food can remind you of wonderful times. The chefs have one hour and 15 minutes to prepare their cherished dish, after which the five strongest chefs of the day will go straight through to the next semi-final round.

The five weakest chefs then need to leave their faults behind and once more compete against each other in the cook-off round. This consists of an invention test in which they must create a dish you could order from a fine dining food delivery experience. The chefs must make it sophisticated and practical, but they also need to be mindful of how the dish is presented in takeaway boxes, whilst still focusing on quality. They have an hour and 30 minutes to deliver their dish, and for two of our hopefuls their journey will come to an end.

The three best chefs will join the five from the previous round and continue their pursuit of the MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 trophy.

The semi-finals continue with just eight stand-out chefs remaining in the running to win the coveted MasterChef title. Four chefs will come together tonight to face two challenges in the hope of making it to finals week, while the remaining four will compete in tomorrow night's episode.

The four chefs are taken out of their comfort zone when they are given a world-class demonstration by Michelin-starred chef Aktar Islam. His Birmingham-based restaurant, Opheem, has become renowned for pushing boundaries with its innovative Indian cuisine. First Aktar performs two demos, showcasing dishes based on two key elements, potato and pork. The chefs then choose from a larder of ingredients to create dishes inspired by Aktar's teachings.

They have one hour and 30 minutes to produce two dishes and present them to Aktar and the three judges, who cast their verdict. They will judge whether the chefs have taken the lessons on board and created dishes packed with flavour and reflecting the essence of what they have been taught. The highest achieving chef of the day will be rewarded by going straight through to finals week.

Then the three remaining chefs cook-off in the hope that they can impress the judges enough to join the finals week line-up. They have 90 minutes to create a two-course signature menu, and the judges are expecting to see show-stopping food. The smallest details matter now, and any minor slips could cost them their place in the competition. Once the challenge is over Marcus, Monica and Gregg taste their efforts. For one chef it will be the end of the road, while the other two will join the finals week line-up.

The final four semi-finalists face two intense challenges set by the judges in a bid to make it to finals week. They have the privilege of experiencing demonstrations by respected Michelin-starred chef Andrew Wong. His London restaurant, A. Wong, is regarded as the most cutting-edge Chinese restaurant in Britain today. In his demos, Andrew gives the chefs a taste of his mission to expand the culinary understanding of Chinese cuisine by showing them two dishes, dim sum and crispy chilli beef. The chefs then face an invention test in which they must take on board and use the ideas and techniques learned from Andrew. They have one hour and 30 minutes to produce two dishes and present them to Andrew and the three judges for them to taste and critique. The favourite chef of the day will be rewarded with a pass straight through to finals week.

The three chefs who remain must cook off to make it through. They have 90 minutes to create a two-course signature menu of an exceptional standard. Judges Marcus, Monica and Gregg will taste their efforts and decide which chef heads home and which two will join the other chef to complete the finals week line-up.

Only the six most talented chefs remain as the competition reaches finals week. They now face their hardest tasks, including the infamous Chef's Table, where they face the scrutiny of some of the UK's most respected chefs.

Before that is the final invention test, where they must produce their take on a classic dish. Split into two groups of three, they have just one hour and 15 minutes to come up with a twist on rabbit in mustard sauce and bouillabaisse with a rouille and a crouton. The chef who presents the finest dish in each of the groups will be rewarded with a pass straight through to the final four.

The remaining chefs cook-off for a place in the final four in another classics challenge. This time, it's their take on a classic dessert, with their pastry skills being tested. Once again, the best two chefs will win places in the final four, while it will be the end of the road for the other two.

Finals week continues with only four chefs remaining. In this penultimate round, they are fighting to secure their place in the final three by preparing a menu for some of the most respected chefs in the UK: Aktar Islam, Matt Abé, Sally Abé, Michael Caines, Jun Tanaka, Niall Keating, Daniel Clifford and Anna Haugh. Each chef is responsible for one of the courses, with three hours and 15 minutes to create a spectacular dish and get it to the pass ready to serve. This challenge is all about showing their personal flair, precision, timing and immaculate presentation - nothing can go amiss in this round, as the smallest thing will be noticed.

This is followed by a round that is all about passion, as the chefs have one hour and 45 minutes to cook a dish dedicated to someone special. The dish needs to combine all their best attributes and skills and deliver a special culinary experience for the judges. For one of our gifted chefs it will be their last dish of the competition, as the judges decide which three continue on to cook in the final round.

Over the last six weeks, some of the UK's most talented and ambitious chefs have battled it out to win the coveted title. Now, only the best three chefs remain. Each one of them has something unique and special, and they have one last challenge in which to show it. They have three hours and 15 minutes to cook a starter, a main and a dessert that embody everything they are as a chef. They must put everything out there for the judges, demonstrating how much they have learnt and why they stand out above the rest. Mistakes are not an option - under intense pressure, they must remain cool, calm and collected to deliver three flawless plates of food. Only one of them can be crowned MasterChef: The Professionals champion 2020.